USTA launches new mental health initiative ahead of US Open

The United States Tennis Association announced the launch of a new mental health initiative for players on Tuesday ahead of the US Open later this month.

Anti-Doping notification: Russian athlete Vladimir Turbayevskiy

World Triathlon hereby reports that Russian athlete Vladimir Turbayevskiy has been suspended of competition after the decision of the CAS Anti-Doping Division that finds him guilty of an ADRV pursuant to Article 2.2 of the Anti-Doping rules (ADR) in connection with abnormalities in the haematological module of the Athlete Biological Passport (ABP) based on abnormalities detected in blood samples collected in June and July 2014 and in August 2020 all of which indicate blood manipulation.

US Department of Justice awards FIFA Foundation USD 201 million compensation

The United States Department of Justice has awarded the sum of USD 201 million to the FIFA Foundation as compensation for the losses suffered by FIFA, Concacaf and CONMEBOL as victims of decades of football corruption schemes. This money was seized from the bank accounts of former officials who were involved in, and then prosecuted for, years of corruption schemes in football. The funds will go into a newly formed World Football Remission Fund, established under the auspices of the FIFA Foundation to help finance football-related projects with positive community impact across the globe.

Premier League clubs and ECA members set to restrict players travelling to red-list countries for international duty

European Club Association (ECA) members are set to prevent their players from traveling to red-list countries in September for international duty unless quarantine exemptions are made.

The UK currently has a 10-day quarantine period in a managed hotel in force for any individuals travelling to countries on the red list, this isolation period would result in players missing multiple Premier League games. Clubs across Europe in major leagues are facing a similar problem with the international break starting at the beginning of September.

EFL statement: International call-ups

EFL Clubs have today taken the collective decision not to release players for international matches that are to be played in countries on the UK Government’s ‘red list’ next month.

Concacaf successfully recovers misappropriated funds to further benefit football development in the region

• Significant US DOJ announcement brings five-year legal process to a close
• Recovered funds to be invested in football development activities

CIFA President, Mr Lee Harmon banned by the OFC Disciplinary and Ethics Committee

The Adjudicatory Chamber of the OFC Disciplinary and Ethics Committee in a decision notified on 6 July 2021 has found Mr. Lee Harmon, President of the Cook Islands Football Association, guilty of having breached the OFC Code of Ethics. 

Uganda - Magogo re-elected FUFA President

Eng. Moses Hassim Magogo has been re-elected President of the Federation of Uganda Football Associations (FUFA) for a third term that runs 2021-2025.

ESIC Launches ‘Transparency Initiative’ to Bolster Visibility of Investigative Work and Outcomes

OVERVIEW:                                 

• ESIC is an integrity body that oversees member events across a variety of different esports titles. ESIC administers (on average) 15-30 investigations concurrently at any one time.
• Due to ESIC’s current (but resolving) resourcing constraints, it is often limited to functions that are essential to its investigatory activity and therefore has on occasion not held the capacity to provide convenient updates to the public on ongoing matters in a timely manner.
• Irrespective of resourcing constraints, most of the matters that ESIC is currently investigating are highly sensitive and confidential and publicity about them could not only undermine the investigation itself, but also potentially damage the reputation of innocent parties subsequently found to have not participated in corrupt activity. ESIC therefore exercises a high degree of caution in making any statement about ongoing matters.
• However, ESIC is aware that the growing public interest in its activities and demand for information to be made available is something that it needs to resolve. It is important that ESIC provide a reliable and proportionate level of insight into the activities it undertakes so as to bolster public confidence in the integrity of esports and of ESIC as its guardian.

Weightlifter receives sanction

Sport Integrity Australia acknowledges the decision of Australian Weightlifting Federation Ltd (AWF)  to impose an additional four-year ban on athlete Brendan Southwick for breaching his period of ineligibility.

The ITA asserts and apparent ADRV against Bahrain track and field athlete El Hassan El Abbassi

THE INTERNATIONAL TESTING AGENCY (ITA) REPORTS THAT A SAMPLE COLLECTED FROM EL HASSAN EL ABBASSI, RUNNER FROM BAHRAIN, HAS RETURNED AN ADVERSE ANALYTICAL FINDING (“AAF”) FOR HOMOLOGOUS BLOOD TRANSFUSION (M.1 PROHIBITED METHOD - MANIPULATION OF BLOOD).

Katie Sadleir appointed new CGF Chief Executive Officer

The Commonwealth Games Federation (CGF) are delighted to announce that Katie Sadleir has been appointed as its new Chief Executive Officer (CEO).

The New Zealander will take up the position from her current role at World Rugby, where she is the General Manager of Women’s Rugby. 

