Howe Joins Swimming Australia Board

Swimming Australia is delighted to announce the appointment of Sally Howe to its Board of Directors, effective immediately.

Howe takes the position of Abi Cleland who stood down at the end of June.

Milletich takes the helm in Austria

The 65-year-old succeeds Leo Windtner, who has stepped down after 12 years in office. Windtner now takes the position of ÖFB honorary president.

Cyclist receives sanction

Sport Integrity Australia today acknowledged the decision of the Union Cycliste Internationale (UCI) to sanction athlete Patrick Constable for the Presence of a prohibited substance.

USADA Expands Whistleblower Options Utilizing RealResponse State-Of-The-Art, Secure Text-to-Report Technology

IOC supports the calls for a wider consultation on FIFA’s World Cup plans and shares concerns

The Executive Board (EB) of the International Olympic Committee (IOC) takes note of FIFA’s plans to change the football competition schedule and to hold the World Cup every two years. A number of International Federations (IFs) of other sports, national football federations, clubs, players, players associations and coaches have expressed strong reservations and concerns regarding the plans to generate more revenue for FIFA, mainly for the following reasons:

Women’s Tour de France back after 33-year absence

The women's Tour de France will be revived next year as the 2022 race route was unveiled in the Palais des Congrès in Paris on Thursday (14 October) by the newly appointed race director Marion Rousse.

The women's Tour had not been held since 1989 and will this year start from Paris and end eight days later at the top of the Super Planche des Belles Filles climb at the end of an eight-stage ride through eastern France.

WADA launches call for proposals for 2022 Social Science Research Grant Program

The World Anti-Doping Agency (WADA) is pleased to launch a call for proposals for its 2022 Social Science Research Grant Program (Grant Program); regarding which, we kindly ask Expressions of Interest (to be submitted via the Agency’s WADAGrants platform, by:

• 22 November 2021 (23:59 GMT) for Tier 1 and 2 projects; and
• 31 January 2022 (23:59 GMT) for smaller Tier 3 projects.

FIFA assists evacuation of refugees from Afghanistan

FIFA can confirm, following complex negotiations, it has, with the support of Qatar, evacuated almost 100 members of the football family from Afghanistan, including female players. 

Birmingham 2022 Commonwealth Games on Seven

The Commonwealth Games Federation (CGF) and Seven Network are proud to announce it is the official Australian broadcast partner for the XXII Commonwealth Games, which will take place in Birmingham, United Kingdom, from 28 July to 8 August next year. 

IPC announces competitive RFP for organisations to become governing bodies

The International Paralympic Committee (IPC) is inviting interested parties for engagement meetings about becoming the governing bodies for Para athletics and Para swimming, prior to submitting a response to the Request for Proposal (RFP) by 22 April 2022.

The RFP is subject to the IPC Membership voting in favour of a revised constitution at the IPC General Assembly in December 2021. If approved, it will launch a governance reform where the IPC will aim to cease acting as an international federation of Para sports by the end of 2026.

WADA calls for further development of the anti-doping system in Africa during forum with Sports Ministers

Today, the leadership of the World Anti-Doping Agency (WADA) called on each African nation to strengthen and build the capacity of its own anti-doping program, at an important virtual forum attended by 10 Ministers for Sport from across the continent, plus the Commissioner for Health, Humanitarian Affairs and Social Development in the African Union.

FIFA launches Executive Programme in Sports Arbitration, 2nd edition

Following the success of the inaugural programme, FIFA has today launched the second edition of its Executive Programme in Sports Arbitration. Information about applications, which are open from 15 October to 15 December 2021, can be found at legal.fifa.com.

IOC and Beijing 2022 upcoming events in Greece – Information for the media

The International Olympic Committee (IOC) Executive Board (EB) will meet on Saturday 16 October 2021 in Athens, Greece.

The EB is scheduled to receive updates on the activities of the Olympic Movement and the IOC administration, plus reports from the Organising Committees for future Olympic Games.

