International Skating Union releases transgender policy
The International Skating Union (ISU) has released a transgender policy which details criteria for transgender athletes to be able to compete.
Are Team Salary Caps In Football Compatible With EU Law?
World Athletics approves the applications of four Russians to compete internationally as neutral athletes
The World Athletics Doping Review Board has agreed that the applications of four Russian athletes have met the exceptional eligibility criteria to compete in international competition as neutral athletes in 2021 under Eligibility Rule 3.2 while the Russian national federation (RusAF) remains suspended.
Aston Martin withdraw appeal against Vettel's Hungarian GP disqualification
Aston Martin have withdrawn their appeal against Sebastian Vettel's disqualification from the Hungarian Grand Prix, the team announced on Thursday.
Vettel finished second on track at the Hungaroring behind winner Esteban Ocon and ahead of championship leader Lewis Hamilton. But he was disqualified when the FIA were unable to take the required 1.0 litre fuel sample from his car following the race, as per the technical regulations.
U.S. Cycling Athlete Katherine Compton Accepts Sanction for Anti-Doping Rule Violation
USADA announced today that Katherine Compton, of Colorado Springs, Colo., an athlete in the sport of cycling, has accepted a four-year suspension for an anti-doping rule violation.
Compton, 42, tested positive for an anabolic agent as the result of an out-of-competition drug test on September 16, 2020. Her urine sample was analyzed using a specialized test, known as Carbon Isotope Ratio testing, that differentiates between anabolic androgenic steroids (AAS) naturally produced by the body and prohibited anabolic agents of external origin. Anabolic agents have powerful performance-enhancing capabilities and can give an athlete an unfair advantage over fellow competitors.
EFL Statement: Harrogate Town v Rochdale AFC
Rochdale AFC will receive a bye into this season’s Round Two of the Carabao Cup after it was determined opponents Harrogate Town would be unable to fulfil the Round One fixture within the required time period.
Stewards dismiss Aston Martin's request for review of Vettel's Hungarian GP disqualification
Aston Martin have failed in their bid to have Sebastian Vettel's disqualification from the Hungarian Grand Prix reviewed by the stewards.
IESF and Esports BAR partner to help build a sustainable esports environment
The International Esports Federation (IESF) and Esports BAR are pleased to announce a partnership that will help accelerate the development of professional Esports around the world.
WEBINAR | Independent Reviews and Investigations ?in Sport
Sport Resolutions, in association with Littleton Chambers, will be holding an event on independent reviews and investigations in sport on Thursday 9th September via Zoom Webinar.
EFL statement: Harrogate Town
Harrogate Town’s next three fixtures will not take place as scheduled due to positive cases of COVID-19 being identified within the Club’s squad.
It means a number of individuals are unable to play or train due to either a positive test or the requirement to self-isolate in line with Government and EFL guidance.
Shoriful reprimanded for breaching ICC Code of Conduct
Bangladesh fast bowler Shoriful Islam has been given an official reprimand for breaching Level 1 of the ICC Code of Conduct during the third T20I against Australia in Dhaka on Friday.
A Guide To Financing Football Clubs: Part 3 – Future Trends & Expectations
A Guide To Financing Football Clubs: Part 1 – Debt Finance
Statement from RFL Chair Simon Johnson following confirmation of the postponement of RLWC2021
“The RFL shares the bitter disappointment of the RLWC2021 team that they have been left with no choice but to postpone the Rugby League World Cup. They tried everything within their power to continue with the tournament this year. We are so grateful for their efforts, especially to create a world class and safe biosecurity regime but we note their view that ultimately the challenges were too great to hold the Tournament this year.
Statement on the Reduction of Mark Dry’s Ban from Sport
A UK Anti-Doping (UKAD) spokesperson said today: “We note the decision following Mark Dry’s appeal. We are pleased that the independent appeal tribunal unanimously endorsed UKAD’s Issued Decision dated 7 May 2021, which reduces Mr Dry’s ban from four years to 28 months.