Genius Sports Acquires Spirable to Enhance Official Data-Driven Video Marketing Capabilities

Genius Sports Limited (NYSE: GENI) (“Genius Sports” or “the Company”), the official data, technology and commercial partner that powers the ecosystem connecting sports, betting and media, announced today that it has entered into a definitive agreement to acquire Spirable, a leading creative performance platform. Transaction details have not been disclosed.

The ITA asserts an apparent ADRV against Bulgarian weightlifter Yunder Beytula

THE INTERNATIONAL TESTING AGENCY (ITA) REPORTS THAT A SAMPLE COLLECTED FROM BULGARIAN WEIGHTLIFTER YUNDER BEYTULA HAS RETURNED AN ADVERSE ANALYTICAL FINDING (AAF) FOR HUMAN GROWTH HORMONES (HGH) (S2. PEPTIDE HORMONES, GROWTH FACTORS).

World Athletics approves the applications of four Russians to compete internationally as neutral athletes

The World Athletics Doping Review Board has agreed that the applications of four Russian athletes have met the exceptional eligibility criteria to compete in international competition as neutral athletes in 2021 under Eligibility Rule 3.2 while the Russian national federation (RusAF) remains suspended.

Esports Technologies joins ESIC as an Anti Corruption Supporter

Esports Technologies joins ESIC as an Anti Corruption Supporter

ESIC welcomes Esports Technologies (NASDAQ: EBET) as an ESIC Anti-Corruption Supporter. With the support of Esports Technologies, ESIC continues the battle against match-fixing and corruption in esports.

Anti-Corruption Supporters assist ESIC in investigating suspicious betting activity, supporting our larger mission in combating cheating and betting fraud in the esports industry.

U.S. Weightlifting Athlete Regina Hancock Accepts Sanction for Anti-Doping Rule Violation

USADA announced today that Regina Hancock, of Omaha, Neb., an athlete in the sport of weightlifting, has accepted a four-year suspension for an anti-doping rule violation.

Hancock, 41, tested positive for 3′-hydroxy-stanozolol, a metabolite of stanozolol, as the result of an in-competition drug test on March 20, 2021 at the USA Masters Weightlifting Championships. Stanozolol is a Non-Specified Substance in the class of Anabolic Agents and is prohibited at all times under the USADA Protocol for Olympic and Paralympic Movement Testing, the United States Olympic and Paralympic Committee National Anti-Doping Policy, and the International Weightlifting Federation Anti-Doping Rules, all of which have adopted the World Anti-Doping Code and the World Anti-Doping Agency Prohibited List.

Result of an Enquiry (K. Lundie) heard by the Disciplinary Panel on Thursday 26 August 2021

1. On 26 August 2021 the independent Disciplinary Panel of the British Horseracing Authority (BHA) convened to consider whether Mr Kevin Lundie, a licensed professional flat jockey, was in breach of Rule (K)49 (a jockey must ensure that no Banned Substance is present in their body) and/or Rule (L)5.2 (where an approved person requires a person to attend an interview the person must attend the interview at the agreed time and place).

Venues for the AFC Asian Qualifiers – Road to Qatar™ openers confirmed

Kuala Lumpur: The Asian Football Confederation (AFC) has today confirmed the Khalifa International Stadium in Qatar as the neutral venue for the AFC Asian Qualifiers – Road to Qatar™ Group B match between Australia and China PR on September 2, 2021, as well as the Group A tie between Iraq and Islamic Republic of Iran scheduled for September 7.

BMX Racing: James Palmer and Laura Smulders elected to the UCI Athletes' Commission

The Union Cycliste Internationale (UCI) is pleased to announce that James Palmer (CAN) and Laura Smulders (NED) have been elected to represent BMX Racing on the UCI Athletes’ Commission, in a vote organised during the 2021 UCI BMX World Championships held in Papendal (the Netherlands) from 17 to 22 August.

Group evacuation of women football players and athletes from Afghanistan

We are grateful to the Australian government for evacuating a large number of women footballers and athletes from Afghanistan. These young women, both as athletes and activists, have been in a position of danger and on behalf of their peers around the world we thank the international community for coming to their aid.

The Confederation of African Football (“CAF”) requests the British Government to grant an exemption to African players for the international window.

CAF has noted the current circumstances in place in Britain regarding the lack of sporting exemptions for players returning from several African countries after the international window next week.

WADA’s Independent Observers aim to ensure the Tokyo 2020 Paralympic Games anti-doping program is effective

The 2020 Paralympic Games got underway in Tokyo on Tuesday and amid all the tension, all the buzz and all the anticipation for the action to start, one group of dedicated professionals is working hard in the background, doing their utmost to ensure that the athletes receive the support they deserve from an anti-doping program designed to protect them.