Amnesty International requests Premier League meeting following Newcastle takeover

Amnesty International has written to the Premier League chief executive requesting an urgent meeting to discuss the rules that govern buying clubs.

The trial against the fan who caused the crash at the Tour de France

Tomorrow, on the day when the Tour de France 2022 will be officially presented and the rebirth of the Tour de Femmes will be celebrated, a criminal trial will be held in Brest against the spectator who caused a group crash on the first stage of the 2021 edition Brest-Landerneau on 26th June.

Announcement of the new Chair and Vice-Chair of iNADO

The Governing Board of The Institute of National Anti-Doping Organisations e.V. (iNADO) held a virtual quarterly meeting on October, 12. Following the stepping down of former Chair Michael Ask, the Board met to elect a new Chair from the Governing Board Members in accordance with § 9.2.1  of the iNADO Constitution and 14.1 to 14.3 of the Rules of Procedure.

FIFA lifts suspension of Chadian Football Association

After taking note that the Chadian government authorities have reinstated the powers delegated to the Chadian FA (FTFA) and repealed their decision to establish a national committee for the temporary management of football, as well as that the FTFA’s premises are once again under the control of President Moctar Mahamoud, the Bureau of the FIFA Council has decided to lift the suspension of the FTFA with immediate effect.

PHF updates transgender and non-binary inclusion policy

Policy Enhanced in Partnership with Athlete Ally and Chris Mosier

October 15, 2021 (Brooklyn, N.Y.) - The Premier Hockey Federation today announced an updated Transgender and Non-Binary Inclusion Policy that is effective immediately for the 2021-22 season. The federation’s policy was enhanced with consultation from Athlete Ally, a non-profit LGBTQI+ athletic advocacy group focused on making athletic communities more inclusive and less discriminatory, and Chris Mosier, a transgender hall of fame triathlete, All-American duathlete, 6-time member of Team USA, and the founder of TransAthlete.com.

Men's national team coaches consultation over the future of football taking place this week

Every men's national team coach has been invited to attend online videoconferences this week to discuss a potential new calendar from 2024. The online meetings are set for Tuesday 19 October 2021 and Thursday 21 October 2021

The FA issue a statement following UEFA's sanction over EURO 2020 final

Although we are disappointed with the verdict, we acknowledge the outcome of this UEFA decision.

We condemn the terrible behaviour of the individuals who caused the disgraceful scenes in and around Wembley Stadium at the UEFA EURO 2020 Final, and we deeply regret that some of them were able to enter the stadium.

Olympism 365: Strengthening the role of sport as an important enabler for the UN Sustainable Development Goals

The Executive Board (EB) of the International Olympic Committee (IOC) today endorsed the Olympism 365 strategy. It aims to strengthen the role of sport as an important enabler for the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) of the United Nations (UN) and to connect people with the Olympic values everywhere, every day. 

Record number of athletes to run for IOC Athletes’ Commission election at Beijing 2022

The Executive Board (EB) of the International Olympic Committee (IOC) today approved a list of 17 athletes (a record number for the Olympic Winter Games) covering all five continents, who have proposed their candidatures for the IOC Athletes’ Commission (AC) election that will take place at the upcoming Games in Beijing.

Sports Law Weekly News Recap - 15 October

Welcome to LawInSport’s weekly News Roundup.  This roundup highlights this week’s top news pieces from across the world of sport.

For further updates, please visit our news section.

We hope you find this useful. If you have any related questions or feedback, please don’t hesitate to contact us. 

New study explored doping risk of protein fortified foods

As athletes look for ways to fuel their performance, there is growing interest in Protein Fortified Foods (PFFs) like protein bars, balls and smoothies, in sports nutrition.

LFP votes against biennial World Cup

At its meeting on 13 October, the LFP's Board of Directors adopted a motion opposing the plan to hold the FIFA World Cup every two years.

