INTERVIEW: FRENCH DEFENDER CEDRIC HOUNTONDJI DISCUSSES FIFPRO HEALTH STUDY
Cedric Hountondji is among more than 150 professional footballers participating in FIFPRO’s unprecedented 10-year research project into player health.
GLOBAL ATHLETE CALLS ON THE INTERNATIONAL OLYMPIC COMMITTEE TO IMMEDIATELY SUSPEND THE BELARUS NATIONAL OLYMPIC COMMITTEE
2 August 2021: Global Athlete calls on the International Olympic Committee to immediately suspend the Belarus National Olympic Committee and allow all Belarusian athletes to compete as neutral athletes under the Olympic flag. The alleged kidnapping of Belarusian Olympic athlete Krystsina Tsimanouskaya by the Belarus National Olympic Committee (NOC) is yet another example of the alarming athlete abuse occurring in Belarus.
Political protests in sport – Athletes’ rights and duties at Tokyo 2020 Olympics
Mental health matters: helping athletes to stay mentally fit
With the Olympic Games Tokyo 2020 well underway, the International Olympic Committee (IOC) is emphasising the need to support athletes’ well-being and highlighting the importance of protecting their mental health.
German athlete group says protest rules at Tokyo Games are not transparent
Independent German elite athlete group said a hastily-introduced process that potentially allows athletes to protest at the Tokyo Olympics is not transparent, and instead could deter them from highlighting social issues close to their hearts.
Australia and New Zealand pull out of Rugby League World Cup
Australia and New Zealand pull out of Rugby League World Cup due to "player welfare and safety concerns" related to Covid-19.
NFL's Scientific Advisory Board awards $4M in research funding on hamstring injuries
The National Football League's (NFL) Scientific Advisory Board (SAB) today announced a four-year, $4 million award to fund a team of medical researchers led by the University of Wisconsin. The study will investigate the prevention and treatment of hamstring injuries for elite football players.
Independent Concussion Consultants to be introduced to support Graduated Return to Play process in elite rugby
World Rugby has announced details of a major programme that will further objective care of elite players returning to play following a confirmed concussion.
Starting this month, a panel of Independent Concussion Consultants (ICC) will be made available to the game to provide independent expert opinion on whether a player should return to play following the successful completion of the six-stage Graduated Return to Play process for elite competitions. The panel of ICC experts will be funded by World Rugby.
CTE And Causation: The Key Medico-Legal Issues In Rugby Union’s Concussion Litigation
AFC Cup 2021 ASEAN Zone matches cancelled
Kuala Lumpur: The Asian Football Confederation (AFC) has today confirmed that all matches of the AFC Cup 2021 ASEAN Zone, comprising Groups G, H and I as well as the Playoff Stage have been cancelled due to the challenges imposed by the global pandemic in finding a suitable host to stage the centralised matches.
GLMS June 2021 Newsletter
Welcome to our June 2021 Newsletter!
Major Hurdles Still Face U.S. SafeSport In The Movement To Protect Athletes
Barrister to lead independent investigation into Swimming Australia culture
A leading barrister will lead an independent investigation into claims of an abusive culture within Australian swimming.
Chris Ronalds assisted in developing the country’s sexual discrimination laws and will now lead the independent investigation into swimmers claims that there is a culture of abuse within Swimming Australia. Ronalds will lead the investigation with an all-female panel and has requested for swimmers to come forward with any complaints they wish to make.
UK Athletics launches new safeguarding procedures
UK Athletics and the four Home Country Athletics Federations (HCAF) have launched the new safeguarding policies and procedures which marks the fulfilment of the six core recommendations of the Christopher Quinlan Safeguarding Review administered by Sport Resolutions and supports the Home Country Athletics Federations (HCAFs) with their implementation of new procedures at a grassroots level.
Naomi Osaka Case: Striking A Balance Between Media Obligations & Mental Health Concerns
Decision of the UCI Disciplinary Commission concerning Marc Bracke
The Union Cycliste Internationale (UCI) today announces that its Disciplinary Commission has rendered its decision in the disciplinary proceedings concerning Mr Marc Bracke, Director General and Sport Director of the UCI Women’s Continental Team Doltcini - Van Eyck - Proximus Continental Team, and allegations of harassment reported by several riders. The UCI had already announced the opening of disciplinary proceedings following the conclusions of its Ethics Commission.
