Randolph Oduber: WBSC Athlete Commission member on candidate list for WADA Athlete Council
Oduber most recently played for the Netherlands in last year's Tokyo 2020 Olympic Games final baseball qualifier. He became an WBSC Athletes' Commission member in 2019 and an IOC Prevention of Manipulation of Competition Ambassador last year. Earlier this year, he became an International Testing Agency Education Ambassador and one of the first International Olympic Committee (IOC) certified Safeguarding Officers. He was also named assistant coach to the Kingdom of the Netherlands Baseball Team, which will compete in the WBSC U-18 Baseball World Cup in September.
Premier12 2015 All-World Team player, WBSC Baseball Division Board Athlete Representative and Athlete Commission member Randolph Oduber has been named by the World Anti-Doping Agency (WADA) among the 35 candidates eligible for election as members of the recently created WADA Athlete Council. The election will be held virtually via online voting between 29-31 August.
The new 20-member WADA Athlete Council will represent, support and
promote the voices of athletes on anti-doping matters; and, will be the avenue
for athletes, chosen by athletes, to assume important seats within WADA’s
governing bodies.
The WADA Athlete Council will be composed of athletes’ representatives chosen by athletes and grouped as follows:
Group One: Five athletes appointed by the International Olympic
Committee’s and International Paralympic Committee’s Athlete Commissions;
Group Two: Eight athletes elected by the Athlete Commissions of
International Federations (IFs); and
Group Three: Seven other athletes, to be selected by an
appointment panel made up by a majority of athletes, to fill skills and
diversity gaps.
Oduber is running for a spot in Group Two. The Athletes Commissions of 35 International Federations submitted an athlete representative as a candidate for the Athlete Council. Each International Federation with an Athletes' Commission that meets the criteria set by WADA, will have the chance to cast their votes by selecting up to eight (8) candidates at the end of this month. The eight candidates who have obtained the highest numbers of valid votes will be declared elected to the Athlete Council.
"During my entire career as an athlete, I believed in playing baseball the right way and worked hard as to not have any regrets," Oduber said. "I never wanted to take any substance that could harm my career or health, and I feel inspired to share my values with others.
"Everyone wants to achieve their goal, but we need to trust the process and work hard towards embodying who we want to become. I would like to have a voice for our athletes, focusing on how we can further enhance the education with an emphasis on a positive impact."
Born in Paradera, Aruba, on 18 March 1989, Oduber was playing at the
Western Oklahoma State College when the San Francisco Giants drafted him in
2009. He didn't come to terms with the Giants, but signed with the Washington
Nationals after they drafted him in 2010.
Oduber played a total of 428 Minor League Baseball (MiLB) games for the Washington Nationals through the 2015 season. He then played for Neptunus Rotterdam in the Dutch Hoofdsklasse, for the Lincoln Saltdogs in the independent American Association and for Zulia in the Venezuelan Winter League.
He made his international debut for the Netherlands in the 2013 World Baseball Classic and helped his National Team reach the medal round. He helped the Netherlands win the 2014 and 2016 European Championships. He made the All-World Team of the 2015 WBSC Premier12. He was on the roster of the 2017 World Baseball Classic. He was limited to just three at-bats during the 2019 European Championship due to injuries.
Fluent in English, Spanish, Dutch and Papiamento, Oduber, who played for the Netherlands during last year's Tokyo 2020 Olympic Games final baseball qualifier, has more recently turned his attention to helping others in sport by becoming an WBSC Athlete Commission member in 2019, an IOC Prevention of Manipulation of Competition Ambassador last year and an International Testing Agency Education Ambassador earlier this year.