Mexican tennis player Astorga issued with provisional suspension

The International Tennis Integrity Agency (ITIA) today confirms that Mexican tennis player Mauricio Antonio Astorga Perez Pineda has been provisionally suspended from the sport by independent Anti-Corruption Hearing Officer (AHO) Janie Soublière, pending the full consideration of charges against him.

F1 Commission discusses potential changes to Sporting Regulations in wake of shortened Belgian GP

The F1 Commission has discussed possible changes to the championship’s Sporting Regulations, following the 2021 Belgian Grand Prix, which was shortened due to bad weather.

Red Bull’s Max Verstappen was declared the victor of the race at Spa-Francorchamps, which ran to just two laps behind the Safety Car, with heavy rain rendering green-flag racing impossible – with Verstappen and his fellow top-10 finishers awarded half points.

WADA releases four Laboratory Technical Documents for 2022

The World Anti-Doping Agency (WADA) publishes today the following revised Technical Documents (TDs) for 2022 and Summaries of Modifications, which were approved by WADA’s Executive Committee, via circulatory vote, on 6 October 2021.

ITIA Quarterly Update - Q3

After her appointment in May 2021, Nicole Sapstead officially joined the organisation at the start of September. After 12 years working at UK Anti-Doping, the last six as CEO, Nicole begins the process of integrating the Tennis Anti-Doping Programme (TADP) into the ITIA.

FTX announces global partnership with the International Cricket Council

FTX Trading Limited (“FTX” or “The Company”), a leading global cryptocurrency exchange, today announced a global partnership with the International Cricket Council (ICC), the governing body of cricket, where FTX will be the official cryptocurrency exchange partner for ICC events.

Consistency and deterrence: A summary of ITA’s anti-doping program for the Tour de France

The International Testing Agency (ITA) managed the anti-doping activities for the 2021 edition of the Tour de France for the first time after the delegation of the entire cycling clean sport program by the Union Cycliste Internationale (UCI) in the beginning of the year. The comprehensive and targeted clean sport program was implemented in close collaboration with the Agence Française de Lutte Contre le Dopage (AFLD) and the French authorities. To date, no anti-doping rule violations (ADRVs) were asserted in connection with the event.

Hundreds of footballers demand compensation over data misuse

Hundreds of footballers have demanded compensation for the trading of their performance data over the last six years.

EFL statement: The Administrators at Derby County have lodged an appeal against the 12-point deduction

The Administrators at Derby County have lodged an appeal against the 12-point deduction imposed on the Club’s 2021/22 season total on 22 September 2021.

Fostering clean sport for all: UKAD and CIMSPA formalise partnership for physical activity professionals at Clean Sport Forum

• A new MoU between two leading UK sports bodies aims to help keep sport clean. Education pathways and professional standards will foster understanding of the latest anti-doping topics and rules

#EveryTrickCounts: joint UEFA-European Commission campaign tackles climate change

Football greats Luís Figo of Portugal, Italy’s Gianluigi Buffon and French duo Delphine and Estelle Cascarino turn on the skills for campaign ad that shows everyone has a role to play in defeating the environment’s toughest opponent.

ESIC Declassified Report Into Allegations Against Players for Complicity

• On 2^nd September 2020, ESIC made its first public statement about exploitation of a spectator bug in CS:GO. Among the first three coaches sanctioned at the end of August 2020 was then Heroic coach,  Nicolai “HUNDEN” Petersen (“Mr. Petersen”), who was banned for his exploitation of the spectator bug during professional play.

Technical Advisory Group to focus on growth and advancement of women’s football

Competitive balance, increased opportunities for underserved nations, a FIFA Women’s Club World Cup, increased visibility and participation, FIFA international windows, prize money and the possibility of staging a biennial FIFA Women’s World Cup are some of topics included in the discussions held by the FIFA Technical Advisory Group (TAG) led by Jill Ellis.

