ULEB Statement on Recent Discussions Regarding the Future of European Basketball

Sanctions announced for Nottingham Forest social media post

The ITA welcomes the UCI Anti-Doping Tribunal’s decision regarding Robert Stannard

The Tribunal found that Robert Stannard committed an Anti-Doping Rule Violation (ADRV) for use of a prohibited substance or a prohibited method due to unexplained abnormalities in his Biological Passport* in 2018 and 2019. These abnormalities were thoroughly followed up and investigated by the ITA after the UCI delegated its operational anti-doping program to the independent organisation in the beginning of 2021. As a consequence, the Tribunal has imposed a four-year period of suspension on the rider as well as a monetary fine corresponding to 70% of his average annual salary in 2018 and 2019.

In accordance with the applicable rules, i.e. the World Anti-Doping Code and the UCI Anti-Doping Rules, the Tribunal decided that the period of suspension shall start on 17 August 2018, i.e. the day of the appearance of the first abnormality, taking into account the delay with which the rider’s abnormalities were communicated to the UCI.

The decision is not final as it can be appealed before the Court of Arbitration for Sport (CAS) by the rider, his National Federation and National Anti-Doping Agency, the UCI and the World Anti-Doping Agency (WADA) within one month. The decision will be published on the UCI website once final.

The ITA will not comment further on the matter.

FIFPRO member unions approve governance upgrades to enhance global player support

• Unions endorse key FIFPRO governance structure reforms and improvements
  
  
• Organisational recommendations made following review by management consultancy Oliver Wyman
  
  
• Changes include strengthening executive management, reducing board size and implementing term limits

FIFPRO’s member player unions have today approved by an overwhelming majority governance recommendations to enhance the global representation of professional footballers following a review by management consultancy Oliver Wyman.

The governance upgrades that will be introduced over the coming months will streamline how the global board and management operate, making FIFPRO more agile to support and empower players around the world. Member unions agreed to the changes at an extraordinary general assembly which is taking place at FIFPRO headquarters.

Among the recommendations approved were the strengthening of FIFPRO’s executive management team, a reduction in the size of the 18-person global board, and the introduction of a maximum of three term limits for global board members.

As part of the transition to the new governance structure, the current board has agreed to step down to facilitate the process and will be substituted by an interim board until a 12-person board is elected at a General Assembly in November 2024.

FIFPRO is the exclusive global representative of professional footballers and its 66 affiliated national unions between them represent more than 60,000 players.

Among recent achievements for players, FIFPRO negotiated the right for footballers to receive a guaranteed share of FIFA Women’s World Cup prize money and successfully pushed for the first maternity rules across professional football.

Besides supporting national unions and players in hundreds of employment tribunal cases each year, FIFPRO is leading a series of international initiatives for footballers, such as protecting their personal data rights and, at the pinnacle of the game, easing mounting match congestion.

Independent Arbitrator Imposes Four-Year Sanction on Swimming Athlete Kensey McMahon for Anti-Doping Rule Violation

USADA announced today that an independent arbitrator has rendered a decision in the case of swimming athlete Kensey McMahon of Tuscaloosa, Ala. After an evidentiary hearing on May 2, 2024, where both McMahon and USADA were provided a full opportunity to present their cases and witnesses to the independent arbitrator, the arbitrator determined that McMahon will receive a four-year sanction after testing positive for vadadustat during an in-competition drug test at the Phillips 66 National Championships on July 1, 2023. McMahon and USADA mutually agreed to delay the arbitration hearing while McMahon remained provisionally suspended so that she could investigate the source of her positive test.

Vadadustat is a non-specified substance in the category of Peptide Hormones, Growth Factors, Related Substances and Mimetics and is prohibited at all times under the USADA Protocol for Olympic and Paralympic Movement Testing, the United States Olympic Committee National Anti-Doping Policies, and the World Aquatics Doping Control Rules, all of which have adopted the World Anti-Doping Code (the Code) and the World Anti-Doping Agency Prohibited List.

In cases involving a positive test for a non-specified substance such as vadadustat, an athlete is required to prove that their use of the prohibited substance was not intentional in order to qualify for a reduction from the default four-year sanction under the rules. McMahon received a four-year sanction because she was unable to establish through concrete evidence that her violation was not intentional. The arbitrator did not conclude that McMahon intended to cheat, only that she could not meet her burden of proof under the rules.

McMahon’s four-year period of ineligibility began on July 7, 2023, the date she was provisionally suspended. In addition, McMahon has been disqualified from all competitive results on and after July 1, 2023, the date of her positive test, including forfeiture of any medals, points, and prizes.

The decision, as well as all other arbitral decisions, can be found here.

Quarterly FIFA Data Protection and Cybersecurity in Sport Networking Event – Hybrid Event

Friday 21st June 2024

10 AM – 12 PM ET
4 PM – 6 PM CET

Our next FIFA Data Protection & Cybersecurity in Sports Networking Event is around the corner, and we would love for you to join us.

Event highlights:
- Expert insights: Trevor Hughes, CEO & President of the IAPP, will share his insights into the evolving privacy landscape in the USA, focusing on health data and minors.
- Industry perspective: Ashish Khanna, Senior Managing Director of the Verizon Cybersecurity Consulting Services, on how to interpret the evolving cyber threat landscape through current incident trending and geopolitical perspective for the sports and entertainment sector.

Event format: This event allows for both in-person and virtual attendance, ensuring that you can join us from anywhere in the world. The in-person event will be held in Miami, Florida, USA.

How to register: Secure your spot by registering here. For those joining us in-person, please ensure to register your in-person participation to assist us in organizing the event.

For additional information or assistance with the registration process, please contact us at This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it..

We look forward to welcoming you, whether you join us online or onsite!

Best regards,
FIFA Data Protection & Cybersecurity Risk Team

Circular no. 1886 - Compliance with applicable regulations regarding release of players to representative teams

TO THE MEMBER ASSOCIATIONS OF FIFA

Circular no. 1886

Zurich, 31 May 2024

Compliance with applicable regulations regarding release of players to representative teams

Dear Sir or Madam,

FIFA is pleased to note that, with the recent approval of the Women’s International Match Calendar 2026-2029, combined with the prior approval of the Men’s International Match Calendar 2025-2030, there is now a clear and consistent framework for the mutually beneficial coexistence of representative-team and club football globally for the future. This hugely positive development allows all football stakeholders to plan responsibly and with sufficient certainty for the benefit of all involved.

A fundamental component of each International Match Calendar is its binding relationship with the release of players to representative teams, as set out in the FIFA Regulations on the Status and Transfer of Players (the “Regulations”). This legal framework clearly lays out predetermined rules around the timing of the mandatory release of players, where validly called up to representative teams by their respective member associations.

In doing so, this framework recognises the need to balance the rights and obligations of both clubs and representative teams, in order to ensure that the harmonious relationship between representative-team and club football continues.

With this in mind, FIFA notes with concern reports of an increasing trend of member associations engaging in “early call-ups” – in other words, arranging or requiring the arrival of players for representative-team duty before the start of the stipulated period of release as set out in the Regulations and therefore outside the release period, where there is no prior agreement with the releasing club in question.

FIFA would therefore like to strongly remind all member associations preparing for the upcoming international windows that call-ups in advance of the opening of the international window in question should not be undertaken unless otherwise mutually agreed between the member association and club concerned.

FIFA also draws attention to the fact that universal compliance with the Regulations and consistency in their application are critical for the long-term health and coexistence of representative-team and club football globally. In this regard, all involved parties and stakeholders must respect the rules and their obligations, in order for this long-standing and successful system to function as intended.

In recognition that there do exist individual cases with unique circumstances where an early release may be in the interest of all involved, FIFA of course promotes and encourages open dialogue in this regard, such that a clear agreement can be found that is acceptable to all parties. In such cases where an agreement is reached, we would take this opportunity to confirm that the cover provided by the FIFA Club Protection Programme as set out in circular no. 1852 will apply from the moment of release by the club in question, thereby providing insurance for the players in question when on duty with those representative teams in scope.

FIFA would like to thank you for your attention to the above and wishes all member associations the best in their preparations for the upcoming windows, as well as in any tournaments in which they are participating over the coming months.

Yours faithfully,

FÉDÉRATION INTERNATIONALE

DE FOOTBALL ASSOCIATION

Circular no. 1885 - Training compensation system for women’s football – financial data for calculation of training costs and categorisation of clubs

TO THE MEMBER ASSOCIATIONS OF FIFA

Circular no. 1885

Zurich, 30 May 2024

Training compensation system for women’s football – financial data for calculation of training costs and categorisation of clubs

Dear Sir or Madam,

On 17 December 2023, the FIFA Council approved the governing framework for a training compensation system for women’s football to encourage the development of youth players, protect the investment of training clubs and contribute to the competitive balance and sustainability of the women’s game.

In order to build and implement this system, it is essential to collect and analyse accurate financial data from clubs related to female players’ training costs. This will allow the correct categorisation of clubs and establishment of training compensation amounts which will be paid to beneficiary clubs when the system becomes active. In this regard, a survey has been produced to gather such data from your affiliated clubs.