Tribunal | Luke Gale
Luke Gale will serve a one match suspension following his appeal this evening (Wednesday 4 August) to an independent Operational Rules tribunal.
The Leeds Rhinos scrum-half was challenging a two-match suspension handed down by the RFL’s Match Review Panel for making contact with referee Chris Kendall during his side’s recent Betfred Super League match against Warrington Wolves.
Concussion protocols being used at 2021 SCL
MIAMI, Florida – Concacaf is using the IFAB additional permanent “concussion substitutes” in the 2021 Scotiabank Concacaf League with the implementation of Protocol B enforced throughout the competition.
This follows the successful application of Protocol B throughout the 2021 Concacaf Gold Cup.
Bloodstock Industry Forum publishes Code of Practice
The Bloodstock Industry Forum (BIF) is pleased to announce the completion of the new Bloodstock Industry Code of Practice which will be formally incorporated into the rules of British Racing on August 16th and replaces the previous Bloodstock Industry Code of Practice which has been in place since in 2009 and the ITBA Sales Code of Practice, operational since 2010. The new Code of Practice has been drawn up in response to the central recommendation made in the BHA Review of the Buying and Selling of Bloodstock and Racehorses in British Racing which was released in December 2019.
The CAS Ad Hoc Division rejects the application filed by Ukrainian racewalker Nazar Kovalenko
Tokyo, 4 August 2021 – The Ad Hoc Division of the Court of Arbitration for Sport (CAS) has issued its decision in the matter CAS OG 20/12 Nazar Kovalenko v. World Athletics (WA) & Athletics Integrity Unit (AIU):
Determining the level of compensation for out of contract football players
Points deduction and fine for Featherstone Rovers
Featherstone Rovers have been deducted two Betfred Championship points and fined £10,000 after being found guilty of breaching the RFL’s Operational Rules.
This is an Agreed Decision between the RFL and the club.
Rovers were found to have held an indoor gathering on Saturday 27 March – a direct breach of the national lockdown restrictions in place at the time – and to have subsequently included in the team for the following Friday’s (2 April) fixture against Batley 12 players who took part in the illegal gathering and who would ordinarily have been forced to stand down under RFL Covid protocols.
Williams begins first term in Wales
The new president of the Football Association of Wales (FAW), Stephen Williams, took up his post this week.
WADA invites stakeholders to participate in Skills Survey regarding roles in anti-doping
One of WADA’s six priorities under the World Anti-Doping Agency’s (WADA’s) 2020-2024 Strategic Plan is to ‘Grow Impact’. As one of the key initiatives under this priority, the Agency has committed ‘to developing training programs and qualifications standards for anti-doping professionals to improve professionalism and enhance the capabilities of the anti-doping workforce’.
FIFPRO AFRICA APPROVES MOVE FOR MORE DIVERSITY AND INCLUSION
More than two years after its last continental meeting, FIFPRO Africa held its 2021 congress on Tuesday 27 July in Accra, with the participants physically present. The reunion was marked by the approval of its new articles of association.
Nicky Henderson - Rule (E)12, fast-tracked
£750 fine - A breach of Rule (E)12 of the Rules of Racing in that on 5 July 2021 LELANTOS (IRE) ran in The Free Tips Daily On attheraces.com Handicap Hurdle Race (Class 5) at Worcester, where it had been reported by the Veterinary Officer that the horse appeared to be suffering from ringworm. The skin scrapings taken from LELANTOS (IRE) were reported by Rossdales Laboratories as being positive for ringworm.
The ITA asserts an apparent ADRV against Bulgarian weightlifter Yunder Beytula
THE INTERNATIONAL TESTING AGENCY (ITA) REPORTS THAT A SAMPLE COLLECTED FROM BULGARIAN WEIGHTLIFTER YUNDER BEYTULA HAS RETURNED AN ADVERSE ANALYTICAL FINDING (AAF) FOR HUMAN GROWTH HORMONES (HGH) (S2. PEPTIDE HORMONES, GROWTH FACTORS).
