Travis Tygart

Who is Travis Tygart?

Travis Tygart is an American lawyer and CEO of the U.S. Anti-Doping Agency.

Originally from Jacksonville, Florida, where he attended the Bolles School, Tygart graduated from the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill with a bachelor’s degree in philosophy, and in 2010 received the University’s Distinguished Young Alumni Award. Tygart went on to get his J.D. from Southern Methodist University in 1999, graduating Order of the Coif.

Prior to joining USADA, Tygart was an athlete and associate in the sports law practice at Holme Roberts & Owen LLP. While at HRO, Tygart worked with individual athletes and the USOC, USA Basketball, USA Swimming, USA Volleyball, and the Pro Rodeo Cowboys’ Association. Tygart is on the board of advisors of the Taylor Hooton Foundation.

Tygart became Chief Executive Officer of the U.S. Anti-Doping Agency in September 2007. He joined USADA in October 2002, and has also served as the Director of Legal Affairs and as Senior Managing Director. He has also prosecuted cases before the American Arbitration Association and the Court of Arbitration for Sport on behalf of USADA.

In June 2012, the USADA accused the seven-time Tour de France winner Lance Armstrong of doping, a charge that Armstrong ceased trying to defend in August 2012. Armstrong filed a suit in U.S. District Court against Tygart and the USADA but the suit was dismissed by U.S. District Judge Sam Sparks. Tygart was previously involved in the investigation of Floyd Landis. Tygart stated in an interview with French newspaper L'Équipe that he had received three death threats since the beginning of the Armstrong investigation and that security had been tightened around him by the FBI.