Whilst the survey relates to training costs, professionalism and sporting indicators, other key questions have been included for correlation and benchmarking purposes. FIFA will not use this data for any other purpose, disclose it to any unauthorised persons or make it available in any other way.

Member associations are kindly requested to ensure that their affiliated clubs complete the survey, which is available at the following link: CLUB SURVEY which needs to be shared with your clubs directly.

Please kindly inform your affiliated clubs that once they start the online survey, they will need to enter all the requested data in one session and press submit to avoid losing any progress made. All survey responses must be received by 30 June 2024.

For any enquiries regarding the club survey, please contact Ignacio Toro from the FIFA Women’s Football Division at This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it..

Yours faithfully,

FÉDÉRATION INTERNATIONALE

DE FOOTBALL ASSOCIATION

FIFPRO launches elite performance forum to advance strategic priorities on player performance

• HPAN will provide an independent resource to support ongoing player union activities on workforce issues in men’s football relating to performance, workload and emerging technology
  
  
• Forum will initially boast 12 expert practitioners operating in high-performance roles across elite sport
  
  
• Will strengthen ongoing efforts of Player IQ to establish expert networks to drive player-centric research and thought-leadership

FIFPRO has launched the Player IQ High-Performance Advisory Network (HPAN) to establish a dedicated forum for elite performance coaches to provide feedback and thought-leadership on priority topics such as player workload and performance technology.

HPAN will provide an independent and complementary resource to ongoing player union activities on performance issues. It will also inform player-centric policy development, and enhance existing evidence-based research and medical expertise.

Chaired by Dr Darren Burgess, a FIFPRO senior advisor on player workload and performance, the network will initially boast 12 expert practitioners operating in high-performance roles across elite sport.

All specialists currently work or have previously worked in high-level football performance environments and offer a regional spread of expertise. The group composition will be evaluated periodically and remain open to the future integration of additional experts.

“I’m delighted to have the opportunity to chair the FIFPRO High-Performance Advisory Network (HPAN) during it’s inaugural year,” said Dr Burgess. “Over the years, I’ve often held ad-hoc or informal discussions with colleagues and practitioners to exchange ideas and explore issues that have arisen in our work with teams and players, but HPAN now provides us with a unique platform to harness these discussions and use our collective expertise to address key industry challenges in a proactive manner.

“Our member experts will bring insightful perspectives, having worked extensively across both club and international football, with vast experience participating in and preparing players for a wide variety of national and international competitions, ranging from the Premier League to the World Cup and Olympic Games.”      

The launch of HPAN will strengthen existing workstreams such as Player Workload Monitoring (PWM), enhance the understanding of emerging technology in both training and match environments, and anticipate emerging trends relevant for high-performance.

HPAN will meet collectively on a quarterly basis with further integration opportunities also planned at various upcoming events throughout the coming year.

Alexander Bielefeld, FIFPRO Director of Global Policy & Strategy for Men’s Football, said: “The establishment of the FIFPRO High-Performance Advisory Network is an important next step in strengthening our player-centric capabilities and addressing key industry challenges.

“We’ve gathered an exciting group of performance experts who possess extensive experience working with elite footballers from across all regions of the world. Alongside their football industry expertise, many members have also been successful working with elite athletes across other sports including basketball, cycling and AFL.

“The new expert network will build upon our existing medical research and evidence-based analysis and will add further value to our discussions as we explore best-practices, evaluate emerging trends, and optimise solutions that benefit players and the game overall.”

Adjudicatory chamber of the Ethics Committee sanctions former and incumbent officials of the Bangladesh Football Federation

Swimming Athlete Suspended for Multiple Whereabout Failures

Ottawa – May 23, 2024 – The Canadian Centre for Ethics in Sport (CCES) announced today that Ruslan Gaziev, a swimming athlete, received an 18-month sanction for an anti-doping rule violation. The athlete had three confirmed whereabouts failures during a 12-month period.

In response to the CCES’s notification of the anti-doping rule violation, the athlete signed an Agreement on Consequences thereby waiving his right to a hearing and accepting the proposed sanction and all other applicable consequences. The sanction terminates on May 31, 2025.

During the sanction period, the athlete is ineligible to participate in any capacity with any sport signatory to the Canadian Anti-Doping Program (CADP), 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.

ITA sanctions Indian boxer Parveen Hooda with a 22-month period of ineligibility for three whereabouts failures

THE INTERNATIONAL TESTING AGENCY (ITA) REPORTS THAT THE INDIAN BOXER PARVEEN HOODA HAS BEEN SANCTIONED WITH A 22-MONTH PERIOD OF INELIGIBILITY FOR A COMBINATION OF THREE WHEREABOUTS FAILURES WITHIN A TWELVE-MONTH PERIOD.

The ITA confirms that boxer Parveen Hooda has been suspended for a 22-month period, effective until 16 July 2025, after committing three whereabouts failures within a twelve-month period as defined in article 2.4 of the International Boxing Association anti-doping rules (IBA ADR)¹.

The case was resolved via an agreement on consequences pursuant to article 8.3.1 of the IBA ADR, and equivalent provision in the World Anti-Doping Code.

In addition to the period of Ineligibility, the athlete’s results obtained between 11 December 2022 until 17 May 2024 are disqualified.

Ms Hooda is thus ineligible to participate in the Olympic Games Paris 2024 and the matter related to her Olympic quota will be treated in accordance with the Paris 2024 Boxing Qualification System², which does not fall under the ITA’s remits.

Insofar as the World Anti-Doping Agency (WADA) and the National Anti-Doping Agency of India (NADA) have a right to appeal against the sanction before the appeals division of the Court of Arbitration for Sport, there will be no further comments.

Reading FC Sanctioned

Reading FC and four individuals have been sanctioned following misconduct charges for breaches of FA Rule E1.2 between 1 March 2019 and 16 July 2019.

It was alleged that Reading FC and Nigel Howe, Sue Hewett and Michael Gilkes – acting on behalf of the Club – as well as Intermediary Glen Tweneboah agreed for the latter to have an interest in relation to a registration right or an economic right, namely to receive payments contingent on the future transfer of a player, which was a breach of The FA’s Intermediary Regulations. 

Reading FC, Nigel Howe, Sue Hewett and Michael Gilkes denied breaching Intermediary Regulation E5, but admitted a charge of improper conduct. However, an independent Regulatory Commission found all charges to be proven, and subsequently imposed a £200,000 fine on Reading FC, while Nigel Howe has been fined £5,000 and suspended for a total of 12 months. During the first six months, Mr Howe is suspended from involvement with player contract negotiations and transfer-related activity, and for the latter six months he is suspended from all football and football-related activity. Sue Hewett and Michael Gilkes have each been warned regarding their future conduct.

Intermediary Glen Tweneboah denied all charges, however they were found proven and he has been fined £15,000 and suspended for six months from all football and football-related activity, including intermediary and football agent services, effective from 4 October 2024. 

Full written reasons from the independent Regulatory Commission can be found below.

The FA v Reading FC and others - Liability

The FA v Reading FC and others - Sanction

Austrian wheelchair tennis player fined

The International Tennis Integrity Agency (ITIA) can today confirm that Austrian wheelchair tennis player Nico Langmann has accepted a sanction for breaching tennis’ betting sponsorship rules. Langmann co-operated fully with the investigation and did not contest the charge.

As an active wheelchair tennis player, Langmann is considered a “covered person”, who must comply with the sport’s rules around relationships with betting operators. The Tennis Anti-Corruption Program rules state that: “No Covered Person shall directly or indirectly, facilitate, encourage and/or promote Tennis Betting (‘Facilitation’).”

In January 2023, Langmann entered into a contract with an Austrian online gaming and betting operator to become an ambassador, a deal which included, but was not limited to, use of Langmann’s image and social media profile to promote the brand. Upon receiving contact from the ITIA, Langmann withdrew from the arrangement and made best efforts to remove promotional content already produced.

There is no suggestion of any corrupt behaviour linked to the rule violation, and the ITIA accepted that the violation was inadvertent. As such, Langmann has been issued a two-month suspended ban and fined $10,000. The suspension will not come into force unless there is a further breach of the rules during the two-month period, which began on 14 May 2024.

The ITIA is an independent body established by its tennis members to promote, encourage, enhance, and safeguard the integrity of professional tennis worldwide. 

Czech tennis player provisionally suspended

The International Tennis Integrity Agency (ITIA) has confirmed that Nikola Bartunkova, an 18-year-old tennis player from Czechia, has been provisionally suspended under the Tennis Anti-Doping Programme (TADP).   

The ITIA sent the player a pre-charge notice of an Anti-Doping Rule Violation on 16 April 2024 under Article 2.1 of the TADP (presence of a Prohibited Substance in a Player’s Sample) and/or Article 2.2 (Use of a Prohibited Substance without a valid Therapeutic Use Exemption (TUE)). 

Bartunkova, who reached a career-high world singles ranking of 226 in April 2024, provided samples while competing at an ITF W50 event in Trnava, Slovakia, in February 2024, and an ITF W75 event in Maribor, Slovenia, in March 2024.

