The 32-year-old from Iowa, who competed at the Sydney 2000, Athens 2004 and Beijing 2008 Paralympics, is a graduate of Stanford Medical School and currently a senior resident in Physical Medicine and Rehabilitation at Spaulding Rehabilitation Hospital, a teaching affiliate of Harvard Medical School.

"On behalf of the IPC, I would like to congratulate Cheri on this appointment which is thoroughly deserved," said the IPC's medical and scientific director Peter Van de Vliet.

"Not only is this great news for her but the whole Paralympic Movement, as it underlines our growing profile in world sport."

In 2004, Blauwet was a winner of the American Association of People with Disabilities Paul Hearne Award, given annually to three emerging leaders nationwide for their potential to change the face of the disability movement.

Since 2010 she has been part of the IPC Medical Committee which has been established to provide recommendations on all policies and operational matters related to the medical care of Paralympic athletes.

This includes the review of TUE Applications in accordance with the World Anti-Doping Code and International Standard for TUE, and monitoring the implementation of event-related medical care programmes.

She joins the USADA Board of Directors alongside Robert Raskopf and Dr Ken Wright, with double Olympic 400 metres hurdles champion Edwin Moses named as the new chair.

"We are excited to welcome new board members Dr Cheri Blauwet, Robert Raskopf and Dr Ken Wright and look forward to continued success under the leadership of Edwin Moses," said USADA chief executive Travis Tygart.

Contact the writer of this story at [email protected]