Richard McLaren, O.C., D.D.

An internationally recognized expert in sports law and arbitration, Professor Richard McLaren has spent his career working at the highest levels to protect the integrity of sports. His lecture will focus largely on the aftermath of the investigation into Russian state-sponsored doping and the (lackluster) response of various organizations and officials. The presentation will also touch on the lessons learned from a governance perspective.

Mr. McLaren was responsible for spearheading the legal investigation (in conjunction with the World Anti Doping Agency) into Russian athlete doping, which ultimately resulted in the country's ban from the 2018 Winter Olympic Games. A lot of his work was highlighted or referenced in the movie Icarus, which won the 2018 Academy Award for best documentary last month.

This lecture is given annually in memory of the late Dr. Carl Blyth, who served as a dedicated faculty member at the University of North Carolina for 36 years. During Dr. Blyth's tenure as Department Chair, 1970-1980, the department was transformed into one of the leading applied science programs in the country. Dr. Blyth founded the National Center for Catastrophic Sport Injury Research at UNC, which has since served as the epicenter for the surveillance of catastrophic sport injuries. Dr. Carl Blyth retired from UNC in 1985, at which point this annual lecture as initiated in his honor.

At this lecture, the department will be recognizing the 2018 Ronald W. Hyatt Scholarship winner. This scholarship is named in honor of one of Carolina's "Priceless Gems". Dr. Ronald W. Hyatt was a professor in the Department of Exercise and Sport Science (EXSS).  He served this great University with distinction for over 40 years. This merit-based scholarship is awarded annually to an outstanding undergraduate Exercise and Sport Science major.