Both the February and March samples were split into A and B samples and the subsequent analysis found that the A samples contained trimetazidine, which is prohibited under the TADP, in the category of Hormone and Metabolic Modulators (section S4 (4.4) of the 2024 Prohibited List). Trimetazidine is a non-Specified substance, and Bartunkova did not possess a valid TUE for the substance. Analysis of the B samples have since confirmed findings in the A samples.

Findings for non-Specified Substances carry a mandatory provisional suspension – in Bartunkova’s case, this is effective from 16 April 2024. 

While provisionally suspended, Bartunkova is prohibited from playing in, coaching at, or attending any tennis event authorised or sanctioned by the members of the ITIA (ATP, ITF, WTA, Tennis Australia, Fédération Française de Tennis, Wimbledon and USTA) or any national association.   

The ITIA is an independent body established by its tennis members to promote, encourage, enhance, and safeguard the integrity of professional tennis worldwide.   

The ITA reports that Italian athlete Vincenzo Tomasello has accepted a 14-month period of ineligibility

THE ITA, ON BEHALF OF IRONMAN, HEREBY REPORTS THAT ITALIAN ATHLETE VINCENZO TOMASELLO HAS COMMITTED AN ANTI-DOPING RULE VIOLATION (ADRV) UNDER ARTICLE 2.1 OF THE IRONMAN ANTI-DOPING RULES (IRONMAN ADR) FOR THE PRESENCE OF PREDNISOLONE AND PREDNISONE IN A SAMPLE COLLECTED IN-COMPETITION BY IRONMAN ON 25 NOVEMBER 2022 IN THE SCOPE OF THE 2022 IRONMAN ISRAEL. VINCENZO TOMASELLO PARTICIPATED IN THE EVENT IN THE AGE GROUP CATEGORY.

Newcastle United's Sandro Tonali Sanctioned

An independent Regulatory Commission has sanctioned Newcastle United’s Sandro Tonali for misconduct in relation to The FA’s Betting Rules. 

The FA charged the midfielder with 50 breaches of FA Rule E8 for placing bets on football matches between 12 August 2023 and 12 October 2023, and he admitted to this. 

The independent Regulatory Commission imposed a two-month suspension from all football and football-related activity, which is suspended until the end of the 2024/25 season pending any further breaches of The FA’s Betting Rules, as well as a £20,000 fine and warning. 

The independent Regulatory Commission’s written reasons for these sanctions can be read in full here. 

British racing invests in state-of-the-art horse mannequins to enhance practical veterinary and medical training at British racecourses

Action plan and fine for crowd misconduct

Clubs agree at AGM to trial an alternative League-wide financial system next season on a non-binding basis

At the Premier League’s Annual General Meeting today, clubs agreed to trial an alternative League-wide financial system next season (2024/25) on a non-binding basis. 

The existing Profitability and Sustainability Rules (PSR) will remain in place, but clubs will trial Squad Cost Rules (SCR) and Top to Bottom Anchoring Rules (TBA) in shadow. 

This will enable the League and clubs to fully evaluate the system, including the operation of UEFA’s equivalent new financial regulations, and to complete its consultation with all relevant stakeholders.

The overall system aims to improve and preserve clubs’ financial sustainability and the competitive balance of the Premier League, promote aspiration of clubs, facilitate a workable alignment with other relevant competitions and support clubs’ competitiveness in UEFA club competitions, while providing certainty and clarity for clubs, fans and stakeholders.

SCR will regulate on-pitch spend to a proportion (85 per cent) of a club’s football revenue and net profit/loss on player sales.

TBA is a League-level anchor linked to football costs, based on a multiple of the forecast lowest central distribution for that season. It is designed to be a pre-emptive measure to protect the competitive balance of the Premier League. This protection is intended not to have an impact unless significant revenue divergence of clubs occurs.

The International Olympic Committee and the Esports Integrity Commission Announce Historic Collaboration

The Esports Integrity Commission (ESIC) and the International Olympic Committee (IOC), and in particular the IOC’s Olympic Movement Unit for the Prevention of the Manipulation of Competitions (OM Unit PMC), proudly announce a historic letter of collaboration which will see the organisations work together and exchange information, expertise and best practices to combat corruption and other misconduct in esports.

The IOC’s OM Unit PMC, known for its commitment to safeguarding sports from corruption, will work closely with ESIC, the global industry body recognised for its standards on integrity in esports, across several key areas. The collaboration will involve the sharing of information and insights relating to esports integrity, and the development and implementation of strategies, initiatives and programs aimed at enhancing the integrity of esports. ESIC will also function as a specialist advisory body to the IOC and OM Unit PMC, providing guidance on esports related matters.

Friedrich Martens, Head of the OM Unit PMC at the IOC commented: “With numerous IFs organising esports competitions and the IOC planning to organise relevant competitions as well, we need to ensure that we have all the information and intelligence available to make sure that these competitions are free of manipulations or related breaches. Therefore we are very happy about this letter of collaboration formalising the long-standing communication between ESIC and the OM Unit PMC, particularly as esports is a developing area. Thus, we count on the support of ESIC for safeguarding the integrity and credibility of the esports competitions of the Olympic Movement, specifically to also further understand relevant risks and develop all right measures to mitigate them.

Stephen Hanna, Chief Executive Officer of ESIC expressed his enthusiasm about the collaboration, stating: “This collaboration with the IOC and the OM Unit PMC denotes a significant milestone for the global esports industry and is a testament to the IOC’s engagement with the industry in the development of its esports strategy. We are looking forward to working with the IOC to support its ambitious esports initiatives. This collaboration further validates the critical nature of ESIC’s mission and provides the industry with further assurance that ESIC’s work is meeting the evolving challenges to competitive integrity in esports.”

Weightlifter Songhwan (Alan) Park Sanctioned

Sport Integrity Australia acknowledges that Australia Weightlifting Federation (AWF) has imposed a three-year ban on athlete Songhwan (Alan) Park for the Presence of a Prohibited Substance/s and/or its metabolite and Use and Possession of Prohibited Substances. 

Mr Park, a Masters athlete, returned an Adverse Analytical Finding from an In-Competition doping control test on 15 May 2022 during the Queensland Weightlifting Association State Masters Championships. 

Mr Park’s sample was analysed at the Australian Sports Drug Testing Laboratory, part of the National Measurement Institute, and the presence of prohibited substances LGD-4033 (Ligandrol) and its metabolite Di-hydroxy LGD-4033, RAD140, Higenamine, and N,N-Dimethyl Phenethylamine (DMPEA) were detected. 

The substances LGD-4033 (Ligandrol) and RAD140, known as Selective Androgen Receptor Modulators (SARMs), are classified as Class S1.2 (Other Anabolic Agents) substances and are prohibited at all times. Higenamine is classified as a Class S3 (Beta-2 Agonists) substance and is also prohibited at all times. N,N-Dimethyl Phenethylamine (DMPEA) is classified as a Class S6 (Stimulants) substance and is prohibited In-Competition only. 

It was also determined that: 

• On and/or before 15 May 2022, Mr Park used LGD-4033 (Ligandrol); and/or RAD140; and/or Higenamine. 
• On 15 May 2022, Mr Park used the Prohibited Substance DMPEA. 
• From on and/or around 10 February 2021 to on and/or around 15 May 2022, Mr Park possessed LGD-4033 (Ligandrol); and/or RAD140. 

Mr Park’s ban, commencing on 15 May 2022, was reduced by 12 months following a full admission of the alleged anti-doping rule violations. 

Mr Park is ineligible to participate in any sports that have adopted a World Anti-Doping Code compliant anti-doping policy until 15 May 2025. He is also not permitted to compete in a non-Signatory professional league or Event organised by a non-Signatory International Event organisation or a non-Signatory national-level Event organisation. 

The ITA reports that three Turkish weightlifters have committed anti-doping rule violations within a period of 12 months

The International Testing Agency (ITA) confirms as follows:

1. A sample collected in-competition (IC) by the ITA from Turkish weightlifter Hakan Sukru Kurnaz returned an Adverse Analytical Finding (AAF)[1] for the presence of methasterone metabolite, a non-specified prohibited substance, according to the prohibited list of the World Anti-Doping Agency (WADA). The athlete was able to establish that the presence of methasterone metabolite in his sample was through use of a contaminated supplement. The case was resolved via an agreement on consequences pursuant to article 8.3.1 of the anti-doping rules of the International Weightlifting Federation (IWF ADR, and the equivalent provision in the World Anti-Doping Code). The athlete accepted a period of ineligibility of 22 months from 26 May 2023 and the disqualification of all competitive results from 21 April 2023 onwards.

2. A sample collected IC by the ITA from Turkish weightlifter Pelinsu Bayav returned AAFs for the presence of methasterone, stanozolol metabolites, methyltestosterone metabolite and clenbuterol, non-specified prohibited substances, according to the prohibited list of WADA. The athlete admitted to the violation under Article 10.8.1 IWF ADR and the case was resolved via an agreement on consequences pursuant to article 8.3.1 IWF ADR. The athlete accepted a period of ineligibility of 36 months from 26 May 2023 and the disqualification of all competitive results from 15 April 2023 onwards.

