Sanctions Faced by Athletes for Participating in Events Not Authorized by Their International Sports Federation
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Background material: sanctions faced by athletes for participating in events not authorized by their international sports federation This overview categorizes the international sports federations in two groups: (1) those who have clearly defined sanctions (i.e. limited in time and scope) and (2) those who do not have clearly defined sanctions (i.e. open-ended) for athlete participation in events not approved by the respective federation and/or its member associations. 1. Category 1: clearly defined sanctions (limited in time and/or scope) Aquatics / swimming Fédération Internationale de Natation (FINA) The FINA General Rules 2013-2017,1 which apply to all FINA competitions in all kinds of swimming, open water swimming, diving, water polo, synchronised swimming, and Masters Competitions, contains the following Rule on “Unauthorized Relations” (GR 4): “GR 4.1 No affiliated Member shall have any kind of relationship with a non-affiliated or suspended body. GR 4.2 The exchange of competitors, administrators, directors, judges, officials, trainers, coaches, etc., with non-affiliated or suspended bodies is not permissible. GR 4.3 The holding of demonstrations and/or exhibitions, clinics, training, competitions, etc., with non-affiliated or suspended bodies is not permissible. GR 4.4 The Bureau may authorise relations with non-affiliated or suspended bodies as in Rules GR 4.1 through GR 4.3 above. GR 4.5 Any individual or group violating this Rule shall be suspended by the affiliated Member for a minimum period of one year, up to a maximum period of two years. FINA retains the right to review the suspension made by the affiliated Member and to increase it up to the maximum of two years in accordance with the circumstances involved. The affiliated Member shall abide by any such increase made on review. In the event that such individual or group has resigned its membership with the affiliated Member or is not a Member, it shall not be allowed to affiliate with that Member for a minimum period of three months up to a maximum period of two years. FINA retains the right to review any such sanction imposed by the affiliated Member and to increase it up to the maximum of two years in accordance with the circumstances involved. The affiliated Member shall abide by any such increase made on review. GR 4.6 Each Member that conducts a competition shall strictly enforce the FINA Rules governing eligibility.” 1 FINA, General Rules, http://www.fina.org/H2O/docs/rules/generalrules_20132017_formatted.pdf Badminton Badminton World Federation (BWF) According to the BWF General Competition Regulations,2 Rule 10.2 provides that: “10.2.2 No player shall participate in a tournament or exhibition matches which are promoted or organised by an individual or company (or other organisation) unless it has been sanctioned by the Member Association concerned or the BWF. Any infringement of this regulation shall make each player involved liable for a penalty as stipulated in Table of Offences and Penalties (Part III Section 1 B - Appendix 11).” An infringement of this rule (i.e. participation by a player in an unsanctioned tournament or exhibition matches) shall be sanctioned with a penalty of USD 500 for every default. Cycling Union Cycliste Federation (UCI) The UCI Cycling Regulations, Part 1 General Organisation of Cycling as a Sport,3 stipulate in Rule 1.2.019: “No licence holder may participate in an event that has not been included on a national, continental or world calendar or that has not been recognized by a national federation, a continental federation or the UCI.” An infringement of this rule “shall render the licence holder liable to one month’s suspension and a fine of CHF 50 to 100” (Rule 1.2.021). Darts World Darts Federation (WDF) According to the WDF Bye-laws (2013),4 Rule 7.05 (Definition on Players’ Eligibility): “In the course of the twelve months prior to the scheduled date of a WDF World Cup or Area Cup a WDF Playing Member must have played at least 65% of their International Singles Events in tournaments which are recognised in the WDF World Ranking Systems as well as International singles events promoted/organized between Member Darts Bodies and also recognised by the World Darts Federation. IE: Events such as, but not limited to, the 6 Nations Cup, Baltic Cup, Celtic Cup, Nordic Cup, Mediterranean Cup, and the Spring Cup. NOTE: This rule shall not apply to Youth players. CLARIFICATION: … It is not a requirement that a player must play in International events in order to be eligible to play in a WDF World Cup or WDF Area Cup. Players who do participate in international events must meet the following requirement to be eligible to play in a WDF Cup. 2 BWF, General Competition