The International Testing Agency (ITA), mandated by the Olympic Council of Asia (OCA) to independently handle areas of the anti-doping program at the Asian Games Hangzhou 2022, including results management, reports that a sample collected from boxing athlete Chinzorig Baatarsukh from Mongolia has returned an Adverse Analytical Finding¹ for metandienone metabolite, a non-specified Prohibited Substance, according to the Prohibited List of the World Anti-Doping Agency (WADA).
The sample was collected by the ITA at the Asian Games Hangzhou 2022 during an in-competition anti-doping control performed on 4 October 2023. The Sample Collection Authority was the China Anti-Doping Agency.
The athlete has been informed of the case. He has the right to request the analysis of the B-samples.
The matter will thereafter be referred to the Anti-Doping Division of the Court of Arbitration for Sport (CAS ADD) for adjudication under the OCA Anti-Doping Rules.
Given that the case is underway, there will be no further comments during the ongoing proceeding.
List of Anti-Doping Rule Violations at the Asian Games Hangzhou 2022
Following lengthy appeal proceedings, the Court of Arbitration for Sport (CAS) has confirmed and upheld the FEI Tribunal’s decision in the case against Andrew Kocher delivered in June 2021, which saw the US Athlete suspended for 10 years for the use of electric spurs on several horses throughout a prolonged period of time.
Other sanctions in the FEI Tribunal decision rendered two years ago, also included the disqualification of results from eight FEI events between June 2018 and November 2019 where evidence supported the athlete’s use of electric spurs on horses, alongside a CHF 10,000 fine and legal costs to the amount of CHF 7,500. Kocher appealed the said FEI Tribunal decision on 1 July 2021, seeking to eliminate or otherwise reduce the sanctions imposed.
The FEI Tribunal decision was the result of a lengthy investigation by the FEI, starting in June 2020 following allegations of electric spur use reported to the independent Equestrian Community Integrity Unit (ECIU). It was alleged that Kocher had used electric spurs on a number of FEI registered and national horses in international and national events, and during training.
Upon the conclusion of the investigation, the FEI formally opened disciplinary proceedings against Kocher in October 2020. During the proceeding before the FEI Tribunal, it was also discovered that Kocher instructed his employees to use the electric spurs on specific horses. For that purpose, Kocher provided to his employees several electric spurs devices which he manufactured himself.
In its decision, the CAS Panel reached the same conclusion as the FEI Tribunal, to the effect that a ten-year suspension was merited, during which Kocher is barred from participating in or attending, in any capacity, including as a spectator, any competition or event that is authorised or organised by the FEI or any National Federation. The provisional suspension served by Kocher since 28 October 2020 shall be credited against this period of suspension, which will therefore come to an end on 27 October 2030. The CHF 10,000 fine was also upheld and Kocher is furthermore ordered to pay costs of CHF 7,500.
“We are extremely satisfied with this outcome and that the sanctions the FEI Tribunal imposed, to reflect the severity of the offenses committed by Mr Kocher, have been upheld by CAS”, said FEI Legal Director Mikael Rentsch.
“It may have taken two years to complete this process, but it confirms that we had the right decision to start with, and that there is no room for leniency when it comes to cases of horse abuse.
“We have rules and regulations in place to protect the integrity of our competitions and the wellbeing of our horses, and when these rules are breached and their welfare is jeopardised, we will continue to seek to impose maximum sentences.”
The full CAS decision is available here.
The FEI Tribunal Decision is available here.
As we approach the final stages of the 2023 tour season, the ITIA is reminding players and their support teams to be aware of upcoming changes to the WADA [World Anti-Doping Agency] Prohibited List, which will take effect from 1 January 2024.
The full list of prohibited substances has been published by WADA and is available here. The most notable change to the list is the addition of tramadol, a well-known and commonly used pain-killing drug. Tramadol will become a prohibited substance in the new year, following recommendation of the List Expert Advisory Group to prohibit its use in competition from 2024.
Tramadol has been on the WADA Monitoring Program and data gathered through that programme have indicated significant use in sports. Tramadol abuse, with its dose-dependent risks of physical dependence, opiate addiction and overdoses in the general population, is of concern and has led to it being a controlled drug in many countries. Research studies funded by WADA have also confirmed the potential for tramadol to enhance sports performance.
The ITIA will work with everyone on the tennis tour to ensure that players understand the changes to the WADA Prohibited List in 2024. Players who currently use tramadol as part of their pain management regimen are urged to phase out its use as soon as possible, as its presence in a player’s system will constitute a breach of the Tennis Anti-Doping Programme (TADP) from January 2024 – except in the cases in which a player successfully applies for a Therapeutic Use Exemption (TUE), with legitimate medical grounds for use.
Committed to prioritising prevention of Anti-Doping Rule Violations (ADRVs) over punishment, the ITIA will – in collaboration with the ATP, WTA, and ITF - deliver a mixture of direct communication, education sessions and visual reminders in player-facing areas at tournaments to ensure that players are fully aware of the changes ahead of the 2024 season.
Nicole Sapstead, the ITIA’s Senior Director for Anti-Doping, said: “It is essential that all players and their representatives are aware of upcoming changes to the Prohibited List. In particular, players must note the addition of tramadol as a banned substance from next year.
“As a sport, we have a collective responsibility to ensure that the non-essential use of tramadol is eliminated before the changes to the Prohibited List take effect.
“Being unaware of changes to the list is, unfortunately, no defence against prospective sanctions, and it is incumbent upon the entire tennis family to protect players from unintentional doping violations by taking a proactive approach to rule changes.”
Players seeking further understanding of the WADA Prohibited List, or seeking practical support from the ITIA on anti-doping matters, can make contact with us directly via our app, through direct message on social media, or by filling out the contact form at itia.tennis.
The International Testing Agency (ITA), mandated by the Olympic Council of Asia (OCA)to independently handle areas of the anti-doping program at the Asian Games Hangzhou 2022, including results management, reports that a sample collected from weightlifter Erdenezul Buyandelger, from Mongolia, has returned an Adverse Analytical Finding¹ for the non-specified prohibited steroid drostanolone metabolite according to the Prohibited List of the World Anti-Doping Agency (WADA).
The sample was collected by the ITA at the Asian Games Hangzhou 2022 during an out-of-competition anti-doping control performed on 1 October 2023. The Sample Collection Authority was the China Anti-Doping Agency.
The athlete has been informed of the case and has been provisionally suspended with immediate effect. She has the right to request the analysis of the B-sample.
The matter will thereafter be referred to the Anti-Doping Division of the Court of Arbitration for Sport (CAS ADD) for adjudication under the OCA Anti-Doping Rules.
Given that the case is underway, there will be no further comments during the ongoing proceeding.
The EFL has today launched its ‘Together Against Racism’ initiative which renews appeals to football supporters to report any incidents of racism and discrimination they see or hear in stadiums and online.
Clubs will also showcase the work that is being undertaken up and down the country to promote inclusion and make Clubs representative of the communities in which they are located.
With support from anti-discrimination charity, Kick It Out, the campaign sees a focused drive from the EFL and its Clubs to combat racism and all forms of discrimination in football.
Across four weekends in October, every EFL Club will run a ‘Together Against Racism’ matchday reminding fans how they can report abuse, so that football and law enforcement authorities can ensure that there are consequences for abusers, while victims get the support they need.
Tackling discriminatory abuse is a key part of the football-wide Love Football Protect the Game initiative which aims to combat all dangerous and illegal behaviour at football grounds across the country.
Building on English football’s shared commitment on equality, discrimination and inclusion, ‘Together Against Racism’ will run concurrently alongside the Premier League’s ‘No Room for Racism’ and the FA’s ‘Enough is Enough’ campaigns throughout October, highlighting the collective approach that is being taken at all levels of the game.
Trevor Birch, Chief Executive of the the EFL, said:
“Football has a platform to effect positive change across society, so we are proud to be collaborating with partners across the game to ensure a welcoming environment for everyone.
“Our clubs are working hard to stamp out unwelcome behaviour from football and via the many measures the game has introduced in recent years we will continue to support them as we look to make the EFL truly representative of the communities we represent.”
The Together Against Racism campaign launch has been supported by former Reading midfielder and Jamaican international Jobi McAnuff who narrated a video on how to report discrimination.
The International Testing Agency (ITA), mandated by the Olympic Council of Asia (OCA) to independently handle areas of the anti-doping program at the Asian Games Hangzhou 2022, including results management, reports that a sample collected from track and field athlete Wesam Nasser A ALFARSI, from Saudi Arabia, has returned an Adverse Analytical Finding¹ for the non-specified prohibited substance darbepoetin (dEPO) according to the Prohibited List of the World Anti-Doping Agency (WADA).
The sample was collected by the ITA at the Asian Games Hangzhou 2022 during an out-of-competition anti-doping control performed on 29 September 2023.
The Sample Collection Authority was the China Anti-Doping Agency.
The athlete has been informed of the case and has been provisionally suspended with immediate effect. He has the right to request the analysis of the B-sample.
The matter will thereafter be referred to the Anti-Doping Division of the Court of Arbitration for Sport (CAS ADD) for adjudication under the OCA Anti-Doping Rules.
Given that the case is underway, there will be no further comments during the ongoing proceeding.
The individual behind a sophisticated illegal streaming service which showed Premier League matches has been jailed today for two and a half years.
The conviction and sentencing of Steven Mills, aged 58 from Shrewsbury, follows a joint investigation by the Premier League, West Mercia Police, and anti-piracy organisation FACT.
Mills, who ran the organisation which sold so-called "Firesticks" via a closed Facebook group and claimed to have more than 30,000 subscribers, pleaded guilty in June earlier this year to multiple fraud offences at Shrewsbury Crown Court.
He was also convicted of a separate offence for watching the illegal content that he was supplying to others, with the court recognising that his own use of the unauthorised service was a distinct crime in itself. Mills received a separate prison sentence for this offence.
The service provided customers with a bespoke app and streaming devices, including “Firesticks”, to view a wide range of sport and entertainment content. Mills took significant steps to disguise his activity from detection including posting bundles of cash to suppliers and operating under a number of aliases.
In his sentencing remarks the judge in the case commented on the sophistication of the operation. The judge highlighted the use of Virtual Private Networks (VPNs) and recorded tutorial videos which supported his customers to access the illegal content.
Trading under the names Pikabox and Eyepeeteevee, the organisation received more than £1million in five years. The service was primarily provided to UK-based customers and was also sold to a network of resellers, who are currently under investigation.
The enquiry and subsequent raids by police provided intelligence which identified more than 1,000 of his customers. In January this year police and FACT officials visited a number of those individuals, serving notices to cease illegal streaming activities with immediate effect.
Kevin Plumb, Premier League General Counsel, said: “The sentence handed down by the Crown Court today once again clearly demonstrates the severity of piracy-related offences and the consequences that come with them.
“It is vital that the public continue to be made aware of the dangers and criminality associated with using illegal streaming services.
“We are aware that so-called ‘Firesticks’ are being sold as a means of illegally accessing all kinds of content, and today’s judgment should remove any doubt that it is illegal and treated very seriously by the courts.”
Detective Inspector Matt McNelis, Senior Investigating Officer, West Mercia Police, added: “This was a great example of partners from law enforcement and industry coming together to have a profound effect on this type of criminality.
“It’s clear that no single agency alone can be as effective as closely coordinated teams working towards achieving an objective. The investigation, run by the Force Cyber Crime Unit, utilised sensitive tactics to increase the preventative messaging during the arrest phase before following up again with FACT to disrupt and educate others linked to Mills earlier this year.
“We are grateful for the advice provided by the Premier League legal team and of course to colleagues in the Government Agency Intelligence Network (GAIN) and look forward to working with the team again in the near future.”
Kieron Sharp, CEO of FACT, added: “FACT are proud to have supported the Premier League in this major investigation. This successful outcome would not have been possible without the collaboration and support of West Mercia Police and GAIN. FACT are committed to safeguarding the broadcast rights of our partners and we hope that the severity of the sentence sends out a clear message that piracy is a crime that is taken very seriously by the courts."
Today’s judgment follows the successful prosecution earlier this year which resulted in five individuals being jailed for a total of 30 years and seven months in what is thought to be the world’s largest-ever prosecution of an illegal streaming network which offered illegal access to Premier League matches.
UK Anti-Doping (UKAD) has today confirmed that British bobsledder Nathan Togun will serve an additional nine-year ban from sport following an Anti-Doping Rule Violation (ADRV) for Tampering and a breach of the terms of his original ban.
In August 2019, Mr Togun was issued with a four-year ban from sport after a Sample he provided on 6 October 2018 returned Adverse Analytical Findings (AAFs) for metabolites of stanozolol. In the course of those proceedings, Mr Togun asserted that he had been prescribed stanozolol for a medical condition and provided UKAD with a ‘Statement of fitness for work’ certificate to support that assertion. This certificate purported to confirm that Mr Togun was not fit for work and indicated that he had been prescribed stanozolol.