3. Turkish weightlifter Dogan Donen has committed an anti-doping rule violation under article 2.4 of the IWF ADR namely the occurrence of three Whereabouts Failures within a 12-month period.[2] The athlete accepted the consequences of the violation, and the ITA issued a sanctioning decision under Article 8.3.3 of the IWF ADR imposing a period of ineligibility of 24 months from 8 April 2024 and the disqualification of all competitive results from 1 April 2023 onwards.

Given that three athletes from the Turkish Weightlifting Federation have committed anti-doping rule violations (ADRVs) within a 12-month period, this has triggered the Article 12.3[3] of the IWF ADR and provisions of the IWF Olympic Qualification System (OQS). As a result, the matter has been submitted to IWF’s Independent Member Federation Sanctioning Panel to impose appropriate consequences.

No further comments will be made on these cases.

“A big statement”: FIFA introduces measures to further protect female players and coaches

Jill Ellis is speaking from personal experience when she talks about protecting the well-being of female players and coaches. The two-time FIFA Women’s World Cup™ winner remembers trying to coach a college team after adopting her three-month-old daughter, and the difficulties of trying to juggle the two roles.

“(A football career) shouldn’t be exclusive of being a mum or raising a child, it should be inclusive of that,” she said. “If I didn’t have support around me, I wouldn’t have had the ability to do that and maintain my career.”

FIFA, however, has been listening to the concerns of women in the game and, following thorough discussions with key stakeholders and a previous set of landmark reforms, has moved to further protect their well-being by implementing changes to the Regulations on the Status and Transfer of Players (RSTP) that will enter into force on 1 June 2024.

Approved by the FIFA Council in May 2024, these changes will extend the rights and protections to adoptive parents as well as non-biological mothers. They will also recognise the physical, psychological and social dimensions in the event of an inability to provide employment services due to severe menstruation, or medical complications relating to pregnancy, and member associations will be encouraged to allow female players to have contact with their families while on international duty.

“FIFA is committed to implementing a dynamic regulatory framework that is sound and suitable for the increasing needs of female players and coaches,” said FIFA Chief Legal & Compliance Officer Emilio García Silvero. “In order for the game to further flourish, it’s absolutely key that we have a holistic approach towards player well-being, including the legal aspects.”

“As a modern organisation, it’s FIFA’s duty to listen to the main actors and adapt its regulations to the ever more complex dynamics of professional football. We would like to thank all the stakeholders that have contributed to the drafting of these robust regulations, and look forward to seeing them being implemented and positively affecting the lives and careers of women in football.”

“I think it’s a big statement,” said Ellis, who led FIFA’s Technical Study Group at the FIFA Women’s World Cup 2023™ and coached the USA to Women’s World Cup titles in 2015 and 2019. “These are big steps and big strides to really normalise the life that we go through as women … that’s what we want to provide now at every level, the club level, the national team level – the opportunity for pro players to have the chance to be mums.”

The steps deliver on important points in Goal 2 of FIFA’s Strategic Objectives for the Global Game: 2023-2027, which describe the organisation’s commitment to exploring and implementing further safeguards for player and coach welfare.

Like Ellis, former Germany international Fatmire Alushi – a FIFA Women’s World Cup winner in 2007 – has first-hand experience of raising children while pursuing a football career. “I appreciate very much FIFA getting involved to protect pregnant women so that they can have a good feeling, enjoy their pregnancy, and can get support during and after the pregnancy,” said the mother of four. 

FIFA Chief Football Women’s Officer Dame Sarai Bareman said the new measures recognised that the players are the main stakeholders. “They are the ones who are on the field, who are playing the sport, they’re training hard every day, really sacrificing a lot to entertain the fans and to deliver the beautiful matches that we see,” she said.

The measures also recognise that women have different biological make-ups, she said. “When you’re playing sport for a living, and in a professional environment, we have to factor in that the female menstrual cycle can also impact on your ability to deliver within your role. So, it’s important that we protect … those that are affected by their menstrual cycles in a way that it doesn’t put at risk their employment situation with their club and, ultimately, their ability to earn money.”

Bareman welcomed the move to encourage more family contact for national team players. “In a FIFA Women’s World Cup, (a player) can potentially be away from her family for five or six weeks … and that can have a big toll on the player, mentally, but also on the child.

“So, encouraging the member associations to make provision or to allow for those mothers and parents to have the children with them during the camp, during the tournament, is a really important step which will support not only female players but all players in our sport.”

Regulations on the Status and Transfer of Players - June 2024 edition

Explanatory Note on New Provisions in the Regulations on the Status and Transfer of Players Regarding Female Players

Explanatory Note on Annexe 7 to the Regulations on the Status and Transfer of Players

The ITA reports that three Ukrainian weightlifters have committed anti-doping rule violations within a period of 12 months

The International Testing Agency (ITA) confirms that samples it collected out-of-competition (OOC) on 27 October 2022 from Ukrainian weightlifters Ruslan Kozhakin and Bohdan Taranenko returned an Adverse Analytical Finding (AAF)[1] for the presence of the prohibited substance trimetazidine, a non-specified prohibited substance, according to the prohibited list of the World Anti-Doping Agency (WADA).

Following the results management process, the ITA submitted the matters for adjudication to the Anti-Doping Division of the Court of Arbitration for Sport (CAS ADD). On 24 May 2024, CAS ADD issued its final decision confirming that the athletes had committed Anti-Doping Rule Violations (ADRVs) and sanctioned Ruslan Kozhakin and Bohdan Taranenko each with a period of ineligibility of 48 months from 2 December 2022 and a disqualification of their competitive results from 27 October 2022 onwards. The athletes have also been granted a 6-month credit for providing Substantial Assistance[2] to the Ukrainian National Anti-Doping Organization.

Additionally, an OOC sample collected by the ITA from Alina Marushchak on 10 March 2023 returned an AAF for the presence of the prohibited substance hydrochlorothiazide, a specified prohibited substance, according to the prohibited list.

The case was resolved via an agreement on consequences pursuant to article 8.3.1 of the anti-doping rules of the International Weightlifting Federation (IWF ADR, and the equivalent provision in the World Anti-Doping Code). The athlete accepted a period of ineligibility of two years from 13 April 2023 and the disqualification of all competitive results from 10 March 2023 onwards.

Given that the three athletes from the Ukrainian Weightlifting Federation have committed ADRVs within a 12-month period, this has triggered the Article 12.3[3] of the IWF ADR and provisions of the IWF Olympic Qualification System (OQS). As a result, the matter will now be submitted to IWF’s Independent Member Federation Sanctioning Panel to impose appropriate consequences.

No further comments will be made on this case.

VAR to be implemented at all AFC club competitions for 2024/25 season

As Asian club football prepares to enter a new era, the Asian Football Confederation (AFC) has reaffirmed its determination to maintain the highest officiating standards with the implementation of the Video Assistant Referee (VAR) system across its revamped three-tier club structure as well as the inaugural AFC Women’s Champions League™ for the 2024/25 season.

Befitting the status of the newly introduced AFC Champions League Elite™, which will see the Continent’s top 24 teams battle for glory, the tournament will implement VAR from the League Stage, which kicks off this September.

Former PGMOL Referee Observer Sanctioned

Former PGMOL referee observer, Rodger Gifford, has been suspended from all football and football-related activity for five months, fined £400 and ordered to attend a mandatory face-to-face education programme, for an Aggravated Breach of misconduct.

It was alleged that following the FA Cup second round fixture between Newport County AFC and Barnet FC on Saturday 2 December 2023, his language towards an assistant referee coach was abusive and/or insulting and/or improper, contrary to Rule E3.1. It was further alleged that this is an “Aggravated Breach”, as defined in Rule E3.2, as it includes a reference, whether express or implied, to colour and/or race and/or ethnic origin.

Mr Gifford denied the charge, but an independent Regulatory Commission found it to be proven and imposed the sanctions. The Written Reasons can be found here.

Algerian tennis player suspended under Tennis Anti-Corruption Program

The International Tennis Integrity Agency (ITIA) can today confirm that Algerian tennis player Mohamed Ali Abibsi has been suspended for a period of two years and six months and fined $10,000 for breaches of the Tennis Anti-Corruption Program (TACP). 

Abibsi, who held a career-high world singles ranking of 1438 in 2023, was charged with failure to comply with a demand and failure to co-operate with an ITIA investigation. A hearing was held before independent Anti-Corruption Hearing Officer (AHO) Ian Mill KC on 25 January 2024, following which AHO Mill upheld both ITIA charges. A further hearing was held on 14 March 2024, where both parties made their cases on the appropriate sanction. 
 
Having found Abibsi liable for breaches of the TACP related to failure to co-operate with an ITIA investigation, including refusal to submit personal devices for examination when issued a written request to do so by ITIA investigators, AHO Mill imposed a two-year and six-month suspension and a fine of $10,000. 