ESIC Update Regarding NA ESEA Match-Fixing Investigation

OVERVIEW:

For some time now, ESIC has been investigating several instances of match-fixing behaviour which took place in the North American region amongst CS:GO players participating in an ESEA tournament series. While this investigation is still ongoing, ESIC has made this release for the purposes of issuing an interim update.

To date, this investigation has been subject to significant cooperation with law enforcement agencies, anti-corruption supporters, and other stakeholders in order to ensure that the behaviour being perpetrated is thoroughly investigated and prosecuted under ESIC’s Anti-Corruption Code.

As of the date of this interim release, ESIC announces sanctions against three participants and is still in the process of conducting 34 additional investigations relating to this matter.

Notably, ESIC has observed compelling evidence that suggests that organised crime groups and foreign betting syndicates were involved in fraudulent activities during the course of Season 35 of the ESEA Premier: North America.

Decisions of the CAF Disciplinary Board - August 2021

WADA revokes accreditation of Athens Laboratory

Yesterday, during an extraordinary meeting held online, the World Anti-Doping Agency’s (WADA’s) Executive Committee (ExCo) endorsed a WADA Disciplinary Committee recommendation to revoke the accreditation of the Doping Control Laboratory of Athens, Greece (Athens Laboratory) due to non-compliances with the International Standard for Laboratories (ISL) and its related Technical Documents and Technical Letters.

The Athens Laboratory, which was already suspended, was immediately notified of the ExCo decision; and, as such, remains ineligible to analyze doping control samples for Anti-Doping Organizations that are compliant with the World Anti-Doping Code (Code).

Four-year term for Kulesza in Poland

Cezary Kulesza has been elected as the new president of the Polish Football Federation (PZPN).

Afghanistan athletes unable to attend Paralympics due to unrest

Afghanistan’s two Paralympic athletes will not be competing at the Tokyo Games due to the unrest in the country.

Taekwondo competitor Zakia Khudadadi and track athlete Hossain Rasouli were due to arrive in Tokyo for the Games on Tuesday with Khudadadi set to become the first female athlete to represent Afghanistan at the Paralympics.

Raiders to require proof of COVID-19 vaccination from all fans attending home games in 2021

ECA Executive Board accepts clubs' requests to retain ECA membership

World Athletics v Maria Guadalupe González Romero

A decision in the case of World Athletics against Maria Guadalupe González Romero has been issued by the Disciplinary Tribunal

On 10 December 2018,  the AIU issued Ms González Romero with a Notice of Charge for committing an Anti-Doping Rule Violation under Article 2.1 and 2.2 of the IAAF Anti-Doping Rules (ADR) after testing positive for the Presence and Use of a Prohibited Substance. Ms González Romero requested the matter be resolved before the Disciplinary Tribunal. A hearing was held on 17 April 2019 and a decision issued on 09 May 2019 (‘the First Decision’). The First Decision imposed a four (4) year period of Ineligibility upon the Athlete commencing on the date of the Award.

The FA has published its Media Essentials Guide for the 2021-22 season

We have today published our Media Essentials Guide for the 2021-22 season.  

This guide is produced each season to support print, broadcast and online journalists who are responsible for understanding our Rules and Regulations and ensure they report on any incidents accurately for their viewers, readers or listeners.  

Disciplinary | Match Review Panel

Following the latest round of Betfred Championship and League 1 fixtures, the Match Review Panel have issued the following sanctions:

FIFA Global Integrity Program continues with CONCACAF edition

• 35 member associations from North, Central America and the Caribbean to take part

• Concacaf workshop begins on 11 August 2021

• FIFA Global Integrity Programme, developed in collaboration with the UNODC, aims to educate and build integrity capacity across football

Thirty-five member associations from across the Concacaf region will come together this week to begin the third edition of the FIFA Global Integrity Programme, a dedicated integrity initiative designed to improve education and build integrity capacity across football.

Portuguese PLayer Union is fighting back against trafficking

• Portuguese player union is working with the national government and football federation to fight trafficking of footballers.
• Fake agents or scouts routinely trick semi-professional or amateur players into travelling to Europe only to find humiliating conditions
• The player union SJPF is seeking much stricter legislation to punish scammers

AFC agrees rights deal with Abu Dhabi Media in the United Arab Emirates

Kuala Lumpur: The Asian Football Confederation (AFC) has today confirmed Abu Dhabi Media, the UAE’s leading public service broadcaster and media company, as their exclusive media partner to broadcast the AFC’s national team and club competitions for the 2021 to 2024 rights cycle in the United Arab Emirates. 

