NHLPA, NHL announce Transition Rules, critical dates for 2021-22 season

The National Hockey League (NHL) and National Hockey League Players’ Association (NHLPA) announced today transition rules and critical dates for the 2021-22 season.

ADA President encourages further innovation in anti-doping at ‘Collaborate to Innovate’ conference in Bulgaria

The President of the World Anti-Doping Agency (WADA), Witold Bańka, stressed the importance of collaboration and innovation in ensuring the ongoing and future success of the anti-doping system, during a key-note speech today at the ‘Collaborate to Innovate’ conference, organized by the Republic of Bulgaria Ministry of Youth and Sports in Sofia.

WADA Foundation Board approves Finnish Olympian Emma Terho as new member of Executive Committee

The World Anti-Doping Agency’s (WADA’s) Foundation Board (Board) has formally approved the appointment of the Chair of the International Olympic Committee (IOC) Athletes’ Commission, Ms. Emma Terho, as one of the five Sport Movement representatives on the Executive Committee (ExCo), effective immediately. Ms. Terho from Finland replaces Slovakia’s Danka Barteková on the ExCo.

The ITA supports pre-Games education for the Olympic Winter Games Beijing 2022

THE INTERNATIONAL TESTING AGENCY (ITA), LEADING AN INDEPENDENT ANTI-DOPING PROGRAM FOR THE OLYMPIC WINTER GAMES BEIJING 2022, HAS SUPPORTED THE DEVELOPMENT OF A NEW INTERACTIVE EDUCATION COURSE FOR ATHLETES AND COACHES AIMING TO ATTEND THE UPCOMING WINTER GAMES. THIS CLEAN SPORT COURSE WAS DEVELOPED BY THE WORLD ANTI-DOPING AGENCY (WADA) IN COLLABORATION WITH THE ITA AND THE INTERNATIONAL OLYMPIC COMMITTEE (IOC) AND IT LAUNCHES TODAY ON WADA’S EDUCATION PLATFORM ADEL. THE ITA IS ALSO RESPONSIBLE FOR A PRE-GAMES EDUCATION PROJECT DESIGNED TO ENABLE CODE SIGNATORIES TO EDUCATE THEIR DELEGATIONS BEFORE THEY HEAD TO BEIJING.

Rugby Union player receives anti-doping sanction

Sport Integrity Australia today acknowledged the decision of the French Anti-Doping Agency to impose an 18-month ban on athlete Joshua Valentine for the presence of a prohibited substance.

Olympic and Paralympic Winter Games Beijing 2022 - Updates on Spectators, Vaccination and COVID-19 Countermeasures

The International Olympic Committee (IOC) held an Executive Board (EB) meeting today, in the presence of the International Paralympic Committee (IPC). Beijing 2022 informed the EB of the principles that will help deliver safe and successful Olympic and Paralympic Winter Games as scheduled.

AFC Medical Committee prioritises the health and wellbeing of players

Kuala Lumpur: The Asian Football Confederation (AFC) Medical Committee continued its commitment to expand the network of world-class medical centres in Asia by recognising The Kitchee – Chinese University of Hong Kong (CUHK) Sports Medicine Clinic as the latest AFC Medical Centre / Clinic of Excellence at its fourth meeting held virtually today.

Road cycling: Philippe Gilbert and Ruth Winder elected to the UCI Athletes’ Commission

The Union Cycliste Internationale (UCI) is pleased to announce that Philippe Gilbert (BEL) and Ruth Winder (USA) have been elected to represent road cycling on the UCI Athletes’ Commission, in a vote organised during the 2021 UCI Road World Championships held in Flanders (Belgium) from 19 to 26 September.

Belgium's Pharma- & Foodcrime Platform: Information Sharing and Capacity Building with Jurgen Secember, NADO Flanders

Super League: UEFA reaffirms its view that it has always acted in accordance with not only its Statutes and Regulations, but also with EU law, the European Convention on Human Rights and Swiss law

Following its announcement yesterday on the so-called ‘Super League’ project and the respective compliance measures UEFA has taken, UEFA reaffirms its view that it has always acted in accordance with not only its Statutes and Regulations, but also with EU law, the European Convention on Human Rights and Swiss law in connection with this so-called ‘Super League’ project. UEFA remains confident in - and will continue to defend - its position in all the relevant jurisdictions.