Abibsi has been provisionally suspended since 19 May 2023, and time served under provisional suspension will be credited against the period of ineligibility. As such, the suspension will end at midnight of 18 November 2025.  

During the period of ineligibility, the player is prohibited from playing in, coaching at, or attending any tennis event authorised or sanctioned by the members of the ITIA (ATP, ITF, WTA, Tennis Australia, Fédération Française de Tennis, Wimbledon and USTA) or any national association.  

The ITIA is an independent body established by its tennis members to promote, encourage, enhance, and safeguard the integrity of professional tennis worldwide.   

To access the full decision, click here.

ITA Paris 2024 Pre-Games Program ramps up to focus on high-risk sports & athletes and supports global anti-doping efforts ahead of the Olympic Games

THE ITA PARIS 2024 PRE-GAMES PROGRAM ENTERS ITS FINAL PHASE OVER TWO MONTHS BEFORE THE SUMMER OLYMPICS ARE BOUND TO BEGIN. DURING THIS TIME AND UP UNTIL THE START OF THE COMPETITIONS, THE BULK (AROUND 70%) OF DOPING CONTROLS ON ATHLETES BOUND TO PARIS WILL HAPPEN AS THE QUALIFICATION PROCEDURES CONTINUOUSLY REVEAL PARTICIPANTS. THE ITA PARIS 2024 PRE-GAMES EXPERT GROUP MONITORS THE IMPLEMENTATION OF THE GLOBAL TESTING ACTIVITIES. A SPECIAL FOCUS IS PLACED ON HIGH-RISK ATHLETES, OF WHICH OVER 50% HAVE ALREADY BEEN TESTED AT LEAST ONCE SINCE JANUARY 2024. IN ADDITION, THE ITA NOW HAS THE AUTHORITY TO DIRECTLY TEST ALL SPORTS PARTICIPATING IN THE GAMES AS A COMPLEMENTARY MEASURE TO CLOSE TESTING GAPS.

Italian tennis player suspended

The International Tennis Integrity Agency (ITIA) today confirms that Italian tennis player Emanuele Bastia has been suspended for a period of four months and two weeks after admitting to wagering on tennis, in breach of the Tennis Anti-Corruption Program (TACP). 
 
Bastia, who reached a career-high ITF singles ranking of 1835 in April 2024 and is unranked on the ATP Tour, admitted to placing bets on professional tennis matches (in which they played no part) between 2017 and 2023. The player has been fined $5,000, of which $2,500 is suspended. 
 
25-year-old Bastia’s period of ineligibility began on 6 May 2024 and ends at midnight on 20 September 2024.

During the period of ineligibility, Bastia is prohibited from playing in, coaching at, or attending any tennis event authorised or sanctioned by the members of the ITIA (ATP, ITF, WTA, Tennis Australia, Fédération Française de Tennis, Wimbledon and USTA) or any national association.   

The ITIA is an independent body established by its tennis members to promote, encourage, enhance, and safeguard the integrity of professional tennis worldwide.   

U.S. Skiing Athlete Breezy Johnson Accepts Sanction for Whereabouts Rule Violation

USADA announced today that Breezy Johnson, of Victor, Idaho, an athlete in the sport of skiing, has accepted a 14-month sanction for committing three Whereabouts Failures within a 12-month period.

At the time of the Whereabouts Failures, Johnson, 28, was included in the USADA Registered Testing Pool (RTP), which consists of a select group of elite athletes subject to certain Whereabouts requirements in order to be located for out-of-competition testing. Within a 12-month period, Johnson accrued three Whereabouts Failures: the first on October 29, 2022, the second on June 13, 2023, and the third on October 10, 2023.

The accumulation of three Whereabouts Failures within a 12-month period constitutes a rule violation under the USADA Protocol for Olympic and Paralympic Movement Testing, the United States Olympic and Paralympic Committee National Anti-Doping Policy, and the International Ski and Snowboard Federation Anti-Doping Rules, all of which have adopted the World Anti-Doping Code. The period of ineligibility for Whereabouts rule violations ranges from one year to two years depending on the athlete’s degree of fault. In this case, USADA determined that a 14-month period of ineligibility was appropriate because Johnson’s degree of fault was relatively low given the circumstances of the case.

Johnson’s 14-month period of ineligibility began on October 10, 2023, the date of her third Whereabouts Failure. In addition, Johnson has been disqualified from all competitive results achieved on and subsequent to October 10, 2023, including forfeiture of any medals, points, and prizes.

Accurate Whereabouts information is crucial for effective out-of-competition testing, which helps deter and detect doping by enabling no-notice sample collection. This is especially important because some prohibited substances have limited detection windows. In an effort to aid athletes, as well as support team members such as parents and coaches, in understanding the rules applicable to them, USADA provides comprehensive instruction on its website on the testing process and prohibited substances, how to file and update athlete Whereabouts, how to obtain permission to use a necessary medication, and the risks and dangers of taking supplements, as well as performance-enhancing and recreational drugs.

Argentinian tennis player suspended for five years

The International Tennis Integrity Agency (ITIA) today confirms that Argentinian tennis player Eduardo Agustín Torre has been suspended for a period of five years following 35 breaches of the Tennis Anti-Corruption Program (TACP).

The sanction is linked to a recently concluded criminal case involving a match-fixing syndicate in Belgium. Collaboration between the ITIA and Belgian authorities led to a five-year custodial sentence for the leader of the syndicate, Grigor Sargsyan. Charges against Torre relate to offenses from 2017, but the ITIA’s case was deferred until after the conclusion of criminal proceedings.

Torre, who reached a career-high world singles ranking of 596 in September 2014, did not respond to the ITIA’s charges. The case was ruled on by independent Anti-Corruption Hearing Officer (AHO) Amani Khalifa, who also issued Torre a fine of $35,000.

In failing to respond to the ITIA charges, Torre effectively admitted liability for all charges and acceded to sanctions.

The breaches included facilitation of wagering, contriving the outcome of matches, soliciting money or benefit to negatively influence a player’s best efforts, failure to report corrupt approaches, and failure to report corruption offenses.

The suspension will run from the date of the decision (26 April 2024) and end at midnight on 25 April 2029.

During the period of ineligibility, Torre is prohibited from playing in, coaching at, or attending any tennis event authorised or sanctioned by the members of the ITIA (ATP, ITF, WTA, Tennis Australia, Fédération Française de Tennis, Wimbledon and USTA) or any national association. 

The ITIA is an independent body established by its tennis members to promote, encourage, enhance, and safeguard the integrity of professional tennis worldwide.  

Independent Appeal Board decision on Nottingham Forest

An independent Appeal Board has upheld the decision of a Commission to deduct four points from Nottingham Forest following an admitted breach of the Premier League’s Profitability and Sustainability Rules (PSR).

The PSR sanction applied to the assessment period ending Season 2022/23 and was appealed by the club on two grounds. The club argued that the independent Commission committed an error in not treating its sale of a high-profile player shortly after the assessment period as a mitigating factor, and that it committed a further error in electing not to suspend some or all of the points deduction it imposed. Each of these grounds was rejected by the Appeal Board, which found the independent Commission was entitled to immediately impose the sanction it did. The four-point deduction will therefore remain in place.

Click here to read the independent Appeal Board’s full written reasons.

Appeal Boards are independent of the Premier League and member clubs. The Appeal Board in this case comprised of the Rt Hon Lord Dyson (chair), David Phillps KC and Daniel Alexander KC, each of whom was appointed by the independent Chair of the Premier League Judicial Panel.

Weightlifting Athlete Joshua Mauk Accepts Sanction for Anti-Doping Rule Violation

USADA announced today that Joshua Mauk of Battle Creek, Mich., an athlete in the sport of weightlifting, has accepted a three-month period of ineligibility for an anti-doping rule violation.

Mauk, 32, tested positive for 11-nor-9-carboxy-tetrahydrocannabinol (Carboxy-THC), a urinary metabolite of Δ9-tetrahydrocannabinol (THC)—the main psychoactive constituent of cannabis, marijuana, and hashish—above the urinary Decision Limit as the result of a sample collected in-competition at the North American Open Series 1 & National University Championships on March 2, 2024.

Cannabis, marijuana, and hashish are Specified Substances in the class of Cannabinoids and are prohibited in competition under the USADA Protocol for Olympic and Paralympic Movement Testing, the United States Olympic Committee National Anti-Doping Policies, and the International Weightlifting Federation Anti-Doping Rules, all of which have adopted the World Anti-Doping Code (the Code) and the World Anti-Doping Agency Prohibited List.

Under the 2021 Code, THC is classified under a special category, “Substances of Abuse,” that allows for a reduced three-month sanction if the athlete establishes that their use of the substance occurred out-of-competition and was unrelated to sport performance. The sanction may be further reduced to one month if the athlete satisfactorily completes a treatment program approved by USADA.