Failure to reply to a FIFA proposal under Article 13 - lessons from Daugavpils v Kairat & FIFA
The FA has published its Media Essentials Guide for the 2021-22 season
We have today published our Media Essentials Guide for the 2021-22 season.
This guide is produced each season to support print, broadcast and online journalists who are responsible for understanding our Rules and Regulations and ensure they report on any incidents accurately for their viewers, readers or listeners.
Disciplinary | Match Review Panel
Following the latest round of Betfred Championship and League 1 fixtures, the Match Review Panel have issued the following sanctions:
U.S. Weightlifting Athlete Regina Hancock Accepts Sanction for Anti-Doping Rule Violation
USADA announced today that Regina Hancock, of Omaha, Neb., an athlete in the sport of weightlifting, has accepted a four-year suspension for an anti-doping rule violation.
Hancock, 41, tested positive for 3′-hydroxy-stanozolol, a metabolite of stanozolol, as the result of an in-competition drug test on March 20, 2021 at the USA Masters Weightlifting Championships. Stanozolol is a Non-Specified Substance in the class of Anabolic Agents and is prohibited at all times under the USADA Protocol for Olympic and Paralympic Movement Testing, the United States Olympic and Paralympic Committee National Anti-Doping Policy, and the International Weightlifting Federation Anti-Doping Rules, all of which have adopted the World Anti-Doping Code and the World Anti-Doping Agency Prohibited List.
Toulouse home fixtures against Halifax and Batley cancelled
Toulouse Olympique’s home fixtures with Halifax Panthers and Batley Bulldogs, scheduled for 14 and 28 August respectively, have been cancelled.
NFL permitting unlimited players to return from injured reserve for 2021 season
A popular amendment to roster rules is back for another year.
In a Tuesday memo, the NFL notified all teams that they are permitted to have unlimited players return from the injured reserve list for the 2021 season after missing three games, NFL Network's Tom Pelissero reported. Only players on the 53-man roster after Sept. 1 are eligible to be designated for return from IR or the non-football injury list, Pelissero added.
NFL officials to strictly enforce taunting violations in 2021
Taunting penalties will have bigger repercussions in the NFL going forward.
Mauricio Echazu Puente from Peru provisionally suspended
Peruvian tennis player Mauricio Echazu Puente has been provisionally suspended from the sport by independent Anti-Corruption Hearing Officer (AHO) Mr Raj Parker, pending the full consideration of charges against him.
Changes to the international match calendar due to the Covid-19 pandemic
The Bureau of the FIFA Council has approved a change to the men’s International Match Calendar in response to the global disruption caused by the COVID-19 pandemic.
How Brazil’s new “two coach” rule for league football works
A Guide To Financing Football Clubs: Part 2 – Equity Finance & Ownership Models
OFC have taken the pledge to improving safeguarding for all across Oceania
August 8 marks international Safer Sport Day and OFC are joining International Safeguards for Children in Sport in their aim to raise awareness of safeguarding.
There are eight safeguards that should be in place by any organisation working with children in sport while encouraging organisations to “take the pledge” and commit to improving safeguarding in their organisation.
Lincoln City's Liam Scully appointed EFL Trust Chair
The EFL Trust, the charitable arm of the EFL, is today delighted to announce that Liam Scully - Chief Executive of Lincoln City and Trustee of the Lincoln City Foundation - is to become its new Chair, officially taking up the role in September 2021.
The appointment follows the current EFL Trust Chair, John Nixon, stepping down from his role after a successful and memorable 10-year spell.
The CAS Ad Hoc Division dismisses the application filed by Yuberjen Martínez, the Colombian National Olympic Committee and the Colombian Boxing Federation
Tokyo, 5 August 2021 – The Ad Hoc Division of the Court of Arbitration for Sport (CAS) has dismissed the application filed on 4 August 2021 by the Colombian boxer Yuberjen Martínez, the Colombian National Olympic Committee (Colombian NOC) and the Colombian Boxing Federation (CBF) (the Applicants) against the IOC Boxing Task Force in relation to the Quarter Final bout in the Men’s Fly (48-52kg) competition at the Olympic Games Tokyo 2020 between Yuberjen Martínez and Japanese boxer Ryomei Tanaka.