UKAD made enquiries to check the veracity of the document and found that the document was not genuine.
On 11 November 2022, UKAD charged Mr Togun with the commission of an ADRV for Tampering. On 14 February 2023, Mr Togun admitted the charge. Since this was Mr Togun’s second ADRV, the period of Ineligibility to be applied is eight years (which is twice the ban that would have been applied had this been Mr Togun’s first ADRV).
Separately, in late 2019, UKAD became aware that Mr Togun, while serving his original ban, had been assisting an Athlete licensed by the British Boxing Board of Control (BBBoC). Contrary to the terms of his ban, Mr Togun partook in sparring sessions with the Athlete and assisted him with strength and conditioning sessions.
On 25 October 2022 following a full investigation, UKAD charged Mr Togun with a breach of Article 10.12.1 of the ADR and proposed an additional period of Ineligibility of one-year by way of sanction. Mr Togun accepted this new period of Ineligibility in respect of the breach of his original ban.
Mr Togun’s nine-year ban from sport was deemed to have commenced on 13 November 2022 and will expire on 12 November 2031.
Jane Rumble, UKAD’s Chief Executive, added: “The rules are in place to make sure everyone plays their part in keeping sport clean and to ensure a level playing field.
“Tampering with any part of the Doping Control process is a serious offence. Where an Athlete seeks to undermine the Doping Control process, including by providing falsified documentation to UKAD during Anti-Doping proceedings, they should be under no illusion that such behaviour will lead to a lengthy ban from sport.
“Furthermore, this case shows that UKAD will act on intelligence and investigate to enforce bans on athletes who do not respect the conditions of their original sanctions.”
FC Barcelona are facing a bribery charge in the Spanish courts for their payments to former vice-president of the Spanish Technical Committee of Referees (CTA) José María Enríquez Negreira which totalled €7.7 million between 2001 and 2018.
El Mundo reveal that, in a report requested by the court, Spain's Civil Guard had concluded that referees under the watch of the CTA's former president Victoriano Sanchez Arminio and Negreira weren't always "unbiased". It was found that they ran an "irregular operation" while overseeing the committee, where decisions which "would not have always had impartial support" from a sporting perspective were made.
Judge Joaquin Aguirre Lopez reviewed the public prosecutor’s case and ruled that the matter would proceed to trial with the club former presidents Josep Maria Bartomeu, Sandro Rosell and Negreira’s son Javier Enríquez also being named as defendants.
As explained by Cadena SER, the parties involved have been notified by the judge presiding the case that the original crime of "continued corruption between individuals in the sports field" is merely that. Instead, the judge believes that the crime of bribery fits the case better, because Negreira "participated in the exercise of public functions" during the period of time that he received payments from Barca, which then ceased when he left his position.
The judge also said that he believed the case demonstrated the club obtained advantages from referees. It will be for a jury, nine people under Spanish law, to decide.
If found guilty the club could be suspended from La Liga and given the clubs precarious financial situation this would likely result in bankruptcy, the individual defendants could receive between three and six years in prison.
UEFA will conduct their own investigation into the allegations but this may not be undertaken until the Spanish court has issued its ruling. All of the defendants deny the allegations.
-
Implementation includes the mandatory use of licensed agents and a cap on service fees, and follows an extensive consultation process
-
The Court of Arbitration for Sport has confirmed the legality of the regulations
-
Approximately 4,500 licences were issued to individuals that are now eligible to provide football agent services as of 1 October
FIFA is due to fully implement the Football Agent Regulations (FFAR) as of 1 October 2023, following a long and inclusive consultation process involving players, clubs, leagues, member associations and football agents themselves and their partial entry into force in January 2023.
A landmark CAS award has confirmed the legality, validity and proportionality of the FFAR, and courts in Belgium, Czechia, Germany, Spain, the Netherlands and Switzerland have rejected injunctions against the new rules, both at national and international level.
As of 1 October, FIFA will enforce the full implementation of the FFAR, including the mandatory use of licensed football agents, the cap on service fees and new provisions to ensure the protection of minors. The only exception to the full implementation of the FFAR will be in Germany, where a preliminary injunction has been granted by a local court.
Following the first two exams and all the legacy licence applications submitted so far, a total of approximately 4,500 licences have already been issued. Those who hold a licence, will be eligible to perform football agent services as of 1 October. Unsuccessful applicants will have the opportunity to retake the exam in May and November 2024. FIFA will organise further exams in the coming years.
As part of the new regulations, potential disputes in connection with representation agreements entered into as from 1 October will be handled by the Agents Chamber of the Football Tribunal, thus ensuring that any conflicts concerning football agent services are resolved fairly and equally for all participants in the international transfer system. FIFA believes that the FFAR provide a reasonable and proportionate framework to help resolve systemic failures in the player transfer system and wishes to underscore that the regulations have been universally recognised by football stakeholders and the most important political authorities in Europe.
-
Publication includes latest regulations, statutory documents and circulars
FIFA has today published the 2023 edition of its Legal Handbook, which features a unique overview of the latest regulations, statutory documents and circulars issued by world football’s governing body, thus providing valuable support to the football community at large.
Following the publication of the FIFA Legal Handbook since 2020, the 2023 edition includes the recent changes and amendments to all regulations and rules applicable to football organisations and matches.
The Legal Handbook contains the updated versions of the most relevant FIFA Rules and Regulations, including Circular Letters and official Guides.
The Court of Arbitration for Sport (CAS) hearing in the arbitration procedures CAS 2023/A/9451 Association Russian Anti-Doping Agency (RUSADA) v. Kamila Valieva, CAS 2023/A/9455 International Skating Union (ISU) v. Kamila Valieva, Association Russian AntiDoping Agency (RUSADA), and CAS 2023/A/9456 World Anti-Doping Agency (WADA) v. Association Russian Anti-Doping Agency (RUSADA) & Kamila Valieva) has been adjourned at the end of its third day.
The Panel of arbitrators in charge of the matter heard the parties (RUSADA, ISU, WADA and Ms Valieva), their experts and witnesses during the hearing that took place at the CAS headquarters in Lausanne, Switzerland, this week. After the presentation of evidence by the parties, the Panel ordered the production of further documentation and, in order to allow the parties to consider and address such documentation, allowed two further days for the hearing of the appeal. The hearing will therefore resume on 9 and 10 November 2023 in Lausanne at which time the evidentiary proceedings will be completed and the Panel will hear the parties’ closing submissions. The Panel will then deliberate and prepare the Arbitral Award containing its decision.
The English Football League (EFL) is pleased to announce partnership extensions with global sports brand PUMA and world’s leading football management simulation title, Football Manager.
The dual partnership extensions demonstrate the EFL’s commitment to partners in its portfolios, with both brands continuing long association with the League, its clubs, and its competitions, including the Sky Bet Championship, League One, League Two, Carabao Cup and EFL Trophy.
PUMA
After signing on as the Official Match Ball partner of the EFL since the beginning of 2021/22, PUMA’s three-year extension will see the global brand produce the official match ball for all EFL competitions through to the end of the 2026/27 season.
PUMA has delivered 10,000 FIFA-approved International-standard match balls each season to the EFL and EFL clubs. This season’s PUMA Orbita ball design includes an 8-panel ball configuration, a reduction from last season's 12-panel design. These larger panels provide a better connection with the ball, enhancing players' touch and control.
These include the re-introduction of the high-vis fluorescent yellow balls used in EFL matches and competitions between November and the end of February, as well as Play-Off specific footballs to be used in all EFL Play-Off Semi-Final and Final matches.
While PUMA have grown their portfolio of global football properties in recent years, including Serie A and La Liga, the brand has entered into a number of UK focused partnerships and work with ten EFL Clubs spread across all three divisions.
FOOTBALL MANAGER
The one-year extension between the EFL and Sports Interactive, developers of the Football Manager game, ensures that all EFL clubs and competitions will continue to appear as fully licensed entities in Sports Interactive’s next release, Football Manager 2024.
After first partnering back with SEGA – of which Sports Interactive are a subsidiary of – back in 2004, EFL has granted Football Manager Official Licensee status since 2014.
Since extending for a six-year term, the EFL and Football Manager have enjoyed numerous joint campaigns including the EFL Football Manager Cup during the COVID-19 lockdown, the #FromSofaToStadium campaign to celebrate the return of fans to football post-lockdown, and the FM23 EFL Trophy Challenge.
Last season’s FM23 Challenge spanned two months and culminated with FMFC member and Bolton Wanderers fan Ian Fraser winning the opportunity of a lifetime to present the EFL Trophy to captain Ricardo Santos at Wembley in April.
EFL Chief Commercial Officer, Ben Wright said: “We have sought to partner with brands where we can develop and cultivate our partnerships and create deeper, more impactful connections with fans, customers, and communities.
“PUMA are one of the world’s leading brands and have a distinct visibility not only on competition match days, but also support some of our EFL and EFL Club’s programs and initiatives through apparel and footballs.
“Our partnership with Football Manager has also exemplifies our commercial portfolio objectives. The numbers of people playing Football Manager and engaging with EFL clubs is testament to the ever-growing popularity of the EFL.
“We thank both PUMA and Sports Interactive for the ongoing relationship and helping to continue engaging fans for this season and beyond.”
General Manager of UK&I at PUMA, Bas van den Bemt said: “Continuing our partnership with the EFL symbolizes PUMA's dedication to the heart and spirit of football in the UK. Since 2021, we've been honoured to be the Official Match Ball partner for the EFL, and this extension is a testament to the strong bond we’ve cultivated with the League, its clubs, and most importantly, the fans.
“Here’s to more shared moments, goals, and memories in the seasons to come.”
Studio Director at Sports Interactive, Miles Jacobson said: “We are delighted to announce the renewal of our partnership with the EFL.
“The League’s clubs are among the most popular with our players; in FM23, more than 40 million games were played with EFL clubs across 1.5 million unique careers. After three terrific Play-Off finals back in May, we’re looking forward to the start of the season and continuing our partnership with the EFL.”
Today, the World Anti-Doping Agency (WADA) launches the first phase of the 2027 World Anti-Doping Code & International Standards Update Process (2027 Code & IS Update Process) for which the Agency is soliciting your feedback by 22 December 2023*.
Background
The World Anti-Doping Code (Code) is the core document that harmonizes anti-doping policies, rules and regulations within sport organizations and among public authorities around the world. It works in conjunction with eight International Standards which aim to foster consistency among Anti-Doping Organizations in various areas.
The first Code was approved in January 2003, during the Second World Conference on Doping in Sport in Copenhagen. At that time, WADA committed to ensuring that the Code would be a living document subject to periodic review and that the process would be a collaborative and transparent exercise intended to further update and strengthen these documents to ensure their continued effectiveness for use and implementation.
In keeping with that commitment, the Code and International Standards have undergone subsequent review processes which resulted in the 2009, 2015, and 2021 Codes and International Standards.
2027 Code & IS Update Process
On 9 May 2023, WADA’s Executive Committee endorsed the approach, timetable, and drafting teams for the 2027 Code & IS Update Process, which will involve the simultaneous review and update of the Code and International Standards.
This is a two-year, multi-phase process, which is respectively summarized in the 2027 Code & IS Update Process – Timelines & Key Phases document and corresponding webinar presentation and is also outlined below:
-
Circulation of drafts of proposed amendments to the Code and International Standards;
-
Final versions of the Code and International Standards being presented for consideration and approval at the sixth World Conference on Doping in Sport, to be held in November 2025 in Busan, Republic of Korea; and
-
Updated 2027 Code and International Standards, entering into effect on 1 January 2027.
The following key points should be noted:
-
A standalone International Standard for Intelligence and Investigations will be developed and come into force, and the current International Standard for Testing and Investigations will revert to a Standard dedicated solely to testing requirements.
-
The List of Prohibited Substances and Methods, which is also an International Standard, will be updated separately as part of its distinct annual stakeholder consultation process.
-
The relevant documentation provided over the course of the process will be in English; however, finalized French versions of the updated 2027 Code and International Standards will be made available following their approval.
2027 Code & IS Update Drafting Team Working Groups
Nine different drafting teams – one for the Code and each International Standard – have been formally constituted as Working Groups in accordance with WADA’s Governance Regulations and will be responsible for reviewing feedback from WADA stakeholders, providing expert advice and recommendations, and drafting proposed amendments to updated versions of the Code and International Standards.
The drafting teams are composed of internal members from WADA management and external experts from various Code Signatories and stakeholder organizations that have been appointed based on their relevant experience and knowledge in anti-doping and their areas of expertise.