Mauk qualified for a reduced sanction because his use occurred out-of-competition and was unrelated to sport performance. Mauk accepted a three-month period of ineligibility that began on March 18, 2024, the date he was provisionally suspended. In addition, Mauk has been disqualified from all competitive results obtained on March 2, 2024, the date his positive sample was collected, including forfeiture of any medals, points and prizes.

Shrewsbury Town and Birmingham City sanctioned

Circular no. 1889 - Amendments to the FIFA Statutes, the Regulations Governing the Application of the Statutes and the Standing Orders of the Congress

TO THE MEMBER ASSOCIATIONS OF FIFA

Circular no. 1889

Zurich, 7 June 2024

Amendments to the FIFA Statutes, the Regulations Governing the Application of the Statutes and the Standing Orders of the Congress

Dear Sir or Madam,

The 74th FIFA Congress held in Bangkok on 17 May 2024 approved amendments to the FIFA Statutes, the Regulations Governing the Application of the Statutes and the Standing Orders of the Congress as proposed and shared with the member associations per circular no. 1882.

Those amendments align with FIFA’s overall strategic objectives, ensure that FIFA’s overall regulatory framework remains relevant and adapted to the changing circumstances within the global game and generally aim to protect the best of interests of football for the future.

These amendments are set out in the enclosed version of the FIFA Statutes, the Regulations Governing the Application of the Statutes and the Standing Orders of the Congress (May 2024 edition).

Entry into force

The new version of the FIFA Statutes will enter into force on 16 July 2024 (60 days after their approval at the 74th FIFA Congress), and will be available on legal.fifa.com and in the 2024 edition of the FIFA Legal Handbook.

We thank you for taking note of the above and please do not hesitate to contact Héctor Navarro Real, Head of Regulatory Governance and Compliance, at This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it. if you have any questions in this regard.

Yours faithfully,

FÉDÉRATION INTERNATIONALE

DE FOOTBALL ASSOCIATION

The full Circular 1889 is available here.

Port Vale Fined For Crowd Control Misconduct

Port Vale have been fined £25,000 for misconduct in relation to crowd control at their EFL League One game against Portsmouth on Saturday 27 January 2024. 

Port Vale 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; don’t behave in an improper, threatening or provocative way; or commit any form of pitch incursion. 

An independent Regulatory Commission imposed the club’s fine following a hearing and its written reasons can be read here.

AIU Bans Kipruto For Six Years For ABP Violation

5 JUNE 2024, MONACO: World Championship 10,000 metres bronze medallist and 10-kilometre road-running world record-holder, Rhonex Kipruto, has been banned for six years by the Athletics Integrity Unit (AIU) after a Disciplinary Tribunal ruled irregularities in his Athlete Biological Passport (ABP) resulted from doping.

After considering submissions from experts, the Tribunal rejected Kipruto’s defence, concluding the “cause for the abnormalities in the ABP is more likely to be due to blood manipulation” such as through the use of recombinant human erythropoietin (rEPO), while pointing out there was “no other plausible explanation” for the abnormal values

The 24-year-old Kenyan was provisionally suspended on 11 May last year under the World Athletics Anti-Doping Rules (ADR) – ADR 2.2 relating to the “Use or Attempted Use by an Athlete of a Prohibited Substance or a Prohibited Method” – after irregularities were detected in his ABP dating back to July 2018. He is now banned until 10 May 2029 and will have some top honours disqualified.

Between 9 July 2018 and 15 March 2022, 32 blood samples from the athlete were collected and analysed to create his biological passport. Three experts subsequently analysed the passport, while also reviewing the athlete’s Whereabouts along with his competition schedule and deemed in a unanimous opinion that doping was “highly likely” based on a number of “abnormal haematological patterns”.

Kipruto denied the Anti-Doping Rule Violation (ADRV) charge, contending that his ABP abnormalities were due to multiple factors such as natural and specific characteristics of his body, various medical conditions and health conditions.

“Having reviewed and considered carefully the totality of the Athlete’s evidence, the Panel

is comfortably satisfied that (the AIU) has discharged its burden of proof and established that the Athlete has committed an ADRV,” the panel of the Disciplinary Tribunal concluded.

In reaching its decision, the Disciplinary Tribunal said “the Expert Panel thoroughly analysed all arguments put forward by the Athlete and clearly demonstrated each time, by presenting supporting scientific evidence, why the Athlete’s arguments could not explain the abnormalities in the Passport”.

In the Panel’s view:

• the Athlete was involved in a deliberate and sophisticated doping regime over a long period of time in order to artificially enhance his performance through doping.
• Several abnormalities found in the Athlete’s ABP were linked to important competitions including the Valencia Half Marathon in 2020 and Kenyan Olympic Trials in 2021.
• Blood doping outside of competitions can also be used to gain an advantage as it permits more intense training and this has an obvious effect on performance even after a significant period of time. This is corroborated by the fact that in recent years many athletes have been found positive for EPO far outside of competition.

Considering the case’s aggravating circumstances, the Tribunal imposed the maximum period of ineligibility of six years and also disqualified Kipruto’s competitive results from 2 September 2018 to 11 May 2023. This means the athlete’s 10-kilometre road-running world record in Valencia in 2020; 10,000 metres bronze medal in the 2019 World Athletics Championships in Doha and 10,000 metres victory in the 2019 Stockholm Diamond League, among many other honours, will be annulled.

“The ABP is a critical tool in the quest to combat doping in elite athletes and this decision upholds important principles relating to ABP cases,” said AIU Head Brett Clothier.

“It can be difficult to directly detect the substances or methods used by sophisticated dopers, but the ABP gives us a chance to observe the telltale signs of blood doping over time. For this reason, the AIU conducted more than 4,700 ABP tests in 2023 on elite athletes and we will continue to invest heavily in our ABP programme going forward.”

The ABP, introduced in 2009 to fight blood doping, is an electronic record that collects an athlete’s biological data over time to indirectly detect the effects of doping. The ABP collates data including an athlete’s haemoglobin concentration and percentage of immature red blood cells (reticulocytes) and identifies unusual variations using a statistical model. The anonymised data is analysed by independent experts and, for a case to proceed, three of them must unanimously conclude that doping is likely

This decision is subject to appeal to the Court of Arbitration for Sport (CAS).

Details here: https://bit.ly/World-Athletics-v-Rhonex-Kipruto-Decision

Football Law Conference 2024 Panel Recordings Now Available to Purchase

The 7th edition of our Football Law Conference brought together 250+ attendees, 30+ expert speakers and 100+ sports organisations and professional services firms from club representatives, executives, players, agents and academia.

The conference featured two days of interactive panel discussions on the contemporary and important legal issues and developments facing the football industry, with opportunities for attendees to network and build relationships with industry professionals, and connect on important business matters.

All of the panel recordings are now available to purchase here. This will give you full access to all 9 panels from across the two days.

Topics & Speakers:

Pricing

• Standard Members - £249
• Plus/Corporate/Academic Members - £149 (Use code LISMEM at checkout)

If you bought a ticket to attend the conference, you should already have access to the recordings. If there are any issues please email This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.

Circular no. 1887 - Amendments to the Regulations on the Status and Transfer of Players (RSTP) concerning provisions regarding female players and coaches, the extension of Annexe 7 and the international transfer process for football

TO THE MEMBER ASSOCIATIONS OF FIFA

Circular no. 1887

Zurich, 31 May 2024

Amendments to the Regulations on the Status and Transfer of Players (RSTP) concerning provisions regarding female players and coaches, the extension of Annexe 7 and the international transfer process for football

Dear Sir or Madam,

We are pleased to inform you of several amendments to the Regulations on the Status and Transfer of Players (RSTP), which were approved by the FIFA Council at its meeting on 15 May 2024. The following paragraphs briefly set out the amendments concerning:

(a) provisions regarding female players and coaches; 

(b) the extension of Annexe 7 to the RSTP to continue addressing the exceptional situation deriving from the war in Ukraine; and

(c) the international transfer process for football – Annexe 3 to the RSTP.

(a) Provisions regarding female players and coaches

Based on the FIFA Council’s mandate of 14 March 2023 to explore possible further regulatory steps to protect the well-being of female players, the FIFA administration undertook a detailed assessment of the current labour conditions regarding pregnancy and maternity for female professional players with the aim of exploring objective additional regulatory measures. 

The amendments and additions to the RSTP in respect of provisions regarding female players and coaches relate to the implementation of the mandated areas and are aimed at ensuring clarity within the current regulatory framework. Furthermore, an equal protection regarding pregnancy and maternity (where appropriate) has been expanded to female coaches. A further objective is the appropriate implementation of these provisions at national level.

In particular, the amendments concern the definitions of the terms “maternity leave”, “adoption leave”, “family leave”, as well as article 1 paragraph 3 a); article 6 paragraph 3 c) and d); article 18 paragraph 7; article 18quater paragraphs 1, 2, 3, 4, 5 and 6; article 18quinquies (new); article 1bis paragraph 11 of Annexe 1 (new); article 1 paragraph 5 of Annexe 2, article 1 paragraph 5 of Annexe 6. These latest amendments focus on: 

• • reflecting the reality of female football and promoting inclusivity by extending the rights and protection to adoptive parents as well as non-biological mothers;
• • recognising the physical, psychological and social dimensions in the event of an inability to provide employment services due to severe menstruation or medical complications relating to pregnancy by providing for related rights; and
• encouraging associations to facilitate attachment and emotional balance for female players with their families while on international duty with their national teams.

