Friday 5th April 2002
An independent Sports Disputes Tribunal is to be established to adjudicate disputes including drug infraction,
selection, misconduct, contractual and other sporting disputes.
The Tribunal has been initiated by Sport & Recreation New Zealand, the new organisation formed following the merger of the Hillary Commission and the New Zealand
Sports Foundation.
Sport & Recreation New Zealand’s Chairman, John Wells, said that a recent report commissioned by the agency highlighted the
requirement to assist National Sport Organisations in the handling and enforcement of disputes.
There are approximately 50 disputes each year at a national level, and many of them around drug infractions require
particular skill and expertise to resolve.
John Wells said that Sport & Recreation would fund the tribunal but would seek a contribution from participants on a user-pays basis. “There are a
few operational issues to sort through, which will mean that the Tribunal will not be in place before this year’s
Commonwealth Games in July.”
Welcoming the announcement, the Chairman of the New Zealand Olympic Committee John Davies said the NZOC fully endorsed
the establishment of this tribunal in New Zealand.
“At last years annual general meeting our members gave overwhelming support for such a tribunal. This will provide a
fair, timely and cost effective process for sports people to resolve their issues.”
ENDS