>Disciplinary

Contents: | Preliminary - Introduction - Jurisdiction and Responsibility of NBOs - Reprehensible Conduct - Allegations of reprehensible conduct - Disciplinary Commission - Sanctions - Publication of Disciplinary Commission decision - Appeals |

1. Preliminary The Disciplinary Code of Conduct ('the Code') of the European Bridge League, as hereinafter set out, is prescribed by the Executive Committee of the European Bridge League pursuant to the power vested in it by Article 32 (h) of the European Bridge League Statutes. In the Code:
| • Person | includes an NBO, a region, a club, organizers of an event, and/ or one or more individual means
| • Accused | person accused of reprehensible conduct
| • Reprehensible conduct | is defined in paragraph 4 of the Code
| • Disciplinary Commission | is defined in paragraph 6 of the Code
| • Appeals Tribunal | is defined in paragraph 9 of the Code
Other words and expressions used in the Code have the same meaning as they have in the European Bridge League Statutes. 2. Introduction In accordance with sporting ideals, the European Bridge League expects NBOs and their members to respect the principles of impeccable ethics and good conduct. In view of these principles, the Statutes prohibit racial, religious or political discrimination or any violation of Human Rights. The purpose of the Code is to ensure, as far as possible, adherence to the above-mentioned principles and to set out how the League shall deal with any breach thereof. 3. Jurisdiction and Responsibility of NBOs Membership of the League is limited to NBOs. Registered bridge players (individuals), clubs and similar bodies are members of NBOs. Consequently with the exception of those cases prescribed by the Laws of Bridge (in EBL Championships and events) the EBL is not entitled directly to exercise its authority over members of NBOs or ensure that any sanction imposed on such members is enforced. Rather, the EBL holds the NBOs responsible for the behavior of their members and, if the case arises, for the enforcement of any sanctions imposed by the EBL. Any failure to uphold this responsibility is a breach by the NBO of the Code for which sanctions may be imposed. 4. Reprehensible Conduct In and connected with the sport of Bridge (including administrative functions, the organisation and holding of events, and the participation in events at all levels up to and including World Championships) the following is reprehensible conduct under the Code: serious infringement of the EBL Statutes or Regulations; serious prejudice against the EBL or an. NBO; illicit actions or behaviour affecting the proper running of a competition or its results; offensive or insolent words, gestures or actions against the EBL authorities or those of an NBO; failure to respect financial obligations towards the EBL or an NBO; failure to honour contractual obligations towards the EBL or an NBO; failure to enforce any sanction imposed by the EBL; refusal to implement appropriate and reasonable orders given by persons whom the EBL has officially appointed to represent it for the organization of events or the conduct of its affairs; acts of harassment (sexual or otherwise); criminal actions; complete or partial failure -without valid reason -to respect obligations linked to all functions exercised for the EBL or to any task carried out on behalf of the EBL; corrupt actions, threats and/or other means intended to undermine the impartiality of the system of justice or exercise an abnormal influence on the conduct of the affairs of the EBL; noisy, prolonged or violent behaviour in the competition area or during meetings organised by the EBL; actions intended to hinder or prevent the work of persons employed by the EBL, by means of protests or other initiatives; libellous or defamatory declarations or publications against the EBL, its NBOs or any person exercising a function for the EBL; unfounded declarations or affirmations; any action which brings the sport of Bridge into disrepute. 5. Allegations of reprehensible conduct Any allegation of reprehensible conduct (from whatever source) must be referred without delay and without examination of its merits to the EBL General Council. The General Council may also make allegations of reprehensible conduct on his own initiative. The General Council will make a preliminary examination of the allegation of reprehensible conduct and if he is satisfied that the allegation fails to establish a prima facie case he will dismiss the case, giving written reasons to the Executive Committee. In all other cases the duty of the General Council is to organise in timely fashion a hearing of the allegation of reprehensible conduct before the Disciplinary Commission. The powers of the General Council include: interviewing witnesses and preparing witness statements requiring witnesses to attend the hearing in liaison with the Chairman of the Disciplinary Commission to fix the time, date and place of the hearing. The duties of the General Council include: notifying all parties of the allegation of reprehensible conduct collating all evidence and statements and providing the same to all relevant parties in advance of the hearing notifying all relevant parties of the time, date and place of the hearing presenting to the hearing the results of his investigation into the allegation of reprehensible conduct 6. Disciplinary Commission All allegations of reprehensible conduct will be heard by a Disciplinary Commission. The Disciplinary Commission, comprising of not less than three people, shall be appointed by the EBL President from a group approved by the Executive Committee. At least two members of the Disciplinary Commission shall be members of the Executive Committee. The Chairman of the Disciplinary Commission (who shall be appointed by the EBL President) shall be a member of the Executive Committee. The hearing of the Disciplinary Commission shall be in public (unless the Accused requests that it is held in private). The Accused shall be entitled to attend the hearing with or without legal representation. At the hearing the Disciplinary Commission shall receive all the evidence (verbal or in writing) collated by the General Council and shall also receIve any representations made by or on behalf of the Accused. The Disciplinary Commission may cross-examine witnesses and request further information and/ or evidence and may if appropriate adjourn the hearing. Once the Disciplinary Commission has heard all the evidence and representations it shall reach its decision (by a majority vote if necessary). If the accusation of reprehensible conduct is upheld the Disciplinary Commission shall impose or recommend such sanction as it regards appropriate. The decision of the Disciplinary Commission shall be notified in writing to the Accused within two weeks of the end of the hearing. The written notification will state the sanction which is being imposed or recommended. The notification will inform the Accused of the right of appeal. 7. Sanctions The Disciplinary Commission may impose the following sanctions on a person found guilty of reprehensible conduct: a warning, admonishment or deprecation; suspensIon of the person concerned from one or several official events; excluding the person concerned from participating in EBL activities; banning the person concerned from participating in EBL events; imposing a monetary fine on the person concerned. The Disciplinary Commission may make the following recommendation to the Executive Committee: to suspend or strike off an NBO. 8. Publication of Disciplinary Commission decision As part of its decision the Disciplinary Commission may decide that its findings, and the sanction imposed, is published in one or more official EBL publications. However, no publication shall take place until any appeals procedure has been exhausted. 9. Appeals Any appeal from a decision of the Disciplinary Commission shall be made within 30 days of communication of the decision to the Accused. Appeal is to an Appeals Tribunal consisting of not less than five members of the Executive Committee. No member of the Executive Committee who was also a member of the Disciplinary Commission shall be a member of the Appeals Tribunal. The appeal shall be heard within 90 days of the same being lodged on the basis of written documentation and a written representation by the appealing party. The appealing party may also attend the appeal and be represented. The Appeal Tribunal may uphold or vary the decision of the Disciplinary Commission. The Appeal Tribunal may also confirm, reduce or increase the sanction imposed by the Disciplinary Commission. The decision of the Appeals Tribunal, which is definitive and binding on the EBL and the appealing party, shall be notified to the appealing party within two weeks of the hearing. The expenses incurred by the EBL in organising and hearing the appeal shall be borne by the appealing party unless the Appeal Tribunal upholds the appeal. If the appeal is allowed in part or if the sanction is reduced the Appeal Tribunal may direct that the appealing party bears part of the expenses. Adopted by the Executive Committee of the European Bridge League Maastricht, August 2000 |

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