The Disciplinary Commission confirmed the Ethics Commission’s analysis that Mr Bracke’s conduct constituted sexual harassment according to article 6.4 of the UCI Code of Ethics and article 2.3 of Appendix 1.
Third version of Tokyo 2020 Playbooks published
The International Olympic Committee (IOC), the International Paralympic Committee (IPC) and the Organising Committee of the Olympic and Paralympic Games Tokyo 2020 (Tokyo 2020) began publishing the third and final editions of the Tokyo 2020 Playbooks today.
These comprehensive guidelines, which are a key part of the overall countermeasures being put in place for the Games, provide extensive details for each key stakeholder group to help them complete their preparations for travelling to and arriving in Japan, their time at the Games, and their departure from Tokyo.
Law change announced for age grade rugby
The Rugby Football Union (RFU) will introduce a law change to the tackle height in age grade rugby in England for the 2021/22 season.
Belarus: Drop Charges Against Sports Group Founders
The Belarusian authorities should immediately drop all criminal charges against Aliaksandra Herasimenia and Aliaksandr Apeikin, chair and executive director of the Belarusian Sports Solidarity Foundation (BSSF), the Sport & Rights Alliance said today. On April 6, 2021 the Investigative Committee of the Republic of Belarus opened a criminal case against the group’s founders. If convicted, they risk up to five years in prison.
Fraud, Race Norming & Delays - How The NFL’s Concussion Litigation Fund Is Faring Five Years On
Five-substitute option extended until 31 December 2022 in response to ongoing COVID-19 impact
During an ordinary meeting of The IFAB Board of Directors held by videoconference today, the members agreed to extend the temporary amendment to Law 3 – The Players, which affords competition organisers the option of allowing teams to use up to five substitutes per match, for all top-level competitions scheduled to be completed by 31 December 2022.
IOC launches investigation into case of Belarusian sprinter
The International Olympic Committee has launched a formal investigation into the National Olympic Committee of the Republic of Belarus (NOCRB) after sprinter Krystsina Tsimanouskaya alleged officials from the country had taken her to the airport against her will.
Tsimanouskaya took refuge in the Polish embassy in Tokyo on Monday, a day after refusing her team’s orders to board a flight home from the Olympic Games. Warsaw has offered her a humanitarian visa.
RealResponse, NFLPA Announce Landmark Issue Reporting Platform For Professional Sports
All NFL Players and Clubs Will Now Have the Ability To Anonymously, and Safely Report Any Violations or Player Health Concerns For The First Time
Letter: Investigation on sexual abuse allegation in Mali Basketball
World Players Association joins Sport & Rights Alliance to demand justice for Mali Basketball players
Mr. Andreas Zagklis
Secretary General
Fédération Internationale de Basketball (FIBA)
July 29, 2021
Re: Investigation on Sexual Abuse Allegation in Mali Basketball
English football introduces new guidance for heading ahead of 2021-22 season
English football will introduce heading guidance across every level of the professional and amateur game from the start of the 2021-22 season.
New IOC guidelines to ensure gender-equal, fair and inclusive representation in sport in Tokyo
Recognising that sports coverage is very influential in shaping gender norms and stereotypes, the International Olympic Committee (IOC) published ahead of Tokyo 2020 a new edition of its Portrayal Guidelines to raise awareness and call for gender-equal and fair representation of sportspeople across all forms of media and communication.
HEAD IMPACT PREVENTION & MANAGEMENT PLAN ANNOUNCED FOR PROFESSIONAL GAME
The Rugby Football Union (RFU), Premiership Rugby (PRL) and the Rugby Players’ Association (RPA) have announced an action plan aimed at reducing the exposure to head impacts and concussion risk within men’s and women’s elite rugby matches and training in England.