IOC EB approves Olympic Qualification System Principles for Paris 2024

The Executive Board (EB) of the International Olympic Committee (IOC) approved today the Qualification System Principles (QSP) for the Olympic Games Paris 2024, outlining the rules for all the qualification systems that will now be established by the International Sports Federations (IFs) for these Games.

Wigan Warriors to launch Wheelchair Rugby League team

Wigan Warriors are have announced the launch of a new Wheelchair team for 2022 and beyond.

The Warriors have applied to be part of the Betfred Wheelchair Super League for 2022 as part of the expansion plan of the league from six to eight teams for the upcoming season.

Bolivia Basketball Federation begin FIBA PLUS Strategic Planning Program

TARIJA (Bolivia) - FIBA and the Bolivia Basketball Federation (FBB) are pleased to announce the launch of the FIBA PLUS Strategic Planning Program. 

ICC and UNICEF partner to help break stigma around mental health

The partnership will amplify UNICEF’s global campaign #OnYourMind which calls for commitment, communication and action to promote good mental health for every child.

Russian Esports Federation - IESF's member nation

To succeed in our mission to create a united World Esports we need really big support and the biggest support we get is from our 109 Member nations, national federations from all around the world.

It’s really important to show you who are our Member Nations!

Starting with the Russian Esports Federation, one of the oldest esports federations in the world!

International Swimmers' Alliance welcomes FINA Reform Report

The International Swimmers’ Alliance welcomes FINA’s recently released reform committee report. The report identifies many of the widely held criticisms directed at the international federation that oversees aquatic sports on a global scale. The report also recommends steps that the organization can take to address the shortcomings and improve its overall performance.  

ITA Webinar – “The Athlete Biological Passport – A Practical Guide”

REGISTER HERE

Want to know more about the Athlete Biological Passport?

NFL-Premier League joint statement on medical conference to discuss player health and safety

The National Football League (NFL) and the Premier League held a joint medical conference in London today to discuss their latest advancements in player health and safety and to share best practices for analyzing, treating, and preventing injuries among elite athletes. Led by a diverse group of the leagues' world class physicians, injury prevention specialists and epidemiologists, the day-long conference was an opportunity to ensure each leagues' efforts are informed by the latest scientific and medical information available in pursuit of a joint commitment to continuous improvement of player safety. The leagues discussed strategies for reducing soft tissue and knee ligament injuries, innovation in field surface materials, concussion prevention and treatment and the importance of prioritizing athletes' mental wellness. Held as part of the annual NFL London Games, the conference was attended by a delegation from the NFL Player Health & Safety team and Premier League physicians, certified athletic trainers/physios and sports science specialists, with representation from its clubs.

World Rugby Amends game's laws to allow all players to wear leggings

Players will be able wear tights or leggings in matches at all levels of the sport after the World Rugby Executive Committee approved an amendment to the laws of the game.

Currently only permissible for women, Law Four will be extended to all participants with immediate effect, enabling the wearing of conforming tights or leggings on the grounds of player welfare and accessibility.

Samoa launch historic Professional Basketball League

 Samoa Basketball took a few steps forward launching the historic Samoa National Basketball Federation Professional League to promote the game and improve the competition level in-country.

ESPN to broadcast Super Wild Card Weekend's Monday night game for next five years

Sport Integrity Australia 12 months in

Sport Integrity Australia first opened its doors on 1 July 2020 at a time when the sporting landscape in Australia was unlike anything we’ve ever seen: COVID-19 was impacting sporting competitions and, indeed, their very survival was in doubt. This, coupled with growing global unrest around the treatment of athletes, presented challenges beyond comprehension. Here we look at how Sport Integrity Australia responded, and some key milestones for our first 12 months.

Nigerian Para powerlifter receives ban for committing an anti-doping rule violation

Paul Kehinde is ineligible for competition for thirty (30) months from 9 March 2020 to 8 September 2022