Turkey withdraw from Europe Women’s Qualifer

The International Cricket Council (ICC) today have confirmed that Turkey have withdrawn from the ICC Women’s T20 World Cup Europe Qualifier supported by Dream 11 as the necessary approval and travel documentation required due to COVID-19 restrictions for the team was not able to be secured from the Turkish Sports Ministry.

The CCES Completes Testing of Team Canada Prior to Tokyo 2020 Paralympics

The Canadian Centre for Ethics in Sport (CCES) has successfully completed its pre-Games testing program prior to the 2020 Paralympic Games in Tokyo. We would like to wish all members of Team Canada good luck and we hope the Games are a safe and healthy experience for everyone.  

U.S. Weightlifting Athlete Christian Buckley Accepts Sanction for Anti-Doping Rule Violation

USADA announced today that Christian Buckley, of Frankfort, Ky., an athlete in the sport of weightlifting, has accepted a three-year suspension for an anti-doping rule violation.

Kaia's bowling action found to be illegal

The 29-year-old off-spinner was reported with a suspect bowling action during the one-off Test against Bangladesh played in Harare in July.

UKAD renews partnership with King’s College London to test athlete samples for anti-doping purposes

• The Drug Control Centre, King’s Forensics at King’s College London, the UK’s only WADA accredited lab, will provide the sample analysis services to UK Anti-Doping for 6 years
• The contract will see new research priorities delivered

EFL statement: Rochdale AFC

On 16 August 2021, in accordance with its Regulations, the EFL issued notice to multiple individuals of the commencement of disciplinary investigations in respect to the acquisition of shares in Rochdale Association Football Club.

It is alleged that Morton House MGT acquired Control of the Club, and a number of individuals became Relevant Persons without the prior consent of the EFL in accordance with the Owners’ and Directors’ Test (OADT).

WADA’s Athlete Biological Passport: an important tool for protecting clean sport

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  Athlete Biological Passport (ABP), a powerful anti-doping tool that monitors selected biological variables over time to reveal the effects of doping rather than attempting to detect the doping substance or method itself. Previous ‘Spotlight’ features are available on WADA’s website.

Genius Sports Appoints Former NFL Network and ESPN CEO as President, North America

• Brings extensive media experience to Genius, including time at ESPN, ABC and NFL Network
• He will lead the Company’s U.S. and Canadian activities
• He will develop Genius’ regional business infrastructure to position the Company for accelerated growth in existing and new areas
• He will work closely with the executive team to identify innovative and revenue accretive acquisition targets

Disciplinary | Match Review Panel

Following the latest round of Betfred Super League fixtures, the Match Review Panel have issued the following sanctions:

Exeedme is Portuguese Esports Federation new partner

The Portuguese Esports Federation (PESF) announces a new partnership agreement with Exeedme, the first Portuguese Play2Earn platform.

Under the agreement, Exeedme will sponsor the Portuguese national teams in the European Nations Cup and Esports World Championship, competitions organized by the European Federation of Esports (EEF) and the International Federation of Esports (IESF), and provide the platform to organize the qualifiers to determine the Portuguese rosters of the national teams.

International Skating Union releases transgender policy

The International Skating Union (ISU) has released a transgender policy which details criteria for transgender athletes to be able to compete.

World Athletics v Fernanda Martins

A decision in the case of World Athletics against Fernanda Martins has been issued by the Disciplinary Tribunal.

On 7 July 2021 the AIU issued Ms Martins with a Notice of Charge for committing an Anti-Doping Rule Violation pursuant to Articles 2.1 and 2.2 of the 2021 World Athletics Anti-Doping Rules after testing positive for the Prohibited Substance Enobosarm. 

Aston Martin withdraw appeal against Vettel's Hungarian GP disqualification

Aston Martin have withdrawn their appeal against Sebastian Vettel's disqualification from the Hungarian Grand Prix, the team announced on Thursday.

Vettel finished second on track at the Hungaroring behind winner Esteban Ocon and ahead of championship leader Lewis Hamilton. But he was disqualified when the FIA were unable to take the required 1.0 litre fuel sample from his car following the race, as per the technical regulations.

U.S. Cycling Athlete Katherine Compton Accepts Sanction for Anti-Doping Rule Violation

USADA announced today that Katherine Compton, of Colorado Springs, Colo., an athlete in the sport of cycling, has accepted a four-year suspension for an anti-doping rule violation.

Compton, 42, tested positive for an anabolic agent as the result of an out-of-competition drug test on September 16, 2020. Her urine sample was analyzed using a specialized test, known as Carbon Isotope Ratio testing, that differentiates between anabolic androgenic steroids (AAS) naturally produced by the body and prohibited anabolic agents of external origin. Anabolic agents have powerful performance-enhancing capabilities and can give an athlete an unfair advantage over fellow competitors.