To submit feedback
Stakeholders are invited to provide their feedback via WADAConnect, the Agency’s online consultation platform. In order to be considered for inclusion in the first drafts of the amended Code and International Standards to be published in May 2024, stakeholders must provide their feedback by:
Feedback is being requested on certain key concepts that have been identified as requiring consideration for update and have been organized into different ‘Concept Papers’ on WADAConnect. Stakeholders may also provide feedback on areas outside of these concepts.
For more information related to WADAConnect, please refer to the user guide.
In the interest of transparency, and because this is a public consultation, WADA will publish all comments received on its website at the end of the Stakeholder Engagement Phase. Stakeholder credentials, such as username, organization, and organization type, will be posted along with the comments unless WADA is otherwise notified by email at the address This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it..
While the drafting teams will carefully consider and review all comments, it cannot be guaranteed that they will individually address different stakeholders’ comments or that a given suggestion will be included in amended and updated versions of the Code and International Standards.
A Bristol Rovers first team coach, Andrew Mangan, has been fined £1,200, reprimanded and warned as to his future conduct by an independent Regulatory Commission for a breach of FA Rule E3.1 that happened at their EFL League One match against Plymouth Argyle on Saturday 22 October 2022.
The FA alleged that his language and/or behaviour towards a Plymouth Argyle staff member during half time of this match was abusive and/or insulting contrary to FA Rule E3.1. The FA further alleged that his actions also constitute an “aggravated breach”, which is defined in FA Rule E3.2, as they included reference, whether express or implied, to sexual orientation.
Andrew Mangan denied the charge against him and requested a personal hearing. The independent Regulatory Commission found the FA Rule E3.1 breach to be proven, but not the “aggravated breach” defined in FA Rule E3.2, and imposed these sanctions.
The EFL and EFL Trust are pleased to welcome one of the UK’s most popular cereal brands, Kellogg’s, as an Official Partner.
With football and cereal part of daily life for millions of people across England and Wales, the EFL and the EFL Trust’s network of Club Community Organisations will come together with multinational food manufacturing company Kellogg’s to positively impact the 72 communities where EFL clubs are located.
Behind the popular favourites of millions of households in the UK, such as Corn Flakes, Rice Krispies and Coco Pops, Kellogg’s will also have presence across all the EFL’s three divisions and five Wembley finals, as well as working with the EFL’s charitable arm through to the end of the 2027/28 season.
Ben Wright, Chief Commercial Officer of the EFL, said: “The EFL is excited to be joining forces with a trusted global brand in Kellogg’s and we look forward to the impact that this partnership will deliver over the coming years, with the backing of a household name.
“With growing attendances, bigger audiences and an enhanced sponsorship portfolio, the EFL’s popularity is clear. Eighty per cent of the population live within 15 miles of an EFL Club and millions of fans come through the turnstiles every month, meaning the League has the ability to forge strong connections with families on a nationwide scale.”
Cathy Abraham, Chief Executive Officer of the EFL Trust, said: “Between the EFL Trust’s vision and Kellogg’s ambition around the roles we play in our communities, we are perfectly aligned to create a significant and positive impact. Together, we will be a force for good and we will create positive moments for our communities for years to come.”
Chris Silcock, Kellogg’s UK Managing Director, said: “It’s been our great privilege to be part of British life for more than one hundred years, so it’s only right we should be joining up with another iconic institution like the EFL. Both Kellogg’s and the EFL are brands at the heart of communities up and down the country and this is the start of a great partnership.”
Football Australia has today sanctioned Melbourne Knights FC (the Club) under the National Code of Conduct and Ethics (the Code).
The determination relates to conduct that occurred at or in relation to the Club’s Australia Cup 2023 Quarter Final against Heidelberg United FC on Thursday, 14 September 2023 (the Match).
The Club were issued with a show cause notice and provided an opportunity to respond with respect to both the alleged infringements and, if applicable, the appropriate sanction.
Based on the material available, including, but not limited to, a range of relevant matters, including the Club’s submissions, reports from various stakeholders, the nature and seriousness of the matter, the need to deter such conduct in the future and the interests of Football Australia, the Australia Cup, and the football community more broadly.
After considering these matters, the Club has been issued with a $5,000 fine, with 50% of this fine suspended for the next three (3) iterations of the Australia Cup and will be triggered in the event that it is determined that the Club has breached the Code, with such a breach including at least conduct any of the following, being any conduct related to flares or incendiary devices, damage to property in relation to a match or the competition, or throwing of projectiles onto the field of play.
The Club has been advised that Football Australia is continuing investigations into several further matters that were identified in the initial show cause notice. Football Australia has reserved its rights in respect of these matters pending the outcome of such investigation.
In accordance with the Code the Club has seven (7) business days from the date of receipt of the determination notice notify Football Australia of its intention to appeal the sanction.
The International Testing Agency (ITA), mandated by the Olympic Council of Asia (OCA) to independently handle areas of the anti-doping program at the Asian Games Hangzhou 2022, including results management, reports that a sample collected from kabbadi athlete Adil Hussain from Pakistan has returned an Adverse Analytical Finding¹ for 19-norandrosterone, a non-specified Prohibited Substance, according to the Prohibited List of the World Anti-Doping Agency (WADA).
The sample was collected by the ITA at the Asian Games Hangzhou 2022 during an in-competition anti-doping control performed on 4 October 2023. The Sample Collection Authority was the China Anti-Doping Agency.
The athlete has been informed of the case. He has the right to request the analysis of the B-samples.
The matter will thereafter be referred to the Anti-Doping Division of the Court of Arbitration for Sport (CAS ADD) for adjudication under the OCA Anti-Doping Rules.
Given that the case is underway, there will be no further comments during the ongoing proceeding.
List of Anti-Doping Rule Violations at the Asian Games Hangzhou 2022
Divine Oduduru has been banned for six years by a three-member Disciplinary Tribunal for committing two Anti-Doping Rule Violations (ADRVs) of Possession of Prohibited Substances and the Attempted Use of a Prohibited Substance or Method and ordered to pay World Athletics US$3000 towards its expenses regarding the case.
The ban takes retroactive effect from 9 February 2023 – the date on which the Nigerian sprinter’s provisional suspension began – and runs until 8 February 2029, while all his results from July 12 2021 until the date of his provisional suspension have been disqualified.
The case arose out of the criminal investigation into Eric Lira who earlier this year became the first person to plead guilty under the US Rodchenkov Anti-Doping Act to providing performance enhancement drugs to Olympic athletes in advance of the Tokyo Olympic Games (Southern District of New York | First Defendant Charged With Violating Anti-Doping Act Pleads Guilty In Manhattan Federal Court | United States Department of Justice). The initial complaint issued by the US Department of Justice against Lira in January 2022 made reference to two athletes, “Athlete1” and “Athlete-2”. By comparing information from Blessing Okagbare’s doping cases, which resulted in a cumulative 11-year ban for her last year, the Athletics Integrity Unit (AIU) concluded that “Athlete-1” was Okagbare and, following an interview with her Nigerian teammate Oduduru, in May 2022, the AIU concluded that Oduduru was “Athlete-2”.
“We are very pleased with the outcome of this matter, given its particularly grievous nature, exposing the sinister collusion between athletes and other persons in deliberate plans to corrupt athletics at the highest level,” said Brett Clothier, Head of the AIU – World Athletics’ independent integrity arm which brought the charges against Oduduru.
“The AIU is fully committed to unearthing cheats and the extent of their networks. In our quest to protect the integrity of athletics, we often work closely with other investigative organisations. On this occasion, we are grateful for the assistance from the United States Anti-Doping Agency (USADA) and United States Department of Justice whose legal reach provided vital evidence which helped in this matter as well as in our case against Blessing Okagbare last year.”
The panel found Oduduru guilty of Possession of a Prohibited Substance or a Prohibited Method under Rule 2.6 of the World Athletics Anti-Doping Rules (ADR) and of Attempted Use of a Prohibited Substance or a Prohibited Method (ADR 2.2), together treated as a single first violation. Oduduru received a mandatory fouryear ban for the combined violation, with an additional two years for Aggravating Circumstances (ADR 10.4), after the panel determined there was justification for increasing the period of ineligibility, due to the athlete having multiple nonspecified Prohibited Substances which he attempted to use in the lead-up to World Athletics’ competitions and the Tokyo Olympic Games (summer 2021).
“To procure those substances, he engaged into a scheme with his teammate who in her turn was procuring those substances on his behalf from a person who was illegally bringing them to US in order to distribute among athletes with the aim to improve their sport performance, thus influencing unfairly the outcome of athletic competitions, including the major ones. The Panel considers this behaviour to be particularly serious,” read the decision.
While the panel did not uphold the AIU’s charge against Oduduru of Use of a Prohibited Substance or a Prohibited Method, it was satisfied that he had engaged in conduct that constituted a substantial step in a course of conduct planned to culminate in the Use of a Prohibited Substance and therefore upheld the Attempted Use charge.
Oduduru, who turned 27 on 7 October, maintained his innocence despite overwhelming evidence against him. At the core of the AIU’s case were Whatsapp messages between Okagbare and Lira, which revealed Okagbare soliciting Prohibited Substances on Oduduru’s behalf, and photographic evidence of multiple Prohibited Substances discovered in Oduduru’s Florida apartment.
The Prohibited Substances found in Oduduru’s apartment were two boxes of Somatropin, “Xerendip” and “Humatrope”, which were identified as human growth hormone; a plastic ziplock bag labelled “IGF LR3” – an abbreviation for synthetic or “recombinant” Insulin Growth Factor – containing three vials, and two boxes of recombinant erythropoietin (EPO). According to testimony, one of the boxes of EPO was open and had only one of six vials remaining.
Also discovered in the apartment was an opened US Postal Service envelope containing “Xerendip” – addressed to Okagbare and with Lira labelled as the sender.
“The Panel finds it to be an extraordinary coincidence that all the Prohibited Substances found in the Athlete’s apartment were precisely those requested from Mr. Lira by Ms. Okagbare for her and “Divine”, specifying that she had to give (to Divine) his stuff too and for which she tested positive (EPO and hGH),” asserted the Panel.
Given the Prohibited Substances found in Oduduru’s apartment, when and where they were found, and the fact that he had exclusive control of the apartment, the panel concluded that Oduduru was in constructive possession of the Prohibited Substances.
Today’s announcement regarding the six-year sanction of Divine Oduduru under the Rodchenkov Anti-Doping Act (RADA) is another example of how the act is driving accountability in sport by exposing networks of conspirators working against clean athletes.
“Justice is once again being served in international sport thanks to the scope of RADA and the commitment of principled organizations like the Athletics Integrity Unit to seek the truth,” said USADA CEO Travis T. Tygart. “We are honored to support all clean athletes through the act, and this is another win for those who value fair sport.”
A panel of independent arbitrators determined that Oduduru committed anti-doping rule violations that warranted a four-year suspension and concluded that another two years were appropriate for aggravating circumstances due to the athlete’s attempted use of multiple prohibited substances ahead of World Athletics’ competitions and the Tokyo Olympic Games.
The case arose out of the criminal investigation into Eric Lira, who was the first person to plead guilty under RADA for providing prohibited substances to Olympic athletes, including Oduduru, ahead of the Tokyo Games. Without RADA, Lira, who positioned himself as a doctor to athletes, likely would have escaped consequence for his conspiracy to defraud the Tokyo Games because he did not fall under any sport anti-doping rules.
RADA requires the sharing of information between law enforcement and USADA, and that collaboration has led to numerous cases and anti-doping rule violations, including the decision against Sabina Allen and the decision against Blessing Okagbare that prevented her from defrauding the Tokyo Games. In the case of Oduduru and Okagbare, the Athletics Integrity Unit (AIU) brought the anti-doping cases and worked closely with USADA to successfully investigate and compile evidence. The ongoing collaboration between anti-doping organizations, law enforcement, and other federal agencies will continue to hold those accountable who conspire against the rules to rob clean athletes and defraud sport.
RADA was signed into law following the unprecedented state-sponsored doping fraud perpetrated by the Russian state and sport system on innocent athletes and fans across the globe.
The Football Association Board, Council and Shareholders have collectively agreed to introduce one of the most extensive sets of governance reforms to the FA Council in our 160-year history.
The new reforms to the FA Council will be implemented with immediate effect and will help to ensure that the membership of the FA Council is fully reflective of the modern and diverse game – so that it can better serve the interests of English football at all levels.
This new set of reforms followed a comprehensive and collaborative review that included a consultation process with key stakeholders across the game. The review was led by a Working Group of Council Members, and the proposals were tested and refined with a broader group of Council Members over the last year.
The new reforms will modernise the FA Council in line with the recommendations in the Fan Led Review of Football Governance, which was published in November 2021. These latest reforms follow on from the changes already made to the FA Board which has seen the FA implement the Review's recommendation to ensure that at least 50 per cent of the FA Board is made up of independent directors.