(b) Extension of Annexe 7 to the RSTP to continue addressing the exceptional situation deriving from the war in Ukraine

As a consequence of the war in Ukraine, on 7 and 16 March 2022, the Bureau of the Council decided to temporarily amend the RSTP to provide urgent legal certainty and clarity on a number of important regulatory matters.

The decisions of the Bureau of the Council, communicated via circular nos. 1787 and 1788, set out the regulatory principles in the form of a temporary annexe to the RSTP (Annexe 7) entitled: Temporary rules addressing the exceptional situation deriving from the war in Ukraine.

Subsequently, on 20 June 2022, the Bureau of the Council decided to extend the temporary amendments to Annexe 7 to the RSTP until 30 June 2023, with minor modifications. The decision was communicated via circular no. 1800, dated 22 June 2022.

On 21 May 2023, the Bureau of the Council approved further temporary amendments to extend and adapt Annexe 7 to the RSTP until 30 June 2024 with the objective being to continue assisting players, coaches and clubs impacted by the war in Ukraine, while at the same time aiming to strike a reasonable balance between all interests at stake and avoiding abuse. These amendments have been communicated via circular no. 1849.

The ongoing situation with the war in Ukraine has resulted in the need to further clarify the application of Annexe 7 to the RSTP, in particular its application beyond 30 June 2024.

The related amendments to Annexe 7 to the RSTP concern the following provisions: article 1 paragraph 2 a) and b); article 2 paragraphs 1 and 2; article 7 paragraph 1. These latest amendments focus on:

• a further temporary extension of the right of foreign players and coaches who have left the territory of Ukraine and Russia due to the conflict, and who might not wish to currently return in view of the situation, to unilaterally suspend their contracts with clubs affiliated to the Ukrainian Association of Football and the Football Union of Russia until 30 June 2025;
• maintaining the limitations on the scope of application of Annexe 7 to the RSTP that were introduced in May 2023 in order to prevent abuses and to ensure that players and coaches exercise their right to suspend their employment contracts in a clear and timely manner; and
• partially reintroducing the obligation to pay training compensation.

(c) The international transfer process for football – Annexe 3 to the RSTP

Annexe 3 to the RSTP establishes the general principles governing the use of the FIFA Transfer Matching System (TMS), the process for international transfers of players in the system and the enforcement of the relevant rules. It also sets the obligations of member associations, clubs and their users when using the system.

In this context, a minor technical amendment to the RSTP has been approved by the FIFA Council in order to reflect the obligation of clubs to also declare in TMS any amendments to previously agreed club-to-club payment terms in the context of an international transfer.

The amendment related to Annexe 3 to the RSTP concerns the following provision: article 12 paragraph 1 of Annexe 3.

Entry into force of the amendments to the RSTP

All the aforementioned amendments will come into force on 1 June 2024, with the exception of the amendment regarding Annexe 3 to the RSTP, which will come into force on 1 July 2024.

The revised edition of the RSTP, as well as explanatory notes concerning the new provisions regarding female players and coaches and an updated explanatory note on Annexe 7 to the RSTP are available on legal.fifa.com.

Please do not hesitate to contact Jan Kleiner, Director of Football Regulatory at This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it. if you have any questions in this regard.

We thank you for taking note of the above and for informing your affiliated clubs accordingly.

Yours faithfully,

FÉDÉRATION INTERNATIONALE

DE FOOTBALL ASSOCIATION

Swansea City's Player Liaison Officer Sanctioned

Swansea City’s player liaison officer has been suspended from all football and football-related activity for 12 months and fined £1,500 following misconduct in relation to betting. 
 
The FA alleged that Huw Lake had placed 2,476 bets on football matches between 03 April 2018 and 24 September 2023, and he subsequently admitted to this charge. 
 
An independent Regulatory Commission imposed a 12-month ban from all football and football-related activity, with three months to be served immediately and the remainder to be suspended until the end of the 2024/25 season, and £1,500 fine. 
 
The FA appealed against the independent Regulatory Commission’s decision on the grounds that it came to a decision which no reasonable such body could have come; and imposed a penalty, award or sanction that was so unduly lenient as to be unreasonable.
 
An independent Appeal Board found that the decision to suspend nine months of the suspension was unreasonable and/or so unduly lenient as to be unreasonable, and it substituted a 12-month suspension to be served in its entirety from 25 March 2024. 
 
The written reasons for both the independent Appeal Board and Regulatory Commission’s decisions can be read below.

The FA v Huw Lake - Appeal Board - 21 May 2024

The FA v Huw Lake - 25 March 2024

The ITA welcomes the UCI Anti-Doping Tribunal’s decision concerning Miguel Ángel López

The Tribunal found Miguel Ángel López guilty of an anti-doping rule violation (ADRV) for use and possession of a prohibited substance (Menotropin)*, concomitantly with the 2022 Giro d’Italia, and has imposed a four-year suspension on the rider.

In accordance with the World Anti-Doping Code and the UCI Anti-Doping Rules, the period of suspension started on 25 July 2023 and will remain in force until 24 July 2027.

The disciplinary proceeding was initiated following an investigation conducted by the ITA based on evidence obtained from the Spanish Guardia Civil and the Spanish Anti-Doping Organisation (CELAD) in the so-called Operation “Ilex” concerning Dr Marcos Maynar. This valuable collaboration demonstrates the importance of intelligence-sharing between the ITA, National Anti-Doping Organisations and law enforcement authorities.

In line with the Procedural Rules of the UCI Tribunal, the decision will be published on the UCI website. The decision may be appealed before the Court of Arbitration for Sport (CAS) within one month.

The ITA will not comment further on the matter.

As a reminder, the UCI delegated the operational activities of its anti-doping programme to the International Testing Agency (ITA) in January 2021. Since then, cycling’s clean sport efforts have been led by the ITA Cycling Unit, which is dedicated specifically to all disciplines of cycling. The UCI and the ITA are bound by a service agreement which guarantees that the ITA operates in an independent manner.

Please find the UCI statement on the matter here.

FIFA Disciplinary Committee sanctions the Equatorial Guinean Football Association and the player Emilio Nsue López on grounds of ineligibility

West Ham United's Lucas Paqueta Charged

West Ham United’s Lucas Paqueta has been charged with misconduct in relation to alleged breaches of FA Rules E5 and F3. 
 
The player has been charged with four breaches of FA Rule E5.1 in relation to his conduct in the club’s Premier League fixtures against Leicester City on 12 November 2022; Aston Villa on 12 March 2023; Leeds United on 21 May 2023; and AFC Bournemouth on 12 August 2023. 
 
It’s alleged that he directly sought to influence the progress, conduct, or any other aspect of, or occurrence in these matches by intentionally seeking to receive a card from the referee for the improper purpose of affecting the betting market in order for one or more persons to profit from betting.
 
Lucas Paqueta has also been charged with two breaches of FA Rule F3 in respect of alleged failures to comply pursuant to FA Rule F2.
  
The player has until 03 June 2024 to provide a response to these charges subject to any request for an extension to this deadline. 
 
The FA will be making no further comment until the conclusion of this case.

Venezuelan official banned for life

The International Tennis Integrity Agency (ITIA) today confirms that Venezuelan tennis official Armando Belardi has been banned for life following 26 breaches of the Tennis Anti-Corruption Program (TACP).

Belardi, a national-level official who previously served a 30-month suspension for failure to co-operate with an investigation, did not respond to the ITIA’s charges. The case was ruled on by independent Anti-Corruption Hearing Officer (AHO) Janie Soublière, who also issued Belardi a fine of $75,000.

In failing to respond to the ITIA charges, Belardi effectively admitted liability for all charges and acceded to sanctions.

The breaches included facilitation of wagering, contriving the outcome of matches, and soliciting money or benefit to negatively influence a player’s best efforts. 

The ban is effective from 7 May 2024, the date of the decision. As such, Belardi is permanently prohibited from attending any tennis event authorised or sanctioned by the members of the ITIA (ATP, ITF, WTA, Tennis Australia, Fédération Française de Tennis, Wimbledon and USTA) or any national association. 

The ITIA is an independent body established by its tennis members to promote, encourage, enhance, and safeguard the integrity of professional tennis worldwide.  

To access the full decision, click here.

Global stand against racism by the Member Associations of the 74th FIFA Congress

TO THE MEMBER ASSOCIATIONS OF FIFA

Circular no. 1884

Bangkok, 16 May 2024

Global stand against racism by the Member Associations of the 74th FIFA Congress

Dear Sir or Madam,

The time has come for football to unite to unequivocally commit as a global community to address the issue of racism in the game. Football can be proud of the fact that it so often sets an example for the rest of society, showcasing what is possible when the world comes together for a common cause. It is now incumbent upon us to leverage this unique ability for this particularly important cause for us and for future generations. 

