FIFA assists evacuation of refugees from Afghanistan

FIFA can confirm, following complex negotiations, it has, with the support of Qatar, evacuated almost 100 members of the football family from Afghanistan, including female players. 

Russian Esports Federation - IESF's member nation

To succeed in our mission to create a united World Esports we need really big support and the biggest support we get is from our 109 Member nations, national federations from all around the world.

It’s really important to show you who are our Member Nations!

Starting with the Russian Esports Federation, one of the oldest esports federations in the world!

IPC announces competitive RFP for organisations to become governing bodies

The International Paralympic Committee (IPC) is inviting interested parties for engagement meetings about becoming the governing bodies for Para athletics and Para swimming, prior to submitting a response to the Request for Proposal (RFP) by 22 April 2022.

The RFP is subject to the IPC Membership voting in favour of a revised constitution at the IPC General Assembly in December 2021. If approved, it will launch a governance reform where the IPC will aim to cease acting as an international federation of Para sports by the end of 2026.

ITA Webinar – “The Athlete Biological Passport – A Practical Guide”

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WADA releases four Laboratory Technical Documents for 2022

The World Anti-Doping Agency (WADA) publishes today the following revised Technical Documents (TDs) for 2022 and Summaries of Modifications, which were approved by WADA’s Executive Committee, via circulatory vote, on 6 October 2021.

World Rugby Amends game's laws to allow all players to wear leggings

Players will be able wear tights or leggings in matches at all levels of the sport after the World Rugby Executive Committee approved an amendment to the laws of the game.

Currently only permissible for women, Law Four will be extended to all participants with immediate effect, enabling the wearing of conforming tights or leggings on the grounds of player welfare and accessibility.

FTX announces global partnership with the International Cricket Council

FTX Trading Limited (“FTX” or “The Company”), a leading global cryptocurrency exchange, today announced a global partnership with the International Cricket Council (ICC), the governing body of cricket, where FTX will be the official cryptocurrency exchange partner for ICC events.

Amnesty International requests Premier League meeting following Newcastle takeover

Amnesty International has written to the Premier League chief executive requesting an urgent meeting to discuss the rules that govern buying clubs.

Sport Integrity Australia 12 months in

Sport Integrity Australia first opened its doors on 1 July 2020 at a time when the sporting landscape in Australia was unlike anything we’ve ever seen: COVID-19 was impacting sporting competitions and, indeed, their very survival was in doubt. This, coupled with growing global unrest around the treatment of athletes, presented challenges beyond comprehension. Here we look at how Sport Integrity Australia responded, and some key milestones for our first 12 months.

Fostering clean sport for all: UKAD and CIMSPA formalise partnership for physical activity professionals at Clean Sport Forum

• A new MoU between two leading UK sports bodies aims to help keep sport clean. Education pathways and professional standards will foster understanding of the latest anti-doping topics and rules

IWF Eligibility and Determination Panel has re-commenced its work

The Eligibility and Determination Panel (EDP) of the IWF has re-commenced its work following the approval of the new IWF Constitution in August 2021. The EDP members, in the same composition as previously appointed by Sport Resolutions, will determine candidates’ eligibility to stand in the December 2021 Elections in accordance with the criteria as set out in the new Constitution. Sport Resolutions will act as the secretariat to the EDP during the course of its work. The EDP’s updated Terms of Reference can be accessed via the related-links tab on the right-hand side.

UEFA announces bidding process for potential UEFA EURO 2028 hosts

UEFA has announced that its member associations interested in hosting UEFA EURO 2028 have until March 2022 to declare their interest, with the appointment of the host(s) set to take place in September 2023

USADA Hosts 20th Annual Science Symposium on Synergizing Anti-Doping Science and Investigations to Protect Athletes and Clean Sport

Continuing a 20-year legacy of advancing scientific innovation, the U.S. Anti-Doping Agency (USADA) hosted the 20th Annual USADA Symposium on Anti-Doping Science on October 1–4 in Scottsdale, Arizona. Following last year’s fully virtual format, the 2021 Symposium offered a hybrid approach with 151 registered attendees from more than 35 countries attending both in person and virtually to advance doping detection and deterrence efforts across the world.

The Administrators at Derby County have lodged an appeal against the 12-point deduction imposed on the Club’s 2021/22 season total on 22 September 2021.

WADA revokes approval of Moscow Laboratory

Yesterday, by way of circulatory vote, the World Anti-Doping Agency’s (WADA’s) Executive Committee (ExCo) endorsed a WADA Disciplinary Committee recommendation to revoke the ‘approved’ status of the National Anti-Doping Laboratory (MSU) in Moscow (Moscow Laboratory) to carry out blood sample analysis exclusively for the purpose of the Athlete Biological Passport (ABP), due to non-compliances with the International Standard for Laboratories (ISL) and its Code of Ethics.

