US: Judge dismisses antitrust suit filed by Olympic runner

A federal judge has dismissed a federal antitrust lawsuit filed by a company co-owned by Olympian middle-distance runner Nick Symmonds.

The Register-Guard reports that US District Judge Michael McShane on Thursday dismissed the lawsuit filed against the US Olympic Committee and USA Track and Field. He said the defendants have implied immunity from antitrust laws under a law that granted monopoly status to the USOC.

Symmonds and his coach, Sam Lampray, own the chewing gum company Run Gum. They alleged in their lawsuit that the organizations illegally restricted sponsor advertising at the upcoming US Olympic Trials in July.

According to Symmonds, Run Gum had sought to sponsor athletes at the event in exchange for logo exposure on athletes’ competition attire. But the company wasn’t allowed because it’s not an approved sponsor.

The judge said the USOC and USATF have the legal authority to decide what athletes wear at the trials.

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