Independent disciplinary process update: Kyle Sinckler citing dismissed
British and Irish Lions player Kyle Sinckler is free to play after an independent judicial committee dismissed the citing for an act of foul play contrary to World Rugby Law 9.12.
IESF & MEI partner to support the development of esports in China
The International Esports Federation (IESF) and Major Events International (MEI) are delighted to announce the signing of a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) to further the development of professional Esports in China.
At a time where the Esports industry is growing exponentially year on year, the MoU aims to support IESF’s strategy to expand responsible gaming in China. China has been a member of IESF since 2016. This involves promoting wider participation, hosting more competitions and creating a stronger brand presence. IESF will have access to MEI’s strong local presence in China and work together with MEI’s Chinese regional office to achieve these objectives.
Tokyo Olympians elect four new members to IOC Athletes’ Commission
The athletes at the Olympic Games Tokyo 2020 have elected Pau Gasol, Maja Włoszczowska, Federica Pellegrini and Yuki Ota to the International Olympic Committee (IOC)’s Athletes’ Commission (AC), for a term ending at the Olympic Games LA28. The newly elected members join the Commission to represent the athlete voice within the Olympic Movement.
Washington Football Team no longer permitting fans to wear Native American headdresses, face paint at home games
The Washington Football Team has yet to announce its new name, but until then, club policy will begin breaking fans away from the old one.
The club announced Wednesday that fans at FedExField will not be permitted to wear Native American ceremonial headdresses or face paint this season. Fans weren't permitted into WFT home games last year due to COVID-19 and the prior year such costuming was still permitted under the former branding.
Paris 2024 and Milano Cortina 2026 Organising Committees sign collaboration agreement
The Organising Committees for the Olympic and Paralympic Games Paris 2024 and the Olympic and Paralympic Winter Games Milano Cortina 2026 have today announced a collaboration agreement, which is aimed at encouraging joint initiatives and activities in an effort to stage more sustainable, innovative and spectacular Games in 2024 and 2026.
EFL commits support for knee and League-wide anti-discrimination activity
Ahead of the weekend’s opening round of League fixtures, the EFL is reaffirming its support to any player(s) and staff who wish to take the knee during the 2021/22 season
Adjudicatory Chamber of the Independent Ethics Committee sanctions Issa Hayatou
The adjudicatory chamber of the independent Ethics Committee has found Mr Issa Hayatou, former CAF president, former FIFA President ad interim, FIFA Vice-President and member of the FIFA Council, as well as Honorary FIFA VicePresident, responsible for having breached article 15 (Duty of Loyalty) of the FIFA Code of Ethics.
The CAS Ad Hoc Division rejects the application filed by French boxer Mourad Aliev
Tokyo, 3 August 2021 – The Ad Hoc Division of the Court of Arbitration for Sport (CAS) has issued its decision in the matter: TAS OG 20/14 Mourad Aliev & Fédération française de boxe & Comité National Olympique et Sportif Français c. IOC Boxing Task Force & Frazer Clarke & British Olympic Association :
David Loughnane - Rule (E)12, fast-tracked
£750 fine - A breach of Rule (E)12 of the Rules of Racing in that on 29 June 2021 FOREVER BRIGHT (IRE) ran in The Peter Villars Sportsground Maintenance Restricted Maiden Stakes (Class 5) at Chepstow, where it had been reported by the Veterinary Officer that the horse appeared to be suffering from ringworm. The skin scrapings taken from FOREVER BRIGHT (IRE) were reported by Rossdales Laboratories as being positive for ringworm.
Disciplinary update: Rassie Erasmus and SA Rugby misconduct
South Africa Director of Rugby Rassie Erasmus and SA Rugby will face an independent misconduct hearing for comments regarding match official performance during the test series between South Africa and the British and Irish Lions.