FA Chair, Debbie Hewitt MBE, said: "This is a transformative moment for the governance of the FA and one that will benefit every level of English football. These reforms also follow the important steps we took in July to restructure our FA Board to ensure that it has a majority of independent members.
"The FA Council has an important and active role in the governance of our game, and I would like to thank all of the Council members for their engagement, support and input throughout this collaborative process.
"These are significant changes that we believe will be a catalyst for positive change and will future-proof our game for years to come. Importantly, it will help to further improve the overall governance of the FA, ensuring that across our Board and Council we have committed, engaged and diverse representation, who all have a meaningful part to play in the future of English football."
Welsh rugby union player Joshua Hicks has been banned from all sport for a period of four years following Anti-Doping Rule Violations (ADRVs) for the Presence and Use of Prohibited Substances.
On 8 October 2022, UK Anti-Doping (UKAD) collected an In-Competition urine Sample from Mr Hicks at a game between Pembroke RFC and Penclawdd. Analysis of Mr Hicks’ Sample returned Adverse Analytical Findings (AAFs) for anastrozole, tamoxifen and drostanolone.
Anastrozole is listed under section S4.1 of the WADA 2022 Prohibited List as an Aromatase Inhibitor. It is a Specified Substance that is prohibited at all times.
Tamoxifen is listed under section S4.2 of the WADA 2022 Prohibited List as an Anti-Estrogenic Substance. It is a Specified Substance that is prohibited at all times.
Drostanolone is listed under section S1.1 of the WADA 2022 Prohibited List as an Anabolic Androgenic Steroid. It is a non-Specified Substance that is prohibited at all times.
On 16 December 2022, UKAD notified Mr Hicks that he may have committed ADRVs pursuant to Article 2.1 (Presence of a Prohibited Substance or its Metabolites or Markers in an Athlete’s Sample) and 2.2 (Use or Attempted Use of a Prohibited Substance or Prohibited Method) of the 2021 UK Anti-Doping Rules (ADR), and provisionally suspended him.
Mr Hicks responded to UKAD’s Notice letter on 16 December 2022 and admitted taking the Prohibited Substances.
UKAD therefore charged Mr Hicks with ADRVs in relation to all three Prohibited Substances on 03 March 2023. On 21 March 2023, Mr Hicks re-iterated his admissions to taking the Prohibited Substances, but disputed the four-year period of Ineligibility asserted by UKAD.
On 04 April 2023, the matter was referred to the independent National Anti-Doping Panel (‘NADP’). However, on 28 June 2023, Mr Hicks confirmed that he now acceded to the period of Ineligibility of four years, and no longer wished to pursue a hearing before the NADP.
Speaking on the case, Hamish Coffey, UKAD Director of Operations, said:
“This case makes clear to those participating in rugby union in Wales that UKAD can conduct anti-doping Testing at all levels of WRU competition, and that all participants of the sport are liable for the consequences of their actions should they violate the ADR.
“All rugby players need to understand that taking banned substances will result in lengthy bans from the sports they love, and have trained long and hard to take part in. Rugby is a team sport, we want to protect sport for all, and we will always act to catch those individuals who try and cheat the system. It is never worth the risk.”
The Welsh Rugby Union (WRU) added, “The WRU promotes Clean Sport, and players at every level of the game, must adhere to the WRU Anti-Doping Rules. It’s vital that players are aware of the risks if they decide to take a prohibited substance for performance-enhancing or recreational reasons. We want players to make good decisions both on and off the field.”
Mr Hicks is banned from all sport for a period of 4 years from 16 December 2022 to 15 December 2026 inclusive.
The International Testing Agency (ITA), mandated by the Olympic Council of Asia (OCA) to independently handle areas of the anti-doping program at the Asian Games Hangzhou 2022, including results management, reports that a sample collected from Kurash athlete Tejen Tejenov from Turkmenistan, has returned an Adverse Analytical Finding¹ for the non-specified prohibited substances dehydrochloromethyl-testosterone metabolite and methasterone metabolites according to the Prohibited List of the World Anti-Doping Agency (WADA).
The sample was collected by the ITA at the Asian Games Hangzhou 2022 during an in-competition anti-doping control performed on 30 September 2023 during the Kurash Mens +90kg finals. The Sample Collection Authority was the China Anti-Doping Agency.
The athlete has been informed of the case and has been provisionally suspended with immediate effect. He has the right to request the analysis of the B-sample.
The matter will thereafter be referred to the Anti-Doping Division of the Court of Arbitration for Sport (CAS ADD) for adjudication under the OCA Anti-Doping Rules.
Given that the case is underway, there will be no further comments during the ongoing proceeding.
The FEI Tribunal has issued its Final Decision in a human anti-doping case.
A sample taken from the Brazilian athlete Pedro Stefani Marino (FEI ID 10017829) on 5 December 2021 during the CEI3* 160 Punta del Este (URU), returned positive for the Prohibited Substance Carboxy-THC. Carboxy-THC is a metabolite of THC (Cannabis) and is included in the Class “S8 Cannabinoids” of the World Anti-Doping Agency (WADA) Prohibited List 2021. The athlete was notified of the violation of the FEI’s Anti-Doping Rules for Human Athletes (ADRHA) on 2 February 2022.
In its Final Decision, the FEI Tribunal decided to suspend the athlete for a period of two years, starting from the date of the Final Decision (2 October 2023). Additionally, all competitive results of the Athlete obtained at the Event and from the date of the hearing onwards (15 May 2023) were disqualified with all the relevant consequences (forfeiture of any medals, points and prizes, etc.). Any competitive results from the conclusion of the Event up until the date of the hearing remained valid. Finally, the Athlete was imposed a fine of CHF 7,500 and ordered to pay costs of CHF 5,000.
The parties can appeal to the Court of Arbitration for Sport (CAS) within 21 days of receipt of the decision.
The full text of the FEI Tribunal’s Final Decision is available here.
UEFA has taken a significant step towards levelling the playing field for women’s football players across Europe by introducing a first-ever minimum standards framework for women’s national teams.
The framework, which was unanimously approved by the UEFA Executive Committee in June, sets out a range of standards encompassing provisions covering sporting, good governance, coaching, medical care, training, player welfare, accommodation and remuneration. Their development involved extensive consultations with players, coaches and FIFPRO Europe.
Support for national associations
Europe’s governing body will assist its members to draw up implementation plans adapted to their specific challenges in meeting the minimum standards. In addition, the framework will be supported via the UEFA HatTrick Incentive Programme, with a total pot of €22 million being made available to national associations until 2028 (€100,000 per national association per year).
Northern Ireland international Marissa Callaghan, one of 35 national team captains consulted in developing this initiative shared her enthusiasm, saying: "Setting minimum standards will make a significant difference for players across Europe in every aspect of national team football. Having a platform to discuss with fellow players and coaches was a positive and enriching experience. I look forward to seeing players continuing to be closely involved throughout this journey."
Best conditions to perform
"This project is an important one and is a starting point to raise the bar across all women’s national teams," said Nadine Kessler, UEFA Managing Director for women’s football. "Having the best possible conditions on and off the pitch is absolutely vital for players to perform and in return bring success to their national teams. We have a highly competitive landscape nowadays, so standards must be grown alongside them. Only then can teams unleash their full potential and we can safeguard the longevity of players’ careers."
Sarah Gregorius, FIFPro Europe Director of Global Policy & Strategic Relations for Women's Football, said: "We welcome this important step for women’s national team football, which is the outcome of an inclusive consultative approach involving players and FIFPro Europe. The framework promotes and incentivises standards that put the protection and needs of the players at its heart, and they thoroughly deserve this. We remain fully engaged for further positive developments to occur."
This programme is the latest in a series of strategic UEFA initiatives designed to grow, develop, and support women’s national team football. These include the introduction of a new competition system, consisting of the UEFA Nations League and European qualifiers.
Download the Framework here
The declaration recognises the work of the International Partnership Against Corruption in Sport (IPACS), and calls upon it to pursue its transversal and multi-stakeholder approach and enhance the implementation of the highest applicable standards aimed at combating corruption and promoting a culture of good governance in sport.
This declaration addresses the constantly evolving threats to sports integrity which undermine the potential of sport and its role as a social, educational, cultural and economic instrument.
It invites member states and sports organisations to “promote transparency, accountability, democracy and ethical behaviour in sport, including the establishment of robust governance systems, conflict-of-interest policies, whistle-blower protection mechanisms, effective investigation and prosecution of corruption, manipulation of competitions, violence and other infringements of human rights and the rule of law in the sport context.”
“The IOC and the Council of Europe have been working jointly for many years. We are therefore very pleased to see that this declaration recognises the many aspects of sports integrity that the IOC is promoting,” said IOC Chief Ethics and Compliance Officer Pâquerette Girard Zappelli. “Since its creation in 2017, IPACS has offered a unique and open platform for sports organisations and governments to develop pragmatic solutions to advance the fight against corruption in sport, while harnessing the expertise and experience of all actors.”
International Partnership Against Corruption in Sport
IPACS was launched at the IOC’s International Forum on Sports Integrity (IFSI) held in February 2017. It is a multi-stakeholder platform with the mission “to bring together international sports organisations, governments, inter-governmental organisations and other relevant stakeholders to strengthen and support efforts to eliminate corruption and promote a culture of good governance in and around sport”.
Interest in the Partnership has grown significantly since its creation, with its role and programmes discussed at numerous international events. For the first time, the United Nations General Assembly (UNGA) directly referred to IPACS in UNGA Resolution “Sport as an enabler of sustainable development” (A/77/L.28), adopted in December 2022.
The International Council of Arbitration for Sport (ICAS), the governing body of the Court of Arbitration for Sport (CAS), welcomes Ms Dyalá Jiménez Figueres to its membership. Ms Jiménez, a Costa Rican national and a lawyer, is a former Minister of Foreign Trade of Costa Rica. She has a strong background in international arbitration and is currently a member of the Governing Board of the International Council for Commercial Arbitration (ICCA). Ms Jiménez was appointed to ICAS by the International Olympic Committee (IOC) for the remainder of the 2023-2026 term and fills the vacancy left in its quota after the resignation of Judge Patrick Robinson (International Court of Justice).
ICAS is a Swiss foundation created in 1994, composed of twenty-two members with a legal background and who are active in the judiciary, international arbitration and/or sports administration. As the governing body of the CAS, ICAS manages its administration and finances.
The CAS is an independent institution based in Lausanne which was created to resolve sports-related disputes through arbitration or mediation. The jurisdiction of CAS is recognized by all Olympic sports federations and many non-Olympic federations. The CAS registers around 900 cases each year.
The International Testing Agency (ITA), mandated by the Olympic Counsel of Asia (OCA) to independently handle areas of the anti-doping program at the Asian Games Hangzhou 2022, including results management, reports that a sample collected from boxing athlete Mohammad Khaibar Nooristani (Afghanistan) has returned an Adverse Analytical Finding¹ for the non-specified prohibited substances (i) 19-norandrosterone and (ii) Clostebol metabolite 4-chloro-3α-hydroxy-androst-4-en-17-one according to the Prohibited List of the World Anti-Doping Agency (WADA).
The sample was collected by the ITA at the Asian Games Hangzhou 2022 during an out-of-competition anti-doping control performed on 21 September 2023.
The athlete has been informed of the case and has been provisionally suspended with immediate effect. He has the right to request the analysis of the B-sample.
The matter will thereafter be referred to the Anti-Doping Division of the Court of Arbitration for Sport (CAS ADD) for adjudication under the OCA Anti-Doping Rules.
Given that the case is underway, there will be no further comments during the ongoing proceeding.
On 19 June 2023, The FA confirmed that the agencies CAA Base, Wasserman, Stellar and ARETÉ had commenced arbitration proceedings to challenge the implementation by The FA of the National Football Agent Regulations (NFAR) relating to English domestic transfers.
Those arbitration proceedings have now concluded. The Tribunal has indicated that it will issue its award by 30 November 2023. In light of this, The FA agrees that the implementation date of the NFAR (to the extent upheld by the Tribunal) will be delayed until the earlier of (a) 30 November 2023 or (b) the handing-down of the Tribunal's award.
Until such time, The FA's Working With Intermediaries Regulations will remain in force. The FA will provide an update following its receipt of the Tribunal's decision.
The ever-expanding impact of the AFC Enhance Programme in bringing to life the Asian Football Confederation (AFC)’s Mission of providing dedicated services to maximise the potential of its members continued its strong momentum today after the AFC Development Committee for the 2023 to 2027 term approved several proposals at its first meeting in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia.