NFL taking next step toward playing games in Germany, to unveil three finalist cities

LawInSport Weekly News Recap - 8 October

Welcome to LawInSport’s weekly News Roundup.  This recap highlights this week’s news pieces from across the world of sport. For further updates, please visit our news section.

We hope you find this useful. If you have any related questions or feedback, please don’t hesitate to contact us. 

FIFPRO and UEFA join forces to fight match-fixing

FIFPRO and UEFA have signed a joint cooperation agreement that recognises the Red Button whistleblowing app as the go-to platform for professional footballers to report possible match-fixing incidents. 

BHA confirms changes to the Rules of Racing

• All horses entered to run in a race in Britain must be signed out of the human food chain via its passport by 1 January 2022
• Equine Influenza vaccination requirements updated, in line with other European racing nations
• Rules regarding use of bisphosphonates updated, in line with European harmonised position

WADA confirms non-compliance of five Anti-Doping Organizations

The World Anti-Doping Agency confirms that, effective immediately, a total of five Anti-Doping Organizations (ADOs) have been declared non-compliant with the World Anti-Doping Code (Code).

Premier League statement

League, Newcastle and St James Holdings settle dispute over takeover of club, which has been sold

New rules around glucocorticoid injections

From 1 January 2022, all glucocorticoid injections will be prohibited in-competition. This is a new ruling making their classification consistent with oral glucocorticoid preparations.

Players’ Status Department Report highlights landmark 2020/2021 season

FIFA has today published the second report on the activities of its Players’ Status Department (PSD), covering the period from 1 July 2020 to 30 June 2021.

WADA issues report from review into Nike Oregon Project investigation by the United States Anti-Doping Agency

The World Anti-Doping Agency’s (WADA’s) independent Intelligence and Investigations (I&I) Department has published its summary report following a review of the investigation carried out by the United States Anti-Doping Agency (USADA) in relation to the Nike Oregon Project (NOP).

iNADO Project: Overview of 20 years of research funded by WADA and PCC

INADO is presenting the results of a two-month project about social and scientific research on anti-doping in the last 20 years, funded by the World Anti-Doping Agency (WADA) and Partnership Competition Partnership (PCC), up to $83 million and $29 million each

LFP votes against biennial World Cup

At its meeting on 13 October, the LFP's Board of Directors adopted a motion opposing the plan to hold the FIFA World Cup every two years.

International Swimmers' Alliance welcomes FINA Reform Report

The International Swimmers’ Alliance welcomes FINA’s recently released reform committee report. The report identifies many of the widely held criticisms directed at the international federation that oversees aquatic sports on a global scale. The report also recommends steps that the organization can take to address the shortcomings and improve its overall performance.  

F1 Commission discusses potential changes to Sporting Regulations in wake of shortened Belgian GP

The F1 Commission has discussed possible changes to the championship’s Sporting Regulations, following the 2021 Belgian Grand Prix, which was shortened due to bad weather.

Red Bull’s Max Verstappen was declared the victor of the race at Spa-Francorchamps, which ran to just two laps behind the Safety Car, with heavy rain rendering green-flag racing impossible – with Verstappen and his fellow top-10 finishers awarded half points.

WADA calls for further development of the anti-doping system in Africa during forum with Sports Ministers

Today, the leadership of the World Anti-Doping Agency (WADA) called on each African nation to strengthen and build the capacity of its own anti-doping program, at an important virtual forum attended by 10 Ministers for Sport from across the continent, plus the Commissioner for Health, Humanitarian Affairs and Social Development in the African Union.

FIFA launches Executive Programme in Sports Arbitration, 2nd edition

Following the success of the inaugural programme, FIFA has today launched the second edition of its Executive Programme in Sports Arbitration. Information about applications, which are open from 15 October to 15 December 2021, can be found at legal.fifa.com.

IOC and Beijing 2022 upcoming events in Greece – Information for the media

The International Olympic Committee (IOC) Executive Board (EB) will meet on Saturday 16 October 2021 in Athens, Greece.

The EB is scheduled to receive updates on the activities of the Olympic Movement and the IOC administration, plus reports from the Organising Committees for future Olympic Games.

Samoa launch historic Professional Basketball League

 Samoa Basketball took a few steps forward launching the historic Samoa National Basketball Federation Professional League to promote the game and improve the competition level in-country.

Consistency and deterrence: A summary of ITA’s anti-doping program for the Tour de France

The International Testing Agency (ITA) managed the anti-doping activities for the 2021 edition of the Tour de France for the first time after the delegation of the entire cycling clean sport program by the Union Cycliste Internationale (UCI) in the beginning of the year. The comprehensive and targeted clean sport program was implemented in close collaboration with the Agence Française de Lutte Contre le Dopage (AFLD) and the French authorities. To date, no anti-doping rule violations (ADRVs) were asserted in connection with the event.