Mali: Inquiry Links Basketball Federation to Sexual Abuse

The International Basketball Federation’s (FIBA)  report on systemic sexual harassment and abuse within the Mali Basketball Federation (FMBB) vindicates the victims of abuse,  survivors, whistleblowers, and  activists who took enormous risks to bring this abuse to light, the Sport & Rights Alliance said today.

Sport Resolutions to speak at the Asian International Arbitration Centre event

The Asian International Arbitration Centre (AIAC) is hosting a webinar, titled “The Standard of Proof in Anti-Doping Arbitration: Understanding Comfortable Satisfaction”  in conjunction with the AIAC September Sports Month 2021.

Luc Tardif new IIHF President

Luc Tardif has been elected as new IIHF President succeeding René Fasel, who held the position for 27 years and didn’t stand for re-election. He won the presidential election in the fourth and last round against Franz Reindl.

Ntozakhe allowed to resume bowling in international cricket

The International Cricket Council (ICC) today announced that following remedial work and re-assessment, the bowling action of South Africa off-spinner Raisibe Ntozakhe has been found to be legal, and she can resume bowling in international cricket.

Statement on the International Match Calendar

In light of the range of predisposed decisions and communications made by FIFA recently in amending or planning future reform of the International Match Calendar (IMC), in direct and unilateral breach of certain legal obligations, ECA – as the voice of professional football clubs of Europe – feels compelled to issue the following.

NHL finds no evidence Evander Kane gambled on games

SAN JOSE, Calif. (AP) — The NHL found no evidence that San Jose Sharks forward Evander Kane bet on NHL games or tried to throw games after investigating allegations made by his estranged wife.

BHA Disciplinary - William Haggas - Rule (G)2.1, fast-tracked

£1,000 fine – breach of Rule (G)2.1 of the Rules of Racing in that on 17 July 2019 FIVE DIAMONDS ran in the 4Head Median Auction Maiden Fillies’ Stakes (Class 6) at Yarmouth finishing 1st. Following the race the Stewards ordered FIVE DIAMONDS to be post-race tested. On 7 August 2019 it was reported that the post-urine sample returned by FIVE DIAMONDS tested positive for HEPS.

Qatar to join F1 calendar in 2021, as country signs additional 10-year deal from 2023

Qatar’s Losail International Circuit will hold its first ever Formula 1 Grand Prix on November 19-21, with the country set to host the 20th event of the 2021 season, as well as signing an additional 10-year deal to host F1 from 2023.

The Qatari circuit is most famous for its association with the world of two-wheeled racing, with Losail having hosted the MotoGP series since 2004. Ooredoo, the international communications company, will be the title sponsor for the event.

Para athlete Caio Pereira receives four-year ban for anti-doping rule violation

Brazilian returned an adverse analytical finding for a prohibited substance in a urine sample provided after competing at Lima 2019 Parapan Am Games

UEFA and CONMEBOL broaden cooperation

UEFA and CONMEBOL have today announced the broadening of their existing cooperation as well as the staging of a match between the UEFA EURO 2020 winners Italy and the CONMEBOL Copa América 2021 winners Argentina during the international window in June 2022 at a venue to be confirmed.

The ITA successfully prosecutes three Russian weightlifters based on WADA I&I investigations, Prof McLaren report and LIMS data

THE INTERNATIONAL TESTING AGENCY (ITA) REPORTS THAT THE INTERNATIONAL WEIGHTLIFTING FEDERATION (IWF) HEARING PANEL HAS ISSUED DECISIONS TO SANCTION RUSSIAN WEIGHTLIFTERS ANDREI DEMANOV, ARSEN BORAGANOV AND ALEKSEY EMELYANEKO WITH ANTI-DOPING RULE VIOLATIONS (ADRVS) FOR THE PRESENCE AND/OR USE OF PROHIBITED SUBSTANCES.

Trainer Johnny Farrelly excluded from British racing

Following a five-day hearing in front of the National Safeguarding Panel (NSP), trainer Johnny Farrelly has today been found in breach of six offences under Regulation 4 and one under Regulation 6 of the BHA Safeguarding Regulations following a referral by the British Horseracing Authority (BHA) to the National Safeguarding Panel.

IOC President urges sports bodies to Register for climate action

IOC President Thomas Bach has urged more sports bodies to join the UN Sports for Climate Action Framework and commit to meaningful climate action. He was speaking at the Sport Positive Summit, the annual gathering of Framework signatories, of which there are currently more than 270.