Led by Chairperson Yasser H. Almisehal, the Committee received a comprehensive update on the AFC Enhance Programme Regulations and approved the applications from the Qatar Football Association, the Lebanese Football Association, The Football Association of Thailand, Tajikistan Football Federation, Lao Football Federation, The Football Association of Hong Kong, China Limited as well as the AFC Enhance Programme – Extra-Time proposal from The Kyrgyz Football Union.
Most notably, the Committee was pleased to recognise the game-changing footprint of the AFC Enhance Programme in transforming the standards of Asian football with as many as 34 AFC Member Associations (MAs) poised to benefit from the breakthrough programme and close to USD20m in funding approved in 2023.
Likewise, members of the Committee were informed that 17 MAs have applied for the AFC Enhance Member Association Programme – Advantage, with another six MAs requesting assistance under the Extra-Time Programme.
Similarly, all five of the AFC’s Regional Associations have applied for the Enhance Programme, with more than USD2.1m in funding approved from 2021 till present.
Underlining the Confederation’s commitment towards enhancing the capabilities of Asia’s future football leaders, the landmark initiatives under the AFC Academic Centre of Excellence (ACE) was also hailed by the Committee.
Close to 250 participants have graduated from the groundbreaking AFC Football Management Certificate and AFC Football Management Diploma programmes since their inauguration in September 2021.
At the same time, the AFC ACE’s latest initiatives – the AFC Certificate in Football Leadership and the AFC Certificate in Child Safeguarding – have also been unanimously well received amongst the AFC’s MAs and RAs, and are similarly well positioned to strengthen the foundations of the larger Asian football ecosystem.
Whether you’re involved in sport at the elite level or watching a team of enthusiastic five-year-olds bouncing, passing or kicking a ball in the grassroots environment, it’s possible you might have seen poor sideline behaviour in sport at some stage.
Although the vast majority of spectators cheer and support their kids and teams with joy and passion, there are growing instances where verbal and online abuse is directed at players, referees, coaches, support staff, other spectators and even volunteers.
It has an impact not only on the mental health of individuals but on the people around them and is being seen as a continuing threat to the integrity of sport in Australia and overseas.
In September 2022, we published a story in Sport Integrity Matters magazine about “The Ugly Side of Sport” after speaking to a referee, coach, club volunteer, player and journalist to get their perspectives on the toll sideline abuse is taking.
Reflecting on his own career Ben Williams, a retired A-League, Asian Football Confederation and FIFA World Cup referee, said: “Unfortunately many young referees don’t get to experience these phenomenal moments because they’ve left their career early due to abuse.”
“In my career I encountered death threats directed at my wife and my children, which meant they no longer felt safe in their own home. There is definitely no place for this in sport.”
A community sports club president, Neil Harlock, cited a scourge of abuse in his sport which not only impacted the mental health of players but flowed through to club volunteers, the referee base and spectators.
“To hear threats and slurs from the crowd firstly renders as disbelief among the team, clear shock and emotion can be seen, which then affects performances,” he said about the abuse directed at his National Premier League first grade men’s team.
“It then manifests as insecurity as this is essentially their workplace for the time they are on and around the field.
“At the grassroots and amateur level in a very large club essentially run by volunteers, we often feel limited in what we can do from a safety and security point of view. There’s the feeling that there’s a potential and very real danger.”
Discussions between sporting organisations, clubs and government suggest that some sports are becoming increasingly competitive from a younger age with high emotion attached from the spectator base, thus leading to undue pressure being placed on kids which flows through to coaches and officials.
Let Kids Be Kids is a national campaign created by Play by the Rules to help clubs at grassroots level bring policies to life and actively address poor sideline behaviour via posters, toolkits and campaign messaging.
Elaine Heaney, National Manager of Play By The Rules, would much rather kids turn up to practice and had fun playing with their friends than forced into a situation where they are being yelled at or berated for not winning a game or making a call whilst they are still learning the rules and developing their skills.
“Adult sideline spectators often mean well and are enthusiastic about their contributions, because they enjoy being part of the process,” said Elaine, “but sometimes it’s important to stop to think about the impact of their words on the child or young person – and how it feels for a small human to have a large adult raise their voice at them.
“If the child or young person (or even another adult) feels berated or upset by what has been said, is it worth it? It’s not about removing winning or healthy competition from sport but about focusing on the fact that happy, healthy athletes operating in a safe space, often produce much better results, and keep people playing the sports we love.”
From grassroots to elite sport, the problem often grows as the stakes get higher.
Jenna O’Hea, former Australian Opals captain, feels the popularity of betting has added another layer of abuse of athletes with people losing money often blaming the athletes for their financial loss.
“This is where I see it is getting worse and is taking the biggest toll on athletes,” she said.
“As athletes we know that fans are passionate about sport but crossing the line with personal attacks, racism, any type of attack is never OK and just because you’re behind a keyboard, that doesn’t make it any less abusive than a face-to-face attack.”
Each situation and experience with poor sideline behaviour and online abuse in sport is different, with some impacts short-term and others everlasting. Regardless of the magnitude and severity there’s no place for sideline abuse in sport at any level.
In summing up his experiences, community club president Neil Harlock said, “My seven-year-old daughter came to me recently and said ‘Dad, were there any fights at the footy today?’ I was mortified!”
“Our children deserve more than this. Our players, volunteers, young referees, coaches and the families who come to cheer on their teams, all deserve more than this.”
It has been 595 days since my teammates and I earned medals at the Olympics. We still have not received them.
You may remember what happened. Representing Team USA, we placed second in the Figure Skating Team Event at the 2022 Winter Olympics. We were bested only by the Russian team, with Japan finishing third and Canada fourth. On the day that we were scheduled to receive our medals, the International Olympic Committee (IOC) cancelled the ceremony due to a “situation” that required a “legal consultation.” The IOC assured us that they would do their “utmost to make sure it [was] resolved as quickly as possible.”
The “situation’s” focal point was Russian skater Kamila Valieva’s positive drug test. Her urine sample, collected more than six weeks earlier but only just analyzed, contained the prohibited substance trimetazidine. The positive test would ordinarily have nullified Team Russia’s results immediately, and the awards ceremony could have proceeded as planned, with us, the Japanese team and the Canadian team receiving medals. However, the Russian Disciplinary Anti-Doping Commission (DADC), supported by the Court of Arbitration for Sport (CAS), decided that different anti-doping rules may apply to Valieva because she was only 15 years old at the time of the competition. So, for the first time in modern Olympic history, no medals were awarded.
While there are significant economic costs associated with not receiving an Olympic medal (sponsors love medals), the real harm has come from the way the “situation” has been handled by sport administrators.
In the 19 months since we took the ice in Beijing, my teammates and I have heard almost nothing from the officials handling the case, and we have no reason to believe that our interests are being adequately represented. This week, a hearing is scheduled at CAS that will pit the IOC, the World Anti-Doping Agency (WADA), and the Russian Anti-Doping Agency (RUSADA) against Valieva and the Russian DADC. The idea that such a hearing will serve the interests of clean athletes is absurd - the Russian “Anti-Doping” Agency has been facilitating Russian doping for over a decade. The IOC, for its part, has repeatedly refused to hold Russia accountable for a state-sponsored doping program involving more than 1,000 athletes. WADA, which is controlled by the IOC through a governing agreement with public authorities, reinstated the Russian Anti-Doping Agency in 2018 despite the agency’s refusal to turn over data detailing the extent of Russian doping. And the “court” in next week’s hearing, CAS, which is an arm of the IOC (its president is the IOC vice-president), has repeatedly sided with Russia – first in overturning sanctions of Russian athletes and then in watering down subsequent sanctions on Russia and RUSADA. Who in this panoply of actors represents the interests of me and my teammates, and furthermore, the interests of the broader sporting community?
We asked to be allowed to observe the upcoming hearing. In response, we were told that CAS hearings are confidential – closed even to those of us directly affected by the proceedings. We were told that either of the involved parties could request a public hearing, but that neither did. For that reason, the proceedings will happen behind closed doors.
An open and transparent hearing would go a long way towards helping athletes understand any decision that is rendered. Transparency would build confidence in a global anti-doping system that has lost the trust of its most important stakeholders: athletes. In contrast, asking the parties themselves to decide whether the hearing will be public is akin to asking them whether their actions should be scrutinized by outsiders. Unsurprisingly, they chose to act with impunity and to avoid public accountability.
The situation we found ourselves in at the Beijing Games and the painful process that we have endured since are a direct result of decisions made by the IOC, WADA, and CAS. The global sport administrators allowed Russian athletes to compete in the past four Olympics, including Beijing, despite the country’s state-sponsored doping program. The program is widely known to have corrupted multiple Olympic Games and defrauded thousands of athletes. Also, the Russian government has obstructed the pursuit of justice by manipulating data, destroying laboratories, and going so far as to murder whistleblowers in order to undermine investigations. And yet, the Russian team has not been excluded from a single Olympic Games.
Valieva’s positive drug test is not an isolated incident. My teammates and I are aware of widespread doping by other Russian skaters – and this, unfortunately, should surprise no one, given that a non-compliant anti-doping organization is still tasked with ensuring the integrity of sport inside Russia. Valieva and her teammates would never have been placed in this position if the IOC, WADA, and CAS had done their jobs and banned Russia from global sport. But, because of the inaction of sport administrators, Russia has never been incentivized to reform. Athletes both inside and outside of Russia have borne the cost.
As my team’s empty medal boxes show, the global anti-doping system is failing athletes. The revered elitism of the Olympics is dependent upon the principles of clean sport and fair competition. Yet, the governing bodies that are tasked to observe and enforce these principles continuously act against their supposed missions and fail to act on behalf of the people for whom they exist to serve: the athletes. Whenever finally held, the awards ceremony for the Beijing 2022 Figure Skating Team Event will be a symbol of the gross failures of the IOC, CAS, RUSADA, and other global sporting administrators. Justice delayed is justice denied, and my teammates and I will never get back the chance to stand before the world to celebrate a lifetime's worth of hard work culminating in a career-defining achievement. We have been forever prevented from experiencing the moment that every athlete dreams of – and ultimately, the organizations assumed to protect and create such moments are instead responsible for the emptiness of our success.
According to Article 20.5 of the World Anti-Doping Code (hereinafter Code), it is not within the authority of a national anti-doping organization, such as RUSADA, to amend national legislation (in this case, the laws of the Russian Federation). RUSADA is not a governmental body, does not have the right to issue any legislation and has no right of legislative initiative.
Article 23.2 of the Code states that "The Signatories shall implement applicable Code provisions through policies, statutes, rules or regulations according to their authority and within their relevant spheres of responsibility."
The Code is implemented in Russia through the All-Russian Anti-Doping Rules, which are enacted in accordance with the Federal Law "On Physical Culture and Sport in the Russian Federation" of December 4, 2007, No. 329-FZ.
RUSADA has taken extensive measures to reinstate the agency's compliance status within the framework of its functions and powers. To date, WADA has not received any complaints about RUSADA's work regarding the application of the CAS Award.
RUSADA is currently evaluating the documents received to determine whether a notice of disagreement with WADA's decision is required. The subject of compliance evaluation may be brought to the Court of Arbitration for Sport (CAS) in Lausanne in the event of notice.
RUSADA continues to carry out its functions without limitations and in strict accordance with international standards and regulations.
FIFA and the United Nations Office on Drugs and Crime (UNODC) have reinforced their joint-commitment to kicking crime out of football by renewing their Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) on the margins of the United Nations General Assembly.
Signed by FIFA President Gianni Infantino and UNODC Executive Director Ghada Waly while both are in New York alongside the world leaders and influential global figures gathered at the United Nations (UN), the MoU commits both parties to stepping up their efforts to protect the integrity of the game.
Equally, safeguarding forms part of the MoU as it has become a core aspect of the joint-cooperation, and FIFA and UNODC will continue to work to ensure the football environment is protected for children, young adults, and vulnerable athletes, while also developing capacities and raise awareness of tackling corruption and crime in and through football. Additionally, both parties agreed to support the development of a new UNODC global network aimed at enhancing collaboration and coordination between law enforcement anti-corruption authorities and sports organisations.
"Football unites people from all corners of the world – young and old, boys and girls. It can promote healthy lifestyles, provide new opportunities, and inspire millions to achieve their goals both on and off the pitch,” said Ms Waly.
“I am proud that UNODC and FIFA are renewing our commitment to ensure fair play for all and to defend football’s integrity for the millions of fans worldwide, the players, and the next generations still to come. With this new Memorandum of Understanding, we’re striving to put an end to match-fixing, bribery, and corruption, to preserve the game’s beauty for all," stated Ms Waly.
Mr Infantino said: “Through the renewal of this Memorandum of Understanding, I am pleased that UNODC and FIFA have reinforced our joint commitment to kicking crime out of football, and that both organisations remain committed to ensuring fair play and to defending football’s integrity.