Given players are so often the central victims of this heinous act, FIFA has over the course of recent months undergone an extensive consultation process with current and former players, male and female, from all over the globe, all of whom are passionate about making a change.

Their views and input have resulted in a consolidated proposal for action. FIFA is now pleased to present this proposal to the 74th FIFA Congress on 17May 2024 in Bangkok, Thailand. The five pillars of action are outlined in annexe to this circular letter and comprise the following:

• Pillar 1 – Rules and sanctions
• Pillar 2 – Action on the field
• Pillar 3 – Criminal charges
• Pillar 4 – Education
• Pillar 5 – Players’ voice

Ahead of this agenda item at the 74th FIFA Congress, FIFA would like to share this proposal with all member associations as we look forward to standing together with them against racism. 

Yours faithfully,

FIFA

Mattias Grafström

Secretary General

Pillar 1 - Rules and sanctions

"We, together united as global football, will make racism a specific offence with mandatory inclusion in the individual Disciplinary Codes of all 211 FIFA Member Associations, differentiating racism from other incidents, giving acts of racism their own specific and severe sanctions, including match forfeits."

Pillar 2 - Action on the field

"We, together united as global football, will pause, suspend and abandon games in cases of racism, introducing a global standard gesture for players to communicate racist incidents and referees to signal the implementation of the three-step procedure which will be made mandatory in all 211 FIFA Member Associations."

Pillar 3 - Criminal charges

"We, together united as global football, will push for the recognition of racism as a criminal offence in every country in the world, and where already an offence, will push for prosecution with the severity it deserves."

Pillar 4 - Education

"We, together united as global football, in recognition that no child is born a racist, will develop and promote educational initiatives together with schools and governments, to provide a future free of racism."

Pillar 5 - Players' voice

"We, together united as global football, will establish a new Players' Anti-Racism Panel composed of former players who will monitor and advise on the implementation of these actions around the world."

Korea Republic women’s national team players fighting for better working conditions

Players of the Korea Republic women’s national team are asking for improved working conditions. Supported by the Korea Pro-Footballer’s Association (KPFA), they are inviting the Korea Football Association (KFA) to start discussions on how to solve some glaring issues.

In April, the KPFA’s Secretary General Hoonki Kim organised a meeting with national team players to discuss ideas to advance women’s football. The players unanimously voiced their concerns about their current treatment, which in their opinion is of a lower standard than the handling of the men’s national team or the men’s Olympic (U-23) team.

The players have the impression that the women’s team budget is insufficient, which is illustrated by their travel conditions. Kim said: "Despite being in the national team, the women are allocated regular tourist buses instead of the premium buses that are prioritised for the men's national team and Olympic team. Even when just the women's team is called up, they still travel with regular tourist buses instead of premium buses. This seems to be a serious form of discrimination."

Kim continued: "Additionally, the women's national team lacks dedicated training facilities. The men can use a quality pitch at a training centre, but usually the women are forced to take a spare training field, resulting in discomfort during travel between training grounds and accommodation." 

Seo-yeon Shim, who has made over 90 appearances for her country and is also a director of the KPFA, said: "While the men's team accommodation is well-arranged and they stay in hotels close to their training ground, our team lacks a proper arrangement: there is often no clear schedule, and we have to stay in resorts far from the training ground or stadium. This further reinforces the feeling of discrimination among all women players."

Air travel is another issue. When the women’s team travels to away games, the players have to travel in economy class; only a couple of technical staff members and the team doctor are assigned business class seats. Next month, Korea Republic will be playing two friendly matches in USA, which requires an 18-hour flight.

Former Chelsea midfielder So-yun Ji, who currently plays at Seattle Reign and is a co-president of the KPFA, stated that this type of travel will have a negative impact on the players’ performance. "Many of our women’s players have insufficient rest time, with less than five days between matches," said Ji. Players in the Women’s K League often play twice a week. "Considering that player welfare is directly linked to quality of life, I believe that schedule adjustments and comfort should be provided."

Ji, who has played over 150 times for Korea Republic, referred to FIFPRO research that noticed significant increases in injuries among professional women footballers. Players who experienced a higher frequency of injuries, especially anterior cruciate ligament (ACL) injuries, had shorter recovery periods between games or from travel, and travelled longer distances and across more time zones than non-inured players. FIFPRO emphasised the importance of minimising travel distances and reducing fatigue during travel. 

The players also mentioned other problems, including a lack of interpreters and equipment. All women players need to return their sponsored equipment and this leads to uncomfortable moments. Often the players are immediately released after a final match in the international window, which regularly forces them to change their gear for casual clothes at airport restrooms, which the players find frustrating. 

Another frustration, according to goalkeeper Jung-Mi Kim, is that the call-ups and the matches are frequently arranged last minute, leading to matches being played at uncomfortable times such as 6 or 7 pm, and in difficult-to-reach stadiums. "The poor accessibility of venues for A matches and the match schedule also hinder interaction with fans, which is regrettable." 

Secretary General Kim is taking from the experiences of other FIFPRO member unions, who have been trying to improve working conditions of their women footballers. Kim said: "Although women players in countries such as Japan and Australia initially faced many problems while appearing for their national teams, ongoing communication between their player associations and federations has led to significant improvements in their working conditions.

"As we in Korea are just beginning to address these issues, the KPFA will work diligently to resolve them. We have sent an official letter to the Korea Football Association to address these issues and invited them to jointly advance women’s football in our country." 

Two tennis players sanctioned under Tennis Anti-Corruption Program

The International Tennis Integrity Agency (ITIA) can today confirm sanctions for two tennis players under the Tennis Anti-Corruption Program (TACP). 
 
The sanctions are linked to a recently concluded criminal case involving a match-fixing syndicate in Belgium. Collaboration between the ITIA and Belgian authorities led to a five-year custodial sentence for the leader of the syndicate, Grigor Sargsyan.  Five other players related to the case had previously been sanctioned after failing to respond to ITIA charges in 2023.
 
Sanctions were imposed by independent Anti-Corruption Hearing Officer (AHO) Professor Richard McLaren following a formal hearing held between 4-5 March 2024. The sanctions are effective from 4 April 2024. 
 
Alejandro Mendoza Crespo, a 34-year-old Bolivian who reached a career-high world singles ranking of 741 in 2016, was issued the maximum penalty by AHO McLaren for committing 20 major offenses under the TACP, resulting in a lifetime ban from the sport and a $250,000 fine. 
 
Mendoza was found by AHO McLaren to have “engaged in a continuous pattern of corruption” between 2016 and 2018, including initiating corruption offenses by encouraging other players to contrive the outcome of matches for financial gain.  
 
Jorge Panta Herreros, a 28-year-old Peruvian with a career-high world singles ranking of 447 reached in 2022, has been suspended for three years and fined $10,000, having been found liable for four major offenses under the TACP, including contriving the outcome of two of their own matches over a period of two years. Panta’s suspension will end at midnight on 3 April 2027. 
 
During their periods of ineligibility, Mendoza and Panta are prohibited from playing in, coaching at, or attending any tennis event authorised or sanctioned by the members of the ITIA (ATP, ITF, WTA, Tennis Australia, Fédération Française de Tennis, Wimbledon and USTA) or any national association.   

The ITIA is an independent body established by its tennis members to promote, encourage, enhance, and safeguard the integrity of professional tennis worldwide.    

To access the full decision, click here.

Premier League and Fanatics Collectibles announce landmark partnership

Fanatics Collectibles will become the exclusive provider of Premier League trading cards, trading card games and stickers from June 2025

The Algerian Football Federation (FAF) and Union Sportive Medina D'Alger (USM Alger) File an Appeal at The Court of Arbitration for Sport (CAS) Regarding the Shirts of RS Berkane

The Court of Arbitration for Sport (CAS) has registered the appeal filed by the Algerian Football Federation (FAF) and Union Sportive Medina d'Alger (USM Alger) (“the Appellants”) against the Confederation of African Football (CAF), the Royal Maroccan Football Federation (FRMF) and Club Renaissance Sportive de Berkane (RS Berkane) (“the Respondents”) against the decision taken by the CAF Appeals Jury dated 21 April 2024 (“the Challenged Decision”). This decision confirmed the earlier decision taken by the CAF Interclubs Committee, which validated the use of RS Berkane's shirts for the 2023/24 CAF Confederation Cup.

Together with their appeal, the Appellants filed an urgent request to immediately suspend the execution of the Challenged Decision. This request was rejected ex parte by the President of the CAS Appeals Arbitration Division on 26 April 2024.

In their appeal on the merits, the Appellants ask CAS to annul the Challenged Decision and to rule that the RS Berkane shirt, which the Appellants consider presents a political message, contravenes the laws of the game, CAF regulations and FIFA rules.

In relation to the arbitration procedure, the parties are currently exchanging written submissions and the arbitral panel that will be decide the matter is being appointed. Once constituted, the arbitral panel will issue instructions for the next phase of the proceedings, including the holding of a hearing.

At this juncture, it is not possible to give any further details on the timetable for this procedure.