Anne Gripper elected to UCI Management Committee joining OCC President Tony Mitchell

The Oceania Cycling Confederation (OCC) congratulates Mr David Lappartient on his re-election as President of the Union Cycliste Internationale (UCI) in Leuven, Belgium, Friday 24 September 2021.

Fight against Technological Fraud: negative results for all tests at 2021 UCI Road World Championships

The Union Cycliste Internationale (UCI) confirms a total of 56 technological fraud controls were performed during the recent 2021 UCI Road World Championships in Flanders (Belgium).  All returned negative results.

WADA laboratories: the cornerstone of the global testing process

In this latest edition of ‘Spotlight’, which keeps stakeholders up to date on the activities being carried out by the World Anti-Doping Agency (WADA) team and its partners, we look at the process of accreditation/approval and monitoring of anti-doping laboratories around the world, which is helping to harmonize the analysis of samples and ensure that the highest standards are maintained. Previous ‘Spotlight’ features are available on WADA’s website.

Report IBSF Congress 2021

The Congress of the International Bobsleigh & Skeleton Federation IBSF was held virtually on September 16 and 17, 2021, with the Executive Committee informing the participants with their reports and being available to answer questions from the delegates.

CPA working on riders safety: fruitful meeting with AIOCC at Flanders 2021 World Championships

Concacaf Statement regarding Inter Moengo Tapoe and CD Olimpia

The Concacaf Disciplinary Committee has fully investigated the circumstances surrounding the integrity concerns raised by a video which circulated on social media following the Inter Moengo Tapoe vs CD Olimpia Concacaf League match.

What did we learn from UKAD’s 2021 Clean Sport at the Front Line?

UK Anti-Doping’s (UKAD) Clean Sport at the Front Line (CSFL) took place on 14 & 15 September 2021 online. 

The event was tailored towards practitioners in sport and was free to attend. More than 100 delegates attended on each day of the virtual event.  

This year’s CSFL2021 looked at the importance of clean sport education for athlete support personnel and coaches. The forum presented recent research studies into coach and athlete support personnel anti-doping knowledge. UKAD introduced their new Insight and Innovation Team, who will be leading the development of research into prevalence studies, drug detection, monitoring & evaluation and data analytics.

UEFA, Premier League and Canal+ International welcome final binding anti-piracy decision in Rwanda

Rwandan broadcaster Victory TV ordered to cease the unlawful broadcast of UEFA Champions League and Premier League matches following decision taken by the Court of Appeal of Kigali

Promod Esports becomes an ESIC Member

ESIC is delighted to welcome Promod Esports into membership, supporting ESIC’s mission towards a uniform standard for integrity in esports. As part of its membership, Promod Esports will integrate ESIC’s integrity codes and standards into its esports operations, encouraging fair play and sporting integrity across their platforms. Joining a long list of industry leaders in membership, Promod Esports reinforces their operational commitment to competitive integrity, youth protection, and commercial viability of the international esports industry.

German tennis player banned for 12 months

The International Tennis Integrity Agency (ITIA) has today confirmed that German tennis player Dario Drebenstedt has been banned from the sport for 12 months and fined $5000 after being found guilty of several breaches of Tennis Anti-Corruption Program (TACP) rules. The offenses all took place at a tournament in Egypt in 2021 and related to an attempt to buy a wild card and attempted corrupt approaches to other players.

The UCI innovates in the off-road disciplines

Meeting on 21 and 22 September in Bruges (Belgium) during the 2021 UCI Road World Championships in Flanders, marking the event’s centenary, the Management Committee of the Union Cycliste Internationale (UCI) made a number of important decisions, notably concerning cycling’s off-road disciplines.

RFL response to new Transgender Inclusion in Domestic Sport Guidance

The Rugby Football League welcome the Transgender Inclusion in Domestic Sport Guidance which has today been launched by UK Sport, Sport England, Sport Wales, sportscotland and SportNI. 

WADA launches new e-learning course for athletes and coaches heading to the Olympic Winter Games Beijing 2022

With the start of the Olympic Winter Games Beijing 2022 scheduled for February 2022, the World Anti-Doping Agency (WADA) announces the launch of a new interactive education course on its Anti-Doping Education and Learning Platform (ADEL) for athletes and coaches aiming to attend the Olympic Winter Games.