“FIFA has already done a lot of good work with the UNODC in making football cleaner and we will continue to work towards giving girls and boys around the world the chance to fulfil their dreams on the pitch.”
Yesterday in Mumbai, the International Olympic Committee (IOC) announced that the Russian Olympic Committee (ROC) would be immediately banned for breaching the Olympic Charter due to violating the territorial integrity of the NOC of Ukraine. This ban is both deceptive and ineffectual, as the sole punitive measure that could truly bridle Russia, its ongoing aggression and its broader geopolitical strategies remains to be ‘decided’ – whether Russian and Belarusian athletes will compete at the Paris 2024 Olympic Games. However, the IOC has already made clear, through its statements and actions, that a decision has already been contrived to welcome these athletes to Paris.
If the IOC follows through, it will be another devastating blow to human rights, to the national sovereignty of Ukraine, and to the accountability of Russian and Belarusian war crimes. The decision will also be another indication of the IOC’s misplaced allegiances, highlighting that those who wield power inside the IOC are subservient to Russia. While athletes worldwide, along with numerous governments, have consistently demanded that the outright ban on Russian and Belarusian athletes remain in place until Russia fully withdraws from Ukraine, the IOC is instead set to bow to Russian demands – leaving athletes and activists with the responsibility to counter Putin’s use of sport in his propaganda machine.
Under the leadership of President Thomas Bach, the IOC has consistently presented a misleading image of its efforts to enforce accountability on Russia. Yesterday’s suspension of the ROC follows a pattern of past ‘sanctions’ that have falsely conveyed to the public that adequate actions are being taken. The suspension of the ROC guilefully provides a façade under which the IOC can welcome Russian and Belarusian athletes, masked as neutrals, all the while maintaining a delicate balance with the influential Russian entities that hold sway over Bach and the organization.
The conditions for such a move are already at play - the recommendations outlined by the IOC which gave International Federations the green light to welcome Russian and Belarusian athletes to compete in international events are likely to be the same criteria for participation at the Paris 2024 Olympic Games. While these conditions are meant to curb Russia’s ability to use sport to advance its geopolitical agenda, they do not achieve this goal. They are unworkable and ineffective, but they do show that the IOC itself understands the power Putin will gain from the success of Russian athletes:
Condition 1: “Teams of athletes with a Russian or Belarusian passport cannot be considered.”
This condition highlights that the IOC understands that a Russian team is a tool of Putin’s propaganda machine. Yet, an individual athlete or “team” of individual Russian athletes will be utilised in the same way—regardless of any “neutral” status or the removal of flags, anthems, colours, and country identifications.
Condition 2: “Athletes who are contracted to the Russian or Belarusian military or national security agencies cannot compete.”
This condition envisions a fantasy world in which a master list of every member of the Russian and Belarusian armed forces is available for all to see. The Russian sporting agencies, as extensions of the Russian State, are expert at “complying” with such quasi-legal rules while manipulating them to serve their own interests. Promulgating such a rule simply gives the Russian government a roadmap for how to make all Russian athletes eligible to compete.
Condition 3: “Athletes who actively support the war cannot compete.”
This condition is neither workable nor effective. First, it is impossible to identify which athletes actively support the war – any athlete who wishes to compete will simply stay silent in public. Due to the sheer number of athletes, it would be nearly impossible for sporting organizations to identify all athletes who have supported the war in the past. More importantly, even if the IOC could ensure that no athlete on the Russian team supports the war, the Russian team itself can still be used in war propaganda. Athletes do not have control over how their success is portrayed to the public.
Condition 4: “Athletes with a Russian or Belarusian passport must compete only as Individual Neutral Athletes.”
The IOC continues to claim that there is such a thing as a neutral athlete at the Olympic Games, an event where every athlete is defined as a representative of a country. In four consecutive Games, we have seen a “neutral” Russian team wholly identified with the Russian State, which in turn was used to advance its interests.
If the IOC follows through and reinstates Russian and Belarusian athletes for Paris 2024, the Games will not be a demonstration of the world’s ability to come together amidst division. Rather, it will be a platform for Putin to celebrate his war and advance his agenda.
The IOC may continue to favour the man responsible for destroying Ukraine, but we stand united with our Ukrainian athletes and the belief that collective athlete power and allyship can still influence history, as it did before the commencement of the Beijing 2022 Paralympic Games. There, an athlete uprising forced sport administrators to ban Russian and Belarusian athletes from the Games. The same can be true again.
“We can confirm that Conor McGregor has re-entered the USADA testing pool as of Sunday, October 8, 2023. We have been clear and firm with the UFC that there should be no exception given by the UFC for McGregor to fight until he has returned two negative tests and been in the pool for at least six months. The rules also allow USADA to keep someone in the testing pool longer before competing based on their declarations upon entry in the pool and testing results.
Unfortunately, we do not currently know whether the UFC will ultimately honor the six-month or longer requirement because, as of January 1, 2024, USADA will no longer be involved with the UFC Anti-Doping Program. Despite a positive and productive meeting about a contract renewal in May 2023, the UFC did an about-face and informed USADA on Monday, October 9, that it was going in a different direction.
We are disappointed for UFC athletes, who are independent contractors who rely on our independent, gold-standard global program to protect their rights to a clean, safe, and fair Octagon. The UFC’s move imperils the immense progress made within the sport under USADA’s leadership.
The relationship between USADA and UFC became untenable given the statements made by UFC leaders and others questioning USADA’s principled stance that McGregor not be allowed to fight without being in the testing pool for at least six months. One UFC commentator echoed this, recently declaring that USADA should not oversee the UFC program since we held firm to the six-month rule involving McGregor, and since we do not allow fighters without an approved medical basis to use performance-enhancing drugs like experimental, unapproved peptides or testosterone for healing or injuries simply to get back in the Octagon.
Fighters’ long-term health and safety — in addition to a fair and level playing field — are more important to USADA than short-term profits at the expense of clean athletes. USADA is proud of the work we’ve done over the past eight years to clean up the UFC, and we will continue to provide our unparalleled service to UFC athletes through the remainder of our current contract, which ends December 31, 2023. As always, we will continue to uphold the rights and voices of clean athletes in all sport.”
An independent Regulatory Commission has imposed an action plan and formal warning upon Millwall for breaching FA Rule E21 three times during their EFL Championship game against Wigan Athletic on Saturday 22 April 2023.
Millwall admitted that they failed to ensure their spectators and/or supporters (and anyone purporting to be supporters or followers) conduct themselves in an orderly fashion and don’t use words or behaviour which is improper, offensive, abusive, indecent, or insulting - with either express or implied reference to religion - in the 8th, 12th and 45th minutes of the game.
TO THE MEMBER ASSOCIATIONS OF FIFA
Circular no. 1862
Zurich, 6 October 2023
FIFA TMS, FIFA Clearing House and Administrative Sanction Procedure
Dear Sir or Madam,
On 22 October 2022 the FIFA Council approved several amendments to the Regulations on the Status and Transfer of Players (RSTP). As outlined in the Circular no. 1816, these amendments included a redraft of Annexe 3 of the RSTP, which comprised, among others, the codification of the Administrative Sanction Procedure (ASP). As outlined below in more detail, the ASP has played a crucial role in ensuring the proper functioning of the Transfer Matching System (TMS).
Subsequently, on 8 November 2022 the FIFA Council announced that the FIFA Clearing House would commence operating on 16 November 2022 and approved the FIFA Clearing House Regulations (FCHR), by means of the Circular no. 1817.
With the new processes related to the FIFA Clearing House coming into force, the ASP has started playing a significant role in guaranteeing that associations and clubs comply with their obligations related thereto. In particular, the ASP ensures the correct declaration of fees paid in relation to international and domestic transfers, which is a crucial step for TMS to identify training reward triggers related to the solidarity mechanism.
This circular describes the recent evolution of the ASP and its application to the processes related to the FIFA Clearing House.
Background
In 2011, following the introduction of TMS, the FIFA Disciplinary Committee identified that certain obligations inherent to the use of the system, and contained in Annexe 3 of the RSTP, were of technical or administrative nature. The FIFA Disciplinary Committee found that said obligations, if not fulfilled, constituted an evident infringement to the provisions of Annexe 3 of the RSTP, which have an immediate negative impact on the relevant transfer.
In this context, the FIFA Disciplinary Committee delegated to FIFA general secretariat (at the time, the FIFA TMS GmbH) its competence to sanction 10 categories of infringements by means of a specific procedure, the ASP. The sanction that could be imposed consisted of a warning, a reprimand and/or a fine of up to CHF 14,000. Like this, FIFA could establish a streamlined and more effective procedure to deal with violations of Annexe 3 of the RSTP (see Circular no. 1259).
The ASP gave FIFA the possibility to treat these infringements in an expedited manner, granting clubs the possibility to rectify their breach – where applicable – and hence protect the proper functioning of TMS.
Subsequently, the FIFA Disciplinary Committee decided to expand the application of the ASP from 10 to 14 different categories of breaches of the Annexe 3 (see Circular no. 1478).
Finally, ASP cases were further streamlined, by granting the FIFA general secretariat the power to directly submit ASP cases to the FIFA Disciplinary Committee without the prior intervention of the secretariat to the FIFA Disciplinary Committee (see Circular no. 1609).
The new Annexe 3
As anticipated above, the redraft of Annexe 3 included a codification of the ASP under art. 17 of said annexe. When an infringement of a technical or administrative nature is detected, the following procedure takes place:
a) The FIFA general secretariat will contact the association or club to identify the infringement, request a statement or any other relevant information within a defined deadline and, if applicable, request that the infringing behaviour be corrected. In this first correspondence, the association or club will be informed that, if the infringing behaviour is not corrected and/or no satisfactory position is submitted, an administrative sanction letter (ASL) will be issued, specifying the type of sanction that will be imposed.;
b) Upon receipt of the statement or relevant information or upon expiry of the time limit to do so, the FIFA general secretariat may issue an ASL;
c) The party may accept the sanction or reject it, and, in this case, request the opening of disciplinary proceedings before the FIFA Disciplinary Committee. If the party accepts the sanction, the latter will be enforceable from the date of acceptance;
d) If the party accepts the sanction, complies with it (where applicable) and corrects the infringing behaviour within the time limits to do so, the matter will be closed;
e) If the party fails to respond to the ASL, responds inconsistently or incompletely and/or does not correct the infringing behaviour and/or does not comply with the sanction, the matter will be referred to the FIFA Disciplinary Committee.
With the entry into force of the new edition of Annexe 3, the FIFA general secretariat is now granted the power to impose fines up to CHF 30,000.
Finally, and in view of the continuous evolution of TMS, ASP cases are not limited to a specific number of categories of breaches but can be opened for any type of violations of a purely technical and administrative nature related to TMS and players’ transfers.
The relation with the FIFA Clearing House
As mentioned above, in the last years TMS witnessed a continuous expansion of its scope of application. With the FIFA Clearing House beginning its operations, together with the entry into force of the FCHR, TMS started to play a pivotal role in the functioning of newly established processes.
In fact, TMS is the tool where the Electronic Player Passports (EPP) process takes place, Allocation Statements (AS) are issued and where training rewards triggers are identified.
To guarantee the correct functioning of the FIFA Clearing House and the processes related to it, associations and clubs must comply with their obligations as laid down in the FCHR. Similarly to Annexe 3 and TMS, failure to comply with the FCHR has an immediate negative impact on the correct functioning of the FIFA Clearing House, since it undermines the allocation and distribution of the training rewards.
In particular, it is essential that the proof of payment of the transfer fees agreed between clubs (both for international as well as domestic transfers) is uploaded under the relevant TMS instruction within thirty (30) days of the date of the payment and under the correct TMS section “payments” to ensure that training rewards triggers are properly identified by TMS (cf. arts. 6 and 7 of the FCHR).
In view of the immediate negative impact on the proper functioning of the FIFA Clearing House as well as on training clubs, cases in which a club fails to upload the relevant proof of payment in the context of a domestic transfer will also be investigated by the FIFA general secretariat through an ASP, in line with art. 17 par. 5 of the FCHR.
Finally, to guarantee the proper enforcement of the FCHR, an ASP can also be opened if an association or club fails to comply with other administrative obligations related to the FIFA Clearing House for which the FCHR do not establish the direct competence of the FIFA Disciplinary Committee.
We thank you for taking note of the above and for informing your affiliated clubs accordingly.
Yours faithfully,
FÉDÉRATION INTERNATIONALE
DE FOOTBALL ASSOCIATION
Nearly 200 key decision-makers from across the Olympic Movement in Africa gathered in Cabo Verde this week to continue working together towards gender equality in and through sport. The theme of the forum, “From the Boardroom to the Playing Field”, reiterated the need for the Olympic Movement to address gender equality in all areas of its activities and resulted in 10 key commitments to action.