Announcement of the new Chair and Vice-Chair of iNADO

The Governing Board of The Institute of National Anti-Doping Organisations e.V. (iNADO) held a virtual quarterly meeting on October, 12. Following the stepping down of former Chair Michael Ask, the Board met to elect a new Chair from the Governing Board Members in accordance with § 9.2.1  of the iNADO Constitution and 14.1 to 14.3 of the Rules of Procedure.

WADA President outlines Agency’s achievements and challenges at European Parliament hearing

The President of the World Anti-Doping Agency (WADA), Witold Bańka, appeared before the European Parliament’s Committee on Culture and Education (CULT) today to outline some of the challenges currently being faced by the Agency, as well as some of its recent achievements and those of the broader anti-doping community in Europe and around the world.

Fifth term for Mihaylov in Bulgaria

Borislav Mihaylov has been re-elected as president of the Bulgarian Football Union (BFU).

EFL launch League wide initiative to support Clubs on environmental journey

The English Football League (EFL) has today announced the launch of ‘EFL Green Clubs’, a new League wide scheme that will help support Clubs across the country to improve their environmental practices and operations

The UCI confirms Zwift to host 2022 UCI Cycling Esports World Championships on 26 February 2022

UEFA chief of football Boban describes biennial World Cup as 'worse than Super League'

Former Croatia and AC Milan star, who joined European football’s governing body earlier this year, tells Gazzetta dello Sport that FIFA should respect the people’s game.

Caribbean Games postponed to 2022

The first Caribbean Games have been officially moved from 2021 to 2022, in Guadeloupe, due to the impact of the Covid-19 pandemic, and their organizers insist that they will be held every four years and will feature athletes under 23 years of age, of all ages. countries in the region.

WADA Athlete Committee discusses Anti-Doping Ombuds initiative and other key issues

On 6 and 7 October, the World Anti-Doping Agency’s (WADA’s) Athlete Committee held its second meeting of 2021 via video call. The meeting was presided by Committee Chair, Ben Sandford.

The Athlete Committee began the two-day meeting by welcoming Mr. Humphrey Kayange of Kenya and Ms. Astrid Uhrenholdt Jacobsen of Norway – two new members of the International Olympic Committee’s (IOC’s) Athlete Commission – as new Committee members (see biographical notes below). They replace outgoing members Ms. Danka Bartekova of Slovakia and Ms. Kirsty Coventry of Zimbabwe.

OFC competitions schedule update for 2022

Women to race men in Sail Grand Prix

Women will race against men for the first time in Sail Grand prix history this weekend.

NFL COVID-19 Testing Results and Vaccination Rates: Sept. 19-Oct. 2, 2021

55th International Conference – Racing’s Future in the Spotlight

The International Federation of Horseracing Authorities (IFHA) has launched the 55th International Conference of Horseracing Authorities.  Held virtually for the second consecutive year, the 2021 Conference examines global racing’s evolution and future challenges. The Japan Racing Association (JRA), also a member of the ARF, is the official partner of this year’s Conference.

IWF Executive Board Meets, Decides Good Governance Provisions

The IWF Executive Board met online and in person in Jeddah, Saud-Arabia and discussed good governance measures, making several key decisions aimed at implementing the recently-adopted Constitution at the heart of the IWF’s reforms. The decisions focused on provisions for the various upcoming elections and ensuring they are conducted according to high levels of integrity.

Independent complaint handling process confirmed for Football Australia

Football Australia, Sport Integrity Australia and the National Sports Tribunal have today confirmed they will develop an independent complaint handling process to manage reports raised in relation to Football Australia’s national teams and the A-Leagues.

CAF to hold Extraordinary General Assembly in Cairo

Confederation Africaine de Football (CAF) will hold an Extraordinary General Assembly (EGA) on Friday 26 November 2021 in Cairo, Egypt. 

WADA’s Africa Office hosts African Partnership Forum

This week, the World Anti-Doping Agency’s (WADA’s) Africa Office, in cooperation with the Agency’s NADO/RADO Relations Department, hosted a virtual African Partnership Forum to enhance National Anti-Doping Organizations’ (NADOs’) partnerships and cooperation in the region. The Forum gathered representatives from developing and established NADOs (both from the African region and beyond), as well as other partner organizations that are key to the ongoing development and implementation of anti-doping programs in Africa.

Outcomes of the Executive Committee Meeting: Cannabis and Revised Code Compliance Policy

Preliminary discussion on the review of Cannabis:

“…the ExCo endorsed the decision of the List Expert Advisory Group to initiate in 2022 a scientific review of the status of cannabis. Cannabis is currently prohibited in competition and will continue to be in 2022.” iNADO welcomes this review. iNADO maintains that the placing of cannabis on the prohibited list should be reviewed not just from a scientific perspective but should include social, policy and proportionality arguments.