Welfare-focused rugby law trials to be implemented globally
- Rugby united in its ongoing commitment to enhance welfare outcomes
- Five welfare-focused trials to be adopted globally from 1 August, 2021
- Truly collaborative process has involved players, coaches, competitions and medics
- Players and competitions welcome trial
- Outcomes will be evaluated in 2022 in inform decision on adoption into law
A statement following the online abuse of England players following the Euro 2020 final
We strongly condemn all forms of discrimination and are appalled by the online racism that has been aimed at some of our England players on social media.
European Commission signs for an Equal Game
Changes made to strengthen Code for Sports Governance
Sport England and UK Sport have announced changes to the Code for Sports Governance which aims to increase diversity on Boards and senior leadership teams.
Technique coaching aimed at reducing head impacts to be embedded into rugby’s sanctioning process
LA28 invests $9.6mn in kids sports
The LA28 Olympic and Paralympic Games announced it will invest USD9.6 million (EUR8.06 million) to fund youth sports across Los Angeles, helping bring kids back to sport and fitness as the community moves forward from the COVID-19 pandemic.
The USD9.6 million investment is part of LA28’s USD160 million (EUR134.4 million) commitment to make sports more accessible to kids across Los Angeles ahead of the Olympic and Paralympic Games in 2028, the single largest commitment for youth sport development ever in California.
Prominent Barrister Appointed Chair to Panel of Female Experts
Chris Ronalds AO SC will head the independent panel of female experts to investigate issues relating to women and girls' experience and the advancement of swimming for all athletes across the sport.
Ms Ronalds is a prominent Sydney barrister who is highly regarded in discrimination and harassment law, employment law and administrative law. She played a pivotal role in the development of the Sex Discrimination Act 1984 and the Disability Discrimination Act 1992.
The panel has been formed to assist Swimming Australia to promote a culture of continuous improvement and accountability.
"I am pleased to have been appointed in this role as Chair," Ms Ronalds said.
UKAD issues Ready for the Games travel guide for athletes
With Major Games fast approaching, and athletes travelling overseas for events, some of us may be thinking about packing our suitcases and jetting off over the coming months (while following all the rules, of course!). For athletes, this can bring additional considerations with regards to medications and things to watch out for when travelling. UK Anti-Doping (UKAD) has put together a five-step guide to help you continue to train and compete clean when overseas, avoiding an accidental ban from sport.
Will The NCAA’s One-Time Transfer Rule Empower Athletes Or Undermine The Game?
USA Gymnastics: How bankruptcy proceedings can help resolve mass sexual abuse claims
Swimming Australia admits failings in complaints procedures
Swimming Australia has admitted failures when dealing with athlete complaints, but insists it is committed to being transparent as a panel is appointed to investigate allegations of sexual misconduct and mistreatment.
The Moral And Legal Obligations On Sports Employers To Support Victims Of Domestic Abuse
World’s Top Swimmers Unite to Formally Establish the Independent International Swimmers’ Alliance
Today marks the formal launch of the International Swimmers’ Alliance, an independent organization established for athletes, by athletes that aims to fight for swimmers’ rights and provide them with an independent global voice.
Can the Tokyo Games still be cancelled? Yes, but the legal and financial fallout would be staggering
Clive Sheldon QC's report into non-recent child sexual abuse allegations in football
As part of the publication process, Clive Sheldon QC noted that there were three annexes to his report which were, for various reasons, to remain confidential.
Annex C was confidential because it concerned an individual who was involved in ongoing criminal proceedings and Mr Sheldon QC did not wish in any way to risk prejudicing those proceedings when publishing his report in March 2021.
That trial concluded last month, with Geoffrey Broome being convicted of eight counts of indecent assault against minors and given an immediate four-year custodial sentence. Therefore, having completed a GDPR review of the Annex, we're now able to publish Annex C.
FIFPRO and FIFA to provide health support to recently retired football players
FIFPRO and FIFA have signed a three-year cooperation agreement to provide health support to hundreds of recently retired professional footballers facing the challenges that come with career transition.
Statement from IIHF
The IIHF does not agree with the actions taken yesterday by the Mayor of Riga and the Latvian Foreign Minister to use the flag of a participating country in the 2021 IIHF Ice Hockey World Championship for a political message.
The WS Sports Law Conference