Driving equality at all levels
Next summer’s Olympic Games Paris 2024 will be the first Games with full gender equality on the field of play. The International Olympic Committee (IOC) has distributed the quota places equally: 50 per cent for women and 50 per cent for men. The same principle of gender equality will be fulfilled two years later at the first Olympic sports event to be held on the continent of Africa: the Youth Olympic Games Dakar 2026. These Youth Olympic Games were also a topic discussed at the forum, with participants being urged to look at the impact and opportunities of this event being held in Africa, with the aim of engaging more young women and girls in sport.
Off the field of play, meanwhile, the IOC’s own membership is growing more gender equal, with more than 40 per cent of IOC Members now female – and 50 per cent of the positions in the IOC commissions occupied by women, a landmark reached in 2022. However, as the IOC is the first to acknowledge, there is still much work to be done to bring about gender equality across the wider Olympic Movement – especially off the field of play.
“Everyone has a role to play”
IOC President Thomas Bach addressed the forum through a video message, with additional keynote addresses from Dr Phumzile Mlambo-Ngcuka, former Executive Director of UN Women and now Chair of the IOC’s Advisory Committee on Human Rights; and IOC Member HRH Prince Faisal Al Hussein, who serves as both the Chair of the Association of National Olympic Committees (ANOC)’s Gender Equity Commission and the Vice-Chair of the IOC’s Gender Equality, Diversity and Inclusion Commission.
In his video message, President Bach praised the progress that the Association of National Olympic Committees of Africa (ANOCA) has made so far – while also emphasising that the entire Olympic Movement needs to work together to narrow the gender gap across sport.
“Only 26 per cent of NOC [National Olympic Committee] leadership positions are occupied by women. Among the IFs [International Federations], only four are led by a woman, and just eight IFs have a female secretary general. We also see this gender gap in the athletes’ entourage, where the number of women holding leadership roles remains unacceptably low.
“If we truly want to promote gender equality and empower women in sport, not only as athletes, but also as coaches, officials and leaders, then everyone has a role to play – the IFs, the NOCs, the athletes and all the other partners and stakeholders.”
Commitments to action
Following two days of active discussions, the forum participants presented their “commitments to action” as a roadmap to work together for gender equality in Africa. These commitments comprise a range of actions and awareness-raising around the need for gender equality from grassroots level to elite sport, including:
- Increasing female athlete participation from grassroots to elite levels
- Implementing the gender balance quotas for governing bodies, with a minimum female representation level of 30 per cent, as outlined in the ANOCA statutes
- Increasing women’s capacity and representation in all categories (i.e. athletes’ entourage, administrators, etc.) from grassroots to elite levels
- Implementing and disseminating the IOC Portrayal Guidelines across media and sports stakeholders
- Establishing and implementing measures for a safe sport environment for all, especially groups that are at risk.
President Bach pointed out the importance of such actions in the efforts to advance gender equality: “Gender equality does not just magically happen. To continue to advance, we need deliberate policies and institutional commitment. This is why I am very pleased to see how ANOCA, through its Gender Equality Commission, is taking important steps. With your strong focus on promoting sport across Africa at the zone level, you are demonstrating the importance of a bottom-up approach – also when it comes to gender equality.”
IOC safeguarding workshop
On the sidelines of the forum, the IOC also hosted a safeguarding workshop for the NOCs. The workshop, held as part of the IOC’s objective to help NOCs develop their own policies and programmes to prevent harassment and abuse, focused on understanding the local challenges that are faced in terms of strengthening safe sport, and on discussing the local solutions available in the various zones of Africa.
English football stands united in its determination to tackle racism and remove all forms of discrimination from our game. Throughout October and beyond, The FA, Premier League, English Football League and Kick it Out will reinforce the message that hate and discrimination will not be tolerated at any level of football and action will be taken against perpetrators.
Alongside PGMOL, Professional Footballers’ Association, League Managers Association and the Football Supporters’ Association, the football organisations are urging fans and participants to report discrimination wherever they see it or hear it, to help make football a safer place for everyone.
All organisations are actively working with clubs and authorities, and remain committed to collaborating further with each other, to ensure those who are found guilty of racist or discriminatory behaviour face strong consequences for their actions.
Sanctions include stadium bans, legal prosecutions and custodial sentences for those found guilty of discriminatory behaviour in either the stadium or online, with additional potential points deductions for clubs within the grassroots game. Education and restorative justice initiatives will also be implemented where appropriate.
This builds on the ongoing work to address unacceptable, discriminatory and illegal behaviour across the game, under the football-wide Love Football. Protect the Game initiative, which aims to ensure that the actions of the minority do not spoil the game for all.
In recent years, football authorities have worked as a group to combat online abuse, and most recently we have lobbied the UK Government extensively in the development of the Online Safety Bill. We will continue to pressure social media companies to do more to tackle hate on their platforms.
But we recognise we can do more. Collectively, we’re deeply committed to ensuring our game is representative of modern society by offering equality of opportunity across the whole of football.
Together, we will continue our work to make football a safer, more welcoming, and more enjoyable space for everyone.
Today, the World Anti-Doping Agency (WADA) has signed a four-year memorandum of understanding (MOU) with the World Health Organization (WHO), which will allow experts from both international organizations to collaborate and share information on issues where anti-doping and public health intersect.
The MOU was signed in Geneva, Switzerland, by WADA President, Witold Bańka, and Director General of the World Health Organization, Dr. Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus. The agreement will run until 1 October 2027 and provides a framework of cooperation between WADA and WHO to further their goals, specifically with regards to health promotion, the prevention of substance abuse and emerging drugs, and the promotion of clean sport.
Mr. Bańka said: “The memorandum of understanding signed today with the World Health Organization is a watershed moment that will benefit anti-doping efforts worldwide. WADA leads the global collaborative mission for doping-free sport; and, in so doing, we also protect the health of individuals around the world. One of the three criteria for a substance to be added to WADA’s Prohibited List of Substances and Methods is if it represents an actual or potential health risk to athletes. Through our agreement with WHO, experts from both organizations will be able to work collaboratively to exchange information on emerging substances and reinforce scientific positions that will ultimately benefit not only athletes, but society as a whole.
“WHO’s commitment to health and well-being of society at large fits perfectly with our mission. I want to thank Dr. Tedros and his team at WHO for their efforts leading up to this historic agreement and for their commitment to healthy, clean sport around the globe.”
The themes of the MOU include:
-
Prevention and assessment of health risks associated with psychoactive substance use and related disorders, with a focus on doping compounds and substance use among athletes;
-
Awareness raising and advocacy for clean sport and substance misuse prevention worldwide;
-
Raising awareness through education initiatives with the support of goodwill ambassadors and influencers to drive positive change;
-
Collaboration on sub-standard and falsified medical products, including identification of new emerging psychoactive drugs through sharing of information, mutual support, and engagement with sport federations; and
-
Reporting on abuse and misuse of falsified and sub-standard medical products in sport.
Dr. Tedros said partnering with WADA reflected WHO’s commitment to work closely with the sport sector to encourage increased physical activity globally in order to promote healthier lives for all.
He said: "Sport and all forms of physical activity are essential to good health, and competitive sport plays a key role in inspiring people to be more active. The use of performance-enhancing substances can harm athletes, and certainly harms sport and those who look up to athletes as role-models. Keeping sport clean, therefore, has benefits beyond the sporting arena for the health and well-being of individuals and societies everywhere."
The MOU also aligns with the organizations’ common objective of achieving the United Nations Sustainable Goal 3: Ensuring healthy lives and promoting well-being for all at all ages. These goals stem from the United Nations’ 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development, which was adopted by all United Nations Member States in 2015 and provides a shared blueprint for peace and prosperity for people and the planet, now and into the future.
This formal agreement between WADA and WHO follows an initial meeting between the two organizations which took place in April 2023 at the WHO headquarters in Geneva.
- FIFPRO Europe collaborated with UEFA to deliver the first edition of UEFA’s Minimum Standards Framework for Women’s National Teams
- Framework outlines how national associations should have transparent policies on responding to harassment and discrimination, as well as expenses and remuneration, parental and pregnancy rights, and the handling of player data
- Example of how involvement of players, unions, national associations and confederations can help shape better conditions for national team football
FIFPRO Europe collaborated with UEFA to deliver the first edition of UEFA’s Minimum Standards Framework for Women’s National Teams – ensuring senior women’s national team players in Europe receive better environments and safeguards.
The framework details how associations have a duty towards players to provide “quality care and sporting conditions to ensure their welfare and wellbeing” while on national team duty.
It also states how coaches must serve the interests of women’s national team football and promote sporting excellence, that national associations should ensure optimal training facilities and the most direct available travel routes for players, and that cooperative agreements which foster regular engagement should exist between associations and players.
Governance provisions in the framework outline how national associations should have transparent and collaboratively agreed policies on responding to harassment and discrimination, as well as on expenses and remuneration, parental and pregnancy rights, and the handling of player data.
An annual incentive of up to EUR 100,000 is allocated to each UEFA national association to implement the minimum standards for the next four years.
FIFPRO Europe President David Terrier said: "The close cooperation between FIFPRO Europe and UEFA has been instrumental in shaping this landmark initiative.
“We are committed to further strengthening our relationship with UEFA for the benefit of players throughout the continent. FIFPRO Europe remains dedicated to advancing European football as a whole."
UEFA's Managing Director of Women's Football Nadine Kessler said: “The announcement of the framework marks a crucial milestone for women’s national team football, made possible through the positive collaborative spirit of all involved.
“Bringing the national team captains and FIFPRO Europe into the development of such a project was essential and we are convinced that it has led to a better outcome for all. This project promises a huge impact on the women’s game by providing players with the best possible conditions to perform.”
Frameworks core objectives
- Improve conditions and environments for national team players throughout Europe;
- Support all national associations by providing the best care and environments for players on duty for the national team;
- Protect national associations and players alike through greater transparency and good governance of national teams;
- Increase the sporting level of all nations in international competitions;
- Foster stakeholder relations between national associations and players.
Malta women’s national team captain Emma Lipman said: "Being involved in the meetings and discussions on the framework was an opportunity for me as a player to positively shape the game.
"I look forward to the framework being implemented, and I’m happy that the initiative will continue to have the players at the heart of it. It’s a big step forward for national team football in Europe."
FIFPRO’s Director of Global Policy & Strategic Relations Women's Football Sarah Gregorius said: "This framework is the latest example of what can be achieved when a player-centric perspective that actively involves the player voice is established and enshrined. Players are empowered to both participate in, and choose their elected representatives in, these conversations, solidifying and protecting their rightful role in the dialogue.
"Women’s national team players, and the sport more broadly in Europe, will significantly benefit from these important changes that provide safeguards and improved conditions for players – taking women’s football on an important next step in its overall continued development."
The International Tennis Integrity Agency (ITIA) today confirms that Slovenian tennis umpire Marko Ducman has been provisionally suspended from the sport, pending the full consideration of Tennis Anti-Corruption Program (TACP) charges.
Since 8 September 2023, the bronze badge official has been prohibited from competing in or attending any sanctioned tennis events organised by the governing bodies of the sport.
The provisional suspension was imposed under Section F.3.b.i.4. of the TACP, and was not appealed by Ducman:
F.3.b.i.4. There is a likelihood that the Covered Person has committed a Major Offense and in the absence of a Provisional Suspension, the integrity of tennis would be undermined and the harm resulting from the absence of a Provisional Suspension outweighs the Hardship of the Provisional Suspension on the Covered Person.
The International Tennis Integrity Agency (ITIA) is an independent body established in 2021 by the ATP, ITF, WTA and Grand Slams to promote, encourage, enhance and safeguard the integrity of their professional tennis events worldwide.
Today, the World Anti-Doping Agency (WADA) publishes the 2024 List of Prohibited Substances and Methods (List), which was approved by WADA’s Executive Committee (ExCo) during its meeting on 22 September 2023 and enters into force on 1 January 2024.
We also publish:
The List is one of the eight International Standards that are mandatory for all Signatories of the World Anti-Doping Code (Code). It designates what substances and methods are prohibited both in- and out-of-competition and which substances are banned in particular sports.
WADA Director General Olivier Niggli said: “We encourage athletes, their entourage and all stakeholders to acquaint themselves with the Summary of Major Modifications to avoid inadvertent use of substances and methods that are prohibited in sport for 2024. In particular, we kindly ask all Anti-Doping Organizations around the world to share the List and its related documents with athletes, their entourage and other relevant stakeholders under their jurisdiction.