CAF member associations at Global Integrity Programme

• Initiative to run from 30 September until 4 November

• Programme aimed at improving education and integrity capacity-building across FIFA’s member associations

FIBA U17 Oceania Championships postponed to April 2022

GOLD COAST (Australia) – The Men’s and Women’s 2021 FIBA U17 Oceania Championship scheduled in December in Samoa have been postponed due to travel restrictions in the region.

What is the substance the UCI is investigating and why would it affect Primoz Roglic?

In the midst of several modifications recently made by the International Cycling Union (UCI) to the development of road cycling, alarms have been set on account of the use of a substance that serves to provide energy to cyclists and on other occasions has generated controversy .

International Swimmers’ Alliance Holds First Post-Olympics Board Meeting

28 September 2021, Naples, Italy: On the sidelines of season 3 of the International Swimming League, the recently announced ISA held its first post Olympics, in-person Board meeting. “With the Olympics now over, and most of the Board members in one city, it was the perfect opportunity to get together and build some momentum” said ISA founding Board member Brent Hayden.

Solomon Islands welcomed as 11th member of Oceania Cycling Confederation

The Oceania Cycling Confederation (OCC) is pleased to welcome the Solomon Islands as a new member nation, following the Union Cycliste Internationale (UCI) Congress in Leuven, Belgium, Friday 24 September 2021.

Bolton Wanderers cutting ties with betting companies

Bolton Wanderers Chief Executive Neil Hart has said that the club cutting ties with betting companies is the ‘right thing’ to do.

Bolton, who currently sit ninth in League One, have said it will remove all betting kiosks from with the University of Bolton Stadium and no longer accept gambling money. Hart said “Bolton want to win on the pitch, but alongside that is doing the right thing. We just felt, with the saturation of betting advertising around football, we didn't need to be part of that. We are not saying to supporters don't bet, but we aren't going to provide you with that opportunity within the stadium and it's something we believed in. The early indication is it’s been received very positively and our supporters are very much aligned with us.”

Disciplinary proceedings in connection with the so-called ‘Super League’ project have been declared null and void

UEFA takes note of the letter sent today by the independent UEFA Appeals Body in which the disciplinary proceedings that had been opened against FC Barcelona, Juventus FC and Real Madrid CF for a potential violation of UEFA’s legal framework in connection with the so-called ‘Super League’ project have been declared null and void, without any prejudice, as if the proceedings had never been opened.

NBA rejects Golden State Warriors’ Andrew Wiggins request for religious exemption from San Francisco vaccination mandate

The NBA has denied Andrew Wiggins’ request for a religious exemption from the San Francisco mandatory requirement for all attendees at indoor gatherings to be vaccinated against Covid-19.

2020/21 UEFA club competition technical reports – out now

Analysis, opinions, facts and figures take centre stage in the in-depth technical reviews of last season’s four major European club football and futsal competitions.

FIFPRO Americas division makes organisational changes

FIFPRO’s division in the Americas has made organisational changes with a view to strengthening the representation of professional footballers across the region. The division is also taking another step towards becoming more diverse and inclusive after two women were elected to its regional board.

LawInSport Weekly News Recap - 24 September

Welcome to LawInSport’s weekly News Roundup.  This recap highlights this week’s 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. 

The UCI has elected its Vice-Presidents for the next four years

Meeting for an extraordinary session after the Congress of the Union Cycliste Internationale (UCI) organised during the 2021 UCI Road World Championships in Flanders (Belgium), the newly elected Management Committee today carried out the election of the Federation’s Vice-Presidents for the next four years. In line with a modification to the UCI Constitution approved earlier in the day by its Congress, the UCI now counts at least one Vice-President of each gender, for a total of four Vice-Presidents (compared with three previously). The Vice-Presidents elected are:

STS seals long-term official data and trading partnership with Genius Sports

STS, the leading betting operator in the regulated Polish market, has announced a new official data and trading partnership with Genius Sports (NYSE: GENI) to drive the expansion of its in-play offering.

UEFA Women’s Euro 2022 prize money doubled

The UEFA Executive Committee has doubled the total prize money that will be shared between teams who compete at the Women’s 2022 European Championships but the new figure is still only 4.3% of the money that is made available to teams competing in the men’s tournament.