Information Guide to the Sports Tribunal of New Zealand

An updated Information Guide to the Sports Tribunal is now available (18 December 2009).

The Guide provides easy to follow step by step guides on the process for each type of dispute the Tribunal hears, including what you need to do to take a dispute to the Tribunal. It also outlines what to do if anti-doping proceedings or another type of dispute is brought against you.

Download the Information Guide to the Sports Tribunal (369 KB, PDF)
Hard copies of the Information Guide are also available on request from the Tribunal’s Registrar at info@sportstribunal.org.nz

Sports Tribunal Annual Report 2010/11

The 2010/11 Annual Report for the Sports Tribunal has been released.

Downloads

Independent Report released - Dispute Resolution in the Sport and Recreation Sector and the Role of the Sports Tribunal

In 2009, Sport and Recreation New Zealand (formerly SPARC, now Sport New Zealand) contracted a research firm to undertake an independent assessment of current dispute resolution needs in the New Zealand sport and recreation sector, including the role of the Sports Tribunal. The research team consulted with and interviewed a variety of relevant stakeholders including athletes, representatives of NSOs and lawyers who had been involved in proceedings before the Tribunal. While highlighting some minor possible areas for improvement (relating to affordability and a stronger educative role) the outcome from the report was overwhelmingly positive. The report concluded :

“It is therefore important to consider whether the original policy intent that led to the establishment of the Tribunal is being met. The overall conclusion of this research is positive in that regard. Stakeholders consider the Tribunal to be accessible, fair, timely and, for the most part, affordable. The Tribunal is seen as delivering outcomes that are significantly better than those associated with the pre-Tribunal landscape. The Tribunal has a strong level of support amongst the parties we spoke to…”

The report has now been publicly released. Download the Report

Sports Tribunal

When there's a serious dispute in sport, the Sports Tribunal of New Zealand (the Tribunal) may be able to help. The Tribunal offers an expert panel of members bringing together a comprehensive range of legal, administrative and elite level sporting experience.

This website explains:

Decisions and News

NEW - Sports Tribunal Annual Report 2010/11 released Download Annual Report)
NEW - Powerlifter suspended for life for 5 anti-doping violations (decision 31 January 2012)
Rugby league player suspended for 12 months for methylhexaneamine anti-doping violation (decision 15 December 2011)
Wrestler suspended for 3 months for anti-doping violation involving synthetic cannabis product "Kronic" (decision 25 November 2011)
Basketball player suspended for 2 years for anti-doping violation involving D-Methamphetamine and D-Amphetamine (decision 31 October 2011)
Tribunal dismisses kart driver's appeal against disqualification (reasons for decision 27 October 2011, decision 13 October 2011)
Changes to Tribunal membership. New Deputy Chair appointed, one member reappointed and two members retire (read more)
Powerlifter suspended for cannabis violation (decision 26 September 2011)
Tribunal finds Basketball player not at fault for cannabis anti-doping violation due to eating sweet he did not know contained medical marijuana (decision 28 July 2011)
Tribunal finds natural justice not provided to boxing coach in appeal process (decision 28 July 2011)
Tribunal allows speed skater's appeal against non selection for NZ team (decision 19 July 2011)
Swimmer suspended for 12 months for anti-doping violation (decision 22 June 2011)
Runner suspended for canrenone anti-doping violation (decision 20 June 2011)
Basketball player suspended for cannabis anti-doping violation (decision 14 June 2011)
Tribunal allows appeal against decision declining jurisdiction to hear bowler's appeal against dismissal of his protest and sends matter back to appropriate sports body to hear (decision 21 April 2011)
Tribunal finds anti-doping violation not committed (see announcement 15 April 2011)
Amendment to Rule 43 of Sports Tribunal Rules (came into force 1 March 2011) - appellant can now apply to have the decison they are appealing against suspended pending hearing of appeal (read more)
Tribunal decides triathlete not at fault for testing positive for morphine (decision 21 March 2011)
Rugby league player suspended for 2 years for anti-doping violation involving D-Methamphetamine and D-Amphetamine (decision 7 March 2011)
Tribunal issues decisions concerning disqualification of results as result of anti-doping violation in Adam Stewart case (decision on rule 14.8 16 February 2011; decision on jurisdiction 6 December 2010)
Rugby league player suspended for cannabis anti-doping violation (decision 4 February 2011)
Sports Tribunal Annual Report 2009/10 released (24 December - Download Annual Report)
Rugby league player suspended for 2 years for refusing or failing to provide a sample (media release 7 December - decision 1 December 2010)
Appointment of two new Sports Tribunal Members announced (see media release of Minister for Sports and Recreation 3 December 2010)
Powerlifter suspended for 6 months for dimethlypentylamine anti-doping violation (decision 29 November 2010)
Tribunal decides it does not have jurisdiction to hear appeal (22 November - decision 18 November 2010)
Tribunal finds anti-doping violation not committed (see announcement 19 November 2010 )
Powerlifter suspended for 2 years for anti-doping violations (decision 11 October 2010)
Tribunal dismisses fencer's appeal against non-selection for NZ team (reasons for decision 29 September 2010; decision 1 September 2010)
NZ Commonwealth Games cyclist suspended for 2 years for anti-doping violations involving importing prohibited substances (decision 8 September 2010)
Touch player suspended for cannabis violation (decision 30 August 2010)
Former NBL basketball player suspended for 2 years for cannabis anti-doping violation (decision 18 August 2010)
Powerlifter suspended for refusing to supply sample (decision 13 August 2010)
Tribunal to take a new approach to penalties it will impose in future anti-doping cases involving cannabis. View Letter informing NSOs of revised approach 28 July 2010
NZ representative basketball player suspended for cannabis anti-doping violation (decision 21 July 2010)
Tribunal allows appeal by coach against non-nomination for Youth Olympic Games (decision 13 July 2010)
Tribunal declines jurisdiction to hear matter as no practical relief Tribunal could give and proceeding further would incur cost and not resolve underlying dispute (decision 9 June 2010)
Tribunal conducts mediation resulting in four players resolving their disputes with Bowls NZ and withdrawing their appeals against decisions of the Bowls NZ Judicial Committee (media release and other information 19 March 2010)
NZ boxing champion susepended for 5 months for anti-doping vioaltion involving furosemide (decision 11 March 2010)
Rugby league player suspended for 10 years for third cannabis anti-doping violation (decision 1 March 2010)
Rugby league player suspended for anti-doping violation involving cannabis (decision 8 December 2009; reasons for decision 14 December 2009 )
Costs decision released (costs decision 14 October 2009)
Tribunal dismisses appeal by kart driver against race placing (decision 12 October 2009)
NZ representative marathon runner suspended for EPO anti-doping violation (decision 28 August 2009)
Tribunal orders it does not have jurisdiction to hear appeal (jurisdiction order 13 August 2009)
Tribunal allows appeal against decision that kart driver breached race rules (decision 7 August 2009)
Touch player suspended for 6 weeks for anti-doping violation involving cannabis (decision 22 July 2009)
NZ representative Softball player suspended for 18 months for second anti-doping violation involving cannabis (decision 12 June 2009)
(decision 21 May 2009)
Softball player suspended for 2 months for anti-doping violation involving cannabis (decision 20 April 2009)
Boxer reprimanded for an anti-doping violation involving probenecid (decision 5 March 2009)
Costs decision released (decision 26 February 2009)
Rower suspended for 2 months for an anti-doping violation involving probenecid (reasons for decision 24 February 2009; decision 12 February 2009)
Rugby league player suspended for 2 years for anti-doping violations involving methamphetamine, amphetamine and cannabis (decision 19 December 2008)
Sports Tribunal releases further decision over whether suspended motorcycling member resumes status as steward on conclusion of suspension of membership (decision 26 November 2008)
Tribunal upholds findings that motorcyclist breached rules during race but allows appeal against penalties imposed (decision 21 November 2008)
Tribunal suspends power lifter for 2 years for anti-doping violation (decision 5 November 2008)
Tribunal rules that appeal filed out of time (decision 30 October 2008)
Tribunal allows appeal against suspension of saloon car driver for having an illegal engine - decision (24 September 2008)

See older decisions and news.