Major modifications for 2024
All Major Modifications for 2024 are outlined in the 2024 Summary of Major Modifications and Explanatory Notes, including the following particular information regarding tramadol:
On 23 September 2022, the ExCo endorsed the recommendation by WADA’s List Expert Advisory Group to prohibit the narcotic tramadol in competition, effective 1 January 2024. The delay in implementation was to provide an additional year to allow enough time for stakeholders to learn and adapt to this change.
Tramadol has been on WADA’s Monitoring Program and data gathered through that program have indicated significant use in sports. Tramadol abuse, with its risk of physical dependence, opiate use disorder and overdoses, is of concern worldwide and has led to it being a controlled drug in many countries. Research studies funded by WADA, as referenced in the Explanatory Note, have also confirmed the potential for tramadol to enhance sports performance.
Annual list review process
WADA leads an annual revision process concerning the List, beginning with an initial meeting in January and concluding with the publication of the List by 1 October. This is an extensive consultation process that includes WADA’s List Expert Advisory Group gathering information including the latest scientific and medical research, trends, and intelligence gathered from law enforcement and pharmaceutical companies; circulating a draft List among stakeholders; and, taking their submissions into consideration to revise the draft, followed by review by the Agency’s Health, Medical and Research (HMR) Committee. The HMR Committee then makes its recommendations to WADA’s ExCo, which approves the List during its September meeting.
For a substance or method to be added to the List, it must be determined that it meets at least two of the following three criteria:
- It has the potential to enhance or enhances sport performance
- It represents an actual or potential health risk to the athletes
- It violates the spirit of sport
The List is released three months ahead of it taking effect so that athletes, their entourage and other stakeholders can acquaint themselves with any modifications. Ultimately, athletes are responsible for prohibited substances found in their body and prohibited methods found to have been used. Athlete entourage are also liable for Anti-Doping Rule Violations if determined to be complicit. Consequently, if there is any doubt as to the status of a substance or method, it is important that they contact their respective Anti-Doping Organizations (International Federation or National Anti-Doping Organization) for advice.
The Therapeutic use Exemption Program
It should be noted that for athletes who have a legitimate medical reason for using a prohibited substance or method that is on the List, they can apply for a Therapeutic Use Exemption (TUE) to determine whether they meet the criteria outlined in the International Standard for Therapeutic Use Exemptions (ISTUE). The TUE Program is a rigorous and necessary part of elite sport which has overwhelming acceptance from athletes, physicians and anti-doping stakeholders.
Educational Resources
In addition to the documents linked above, WADA has provided, or will provide, a number of educational resources as part of its Code Implementation Support Program (CISP), which can be accessed on the Agency’s Anti-Doping Education and Learning Platform (ADEL). These resources include:
- A CISP Checklist – Implementing Revised List (available now)
- Athlete and Athlete Support Personnel (ASP) Factsheet on tramadol (to be available in November)
- Medical Professionals Factsheet on tramadol (to be available in November)
- Athlete and ASP Guide to the 2024 List (to be available in January 2024)
Languages and Formats
The 2024 Prohibited List; the 2024 Summary of Modifications and Explanatory Notes; and the 2024 Monitoring Program are available for download on WADA’s website in English and French with Spanish to follow in the coming weeks.
Stakeholders wishing to translate the List into other languages are kindly asked to signal their interest to This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.. WADA will then provide the necessary files and, once the translation is finalized, will make the translated List available on the Agency’s website.
The List’s mobile-friendly digital edition will go live on 1 January 2024.
At a meeting of EFL Clubs today a comprehensive update was provided on the status of ongoing discussions between the EFL and Premier League.
A draft proposal from the Premier League was examined in full, as Clubs were given information on the structure of a potential future financial arrangement for them.
An appraisal of conditions linked to future funding including cost controls, distribution mechanics, the football calendar and the impact of the Government’s proposed Independent Football Regulator (IFR) as part of the Football Governance White Paper, was also provided to Clubs.
A representative of the Department for Culture, Media and Sport was in attendance to offer an update on the establishment of the IFR so that Clubs could consider all relevant matters together.
As several important issues are still to be resolved, it was made clear at the meeting that nothing has been agreed with either the Premier League or its Clubs. As such EFL Clubs were not required to vote or take a decision on any matter, but instead held a proactive debate on the current status of the discussions.
To maintain momentum, the League will now enter into targeted consultation with all EFL Clubs in smaller groups, to consider additional context and detail of the proposal. Club views will be collated to inform the discussions with the Premier League which have been ongoing throughout 2023, as we seek a speedy and satisfactory conclusion to improve the financial health of EFL Clubs.
The International Tennis Integrity Agency (ITIA) today confirms that Swedish tennis player Dragos Nicolae Madaras has been provisionally suspended from the sport, pending the full consideration of Tennis Anti-Corruption Program (TACP) charges.
Since 17 August 2023, the player has been prohibited from competing in or attending any sanctioned tennis events organised by the governing bodies of the sport.
The provisional suspension was imposed under Section F.3.b.i.1. of the TACP:
F.3.b.i.1. The Covered Person has failed to comply with a Demand
The player appealed against the imposition of the provisional suspension, but their appeal was dismissed by independent Anti-Corruption Hearing Officer Professor Richard McLaren on 22 September 2023.
The ITIA is an independent body established by the Governing Bodies of Tennis to promote, encourage, enhance and safeguard the integrity of professional tennis worldwide.
The Canadian Centre for Ethics in Sport (CCES) announced today that Jonathan Stanley, a powerlifting athlete, received a three-year sanction for an anti-doping rule violation. The athlete’s urine sample, collected in competition on June 3, 2023, revealed the presence of trenbolone, oxandrolone, clostebol, nandrolone, drostanolone, and testosterone, six prohibited anabolic agents, as well as methylphenidate, a prohibited specified stimulant.
On August 12, 2023, the athlete signed an Early Admission and Acceptance of Sanction, thereby admitting to the violation and accepting the asserted period of ineligibility and all other consequences. As a result, the otherwise applicable four-year period of ineligibility was reduced by one year in accordance with Canadian Anti-Doping Program (CADP) rule 10.8.1. Because the athlete was provisionally suspended, the sanction terminates on July 24, 2026.
During the sanction period, the athlete is ineligible to participate in any capacity with any sport signatory to the CADP or the World Anti-Doping Code, including training with teammates.
In compliance with rule 8.4 of the CADP, the CCES’s file outcome summary can be found in the Canadian Sport Sanction Registry.
The World Anti-Doping Agency (WADA) was pleased to play a prominent role during the 3rd annual International Anti-Doping Symposium, which was hosted in a hybrid fashion on 24-25 September 2023, by the China Anti-Doping Agency (CHINADA).
Commissioned and supported by CHINADA and Sports Bureau of Zhejiang Province, the symposium was co-organized by the Hangzhou Asian Organizing Committee and the Anti-Doping Branch of the China Sport Science Society. The event has become a staple on the clean sport calendar within the Asia/Oceania region.
Under the theme ‘Reinforcing Governance Capability of National Anti-Doping Organizations’, this year’s event attracted participants from the region and beyond, and its agenda focused on National Anti-Doping Organization (NADO) compliance, development and capacity building and supporting NADO’s at major sporting events.
In his opening address, WADA President Witold Bańka thanked CHINADA for hosting the Symposium and commended the NADO for its leadership within the region. He also announced the Agency’s plans for global expansion of its Intelligence and Investigations (I&I) Department’s Anti-Doping I&I Network.
He said: “Over the past year, we have been bringing together anti-doping experts from NADOs and law enforcement agencies in Europe to build out an Anti-Doping Intelligence and Investigations Network. This project has already delivered tangible results, having dismantled several illicit steroid laboratories, and seized significant amounts of performance enhancing drugs, catching a number of doping athletes in the process.
“Due to its success, the WADA Intelligence and Investigations Department has decided to expand this project worldwide and establish a Global Anti-Doping Intelligence and Investigations Network. We will do this region by region, with the next phase of the project beginning in Asia/Oceania as of 2025. We believe it is a great opportunity to increase I&I capacities here, strengthen our relationships with law enforcement, and make a significant impact in the protection of clean sport just as we are doing in Europe.”
During the first day of the Symposium, Director General Olivier Niggli presented WADA’s Strategic Plan, the Agency’s short and long-term priorities, and went through the various ways the Agency was helping to build capacity within NADOs and Regional Anti-Doping Organizations (RADOs) in Asia and around the world. WADA Vice-President Yang Yang also delivered a keynote speech focusing on the importance of education and WADA’s athlete-centered approach.
Yang Yang said: “Education is and must remain our first line of support for athletes. It has a strong voice within our governance structure, and it is also reflected in the fact there is now an International Standard for Education and a dedicated, stand-alone Education Department at WADA.
“As part of the ‘Be Athlete Centered’ priority of the Agency’s Strategic Plan, WADA is always looking at ways to engage and empower athletes to contribute to the development of anti-doping policies. We are constantly striving to simplify the anti-doping journey for athletes so they can forge healthy and sustainable careers in sport. We want to ensure we are listening to the views of athletes worldwide and addressing the matters that are of most interest to them.”
WADA Chief Operating Officer, Stuart Kemp, and Director of WADA’s European Office and Sport Movement Relations, Sébastien Gillot, also contributed their expertise to the symposium with sessions on World Anti-Doping Code compliance, and Anti-Doping Organization development and capacity building.
The Esports Integrity Commission (ESIC) is dedicated to maintaining the highest standards of integrity and fair play within the esports industry. In the interest of transparency and public confidence, we are issuing this statement to inform the public about a recent disciplinary action taken against a participant in an esports event.
Overview of the Case
During the a match played on 24th February, esports participant Flynn “Deluxe” Smith was alleged to have engaged in corrupt behavior, which contravened the ESIC Anti-Corruption Code. As part of our commitment to ensuring integrity in esports, ESIC initiated an investigation into the matter. Due to intervening factors, ESIC could not make a public statement on the matter until this point in time.
Investigation and Charges
Our comprehensive investigation into the matter involved examining match footage, reviewing betting patterns, and conducting interviews with relevant parties. While we must maintain confidentiality to protect the integrity of the investigation, we can share that the evidence collected pointed to Mr. Smith’s involvement in activities that contravened articles 2.1.1 and 2.1.2 of the ESIC Anti-Corruption Code. These activities include improper influence on match outcomes and involvement in corrupt betting practices. The gathered information was subsequently presented to Mr. Smith in a Notice of Charge.
Resolution and Sanction
After reviewing the charges and evidence, Flynn “Deluxe” Smith accepted the charges and agreed to a plea bargain arrangement. Consequently, he is subject to a two-year ban from participating in any capacity in events organized by ESIC Members. The ban is effective from 4th April 2023 until midnight 3rd April 2025.
ESIC’s Commitment to Integrity
ESIC remains steadfast in our commitment to maintaining the highest standards of integrity in esports. We will continue to conduct investigations and impose sanctions when necessary to protect the integrity of the industry. We also encourage the esports community to actively participate in promoting fair play and integrity in esports.
Conclusion
We appreciate the esports industry’s support in maintaining the integrity of the industry and fostering a fair, competitive environment for all participants. If you have any inquiries or concerns related to this statement, please feel free to contact us at This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it..
Major Basketball League Malaysia, the top tier of the sport run by the Malaysia Basketball Association, has announced a new integrity partnership with Genius Sports to fight the threat of match-fixing.
As the trusted integrity partner to over 150 sports leagues and federations worldwide including the Indonesian Basketball League, Thailand Basketball Association and Vietnam Basketball Association, Genius Sports will provide Major Basketball League Malaysia with a comprehensive integrity programme to identify, combat and prevent match-fixing.
Genius Sports’ 24/7/365 Bet Monitoring System will use artificial intelligence to analyse global wagering activity on Malaysian basketball, cross-referencing real-time odds movements with proprietary predictive algorithms to automatically flag potentially suspicious activity. Through its global team of expert integrity operators, Genius Sports will thoroughly examine all monitoring data to provide Major Basketball League Malaysia with detailed reports and data-driven analysis.
To provide long-term protection from any threats, Genius Sports will also provide model rules and regulations to provide robust foundations for the league’s new integrity programme. Genius Sports will also deliver expert educational workshops, helping players, officials and coaches to understand how match-fixers operate, where they should report any attempts to manipulate games and the personal and professional consequences for not doing so.
“This collaboration between MBL and Genius Sports to safeguard the integrity of our competitions represents a major milestone in the development of Malaysia basketball,” said Frank Ch’ng, Commissioner of MBL. “We’re proud to be working alongside Genius Sports to ensure our games remain transparent, unpredictable and fair.”
“In the fight against match-fixing, sports must be proactive and invest in measures that both identify existing threats and provide long-term protection,” said Stephen Thurley, Head of Integrity Partnerships at Genius Sports. “We’re pleased to be working in partnership with Major Basketball League Malaysia, building a robust integrity programme that combines model rules and regulations with 24/7 monitoring and education services.”