Regulations, http://www.bwfbadminton.org/file.aspx?id=464370&dl=1 3 UCI, Cycling Regulations, http://www.uci.ch/Modules/BUILTIN/getObject.asp?MenuId=MTY2NjU&ObjTypeCode=FILE&type=FILE&id=OTU4ODc&LangId=1 4 WDF, Bye-Laws, http://www.dartswdf.com/wp-content/uploads/2010/12/WDF-Bye-Laws.pdf During the twelve months prior to the scheduled date of a WDF Cup the WDF requires that a player must have played in at least twice as many international single events which are sanctioned by the WDF (e.g. events recognised in the WDF Ranking System and International singles events between Member Darts Bodies which are recognised by the World Darts Federation [i.e. events such as, but not limited to, the 6 Nations Cup, Baltic Cup, Celtic Cup, Mediterranean Cup, Nordic Cup, the Spring Cup etc.]) when compared with international events organised, sanctioned or promoted by darts bodies which are not affiliated to the WDF.” Equestrian Sports Federation Equestre International (FEI) On 8 November 2012, the FEI General Assembly decide that athletes and officials should no longer be permitted to participate in both sanctioned and unsanctioned events.5 Since 2013, the FEI General Regulations,6 Chapter II Participation of Athletes and Horses, Article 113 contains the following provisions: “4. An Athlete and/or Horse, even if registered with the FEI, is not eligible to participate in an International Event or National Event (and so may not be invited by an OC to such Event or entered by an NF in such Event) if that Athlete and/or Horse has participated, in the six (6) months prior to the first day of the International Event or National Event in question, in an Unsanctioned Event. 5. For purposes of Article 113.4, an ‘Unsanctioned Event’ is an event and/or a competition that is neither published in the official Calendar nor authorised by an NF. 6. An Athlete, Chef d’Equipe, Owner, or NF may challenge the application of Article 113.4, or seek a waiver thereof in exceptional circumstances, by application to the Secretary General. A denial of that application may be appealed to the FEI Tribunal, such appeal to be heard on the papers without a live hearing unless the FEI Tribunal orders otherwise.” The same applies to officials (Article 156.9): “An Official is not eligible to participate in an International Event or National Event (and so may not be invited or nominated to participate in such event) if he has participated, in the six (6) months prior to the first day of the International Event or National Event in question, in an Unsanctioned Event. An Official or his National Federation may challenge the application of this Article 156.9, or seek a waiver thereof in exceptional circumstances, by application to the Secretary General. A denial of that application may be appealed to the FEI Tribunal, such appeal to be heard on the papers without a live hearing unless the FEI Tribunal orders otherwise.” Figure and Speed Skating International Skating Union According to the ISU General Regulations,7 Rule 102(2): 5 http://www.equestrian.org.au/site/equestrian/national/downloads/2005/fei/GA12-wrap%20up%20report-8Nov2012.pdf 6 FEI, General Regulations, http://www.fei.org/sites/default/files/GENERAL%20REGULATIONS_New%20Format_CLEAN_15Jan14.pdf 7 ISU, General Regulations, http://static.isu.org/media/165642/constitution-and-general-regulations-version-july-31-2014.pdf “A person becomes ineligible to participate in ISU activities and competitions by: a) skating or officiating without the prior express authorization of the respective Member, in any capacity in a Skating competition, exhibition or tour in any of the sport disciplines of the ISU; b) skating or officiating in a competition conducted by Officials (Referees, Technical Controllers, Technical Specialists, Judges, Starters, Competitors Stewards, etc.) not on the approved list of the respective Member or on the ISU approved list; c) skating or officiating in an event not sanctioned by a Member and/or the ISU; or d) otherwise violating this Rule 102. In addition to the consequences and status of ineligibility described in Rule 102, paragraph 7 and Rule 103, paragraph 1, a person specifically declared ineligible by the Council, if the Council so states in its decision, may be also declared to be persona non grata within the ISU and such person may not take part in ISU activities, stand for or hold any ISU Office, be a delegate to any Congress, be an ISU Official, be granted credentials to any ISU Event, seminar or meeting in any capacity, or otherwise occupy any position, appointed or otherwise, identified in the ISU Statutes as a position of service or responsibility on behalf of the ISU.” Rule 102(7) of the General Regulations provides that: “(t)he consequence of a breach of the eligibility Rules shall be the loss of eligibility”. The ineligibility sanction for participating in non-sanctioned events is a lifelong ban from all ISU competitions and activities.