COLORADO SPRINGS, Colo. (April 12, 2004) - The Blue-Ribbon Panel empowered by the U.S. Olympic Committee to decide the USA Triathlon Board of Directors election dispute will be holding a hearing at 11:30 a.m. on Monday (April 12). At the hearing, the panel will take testimony from witnesses who have submitted affidavits in the case, including the sitting USA Triathlon Board of Directors, the six complainants, and Acting Executive Director Tim Yount.

"We are hoping that this will all be resolved soon," Yount said. "In the meantime, the USA Triathlon staff continues to do the work of the sport and we are all looking forward to another busy season of multi-sport."

The panel took the case in February. The panel consists of five individuals involved with the U.S. Olympic movement in aspects other than the sport of triathlon, multi-sport or their component disciplines (swimming, biking and running). Three of the panel members are lawyers, and all five are highly qualified. The USOC has given its full support to the athletes, coaches and staff of USA Triathlon and has said that, at this time, direct funding to USA Triathlon will not be affected by the dispute.

The panel has also weighed in on a membership petition recently received by USA Triathlon. The petition, if passed by a membership vote, would make significant changes to the USA Triathlon bylaws.  The panel has asked that USA Triathlon not submit the petition to membership for a vote until after the election dispute has been resolved.