Wednesday, 25 Dec 2024

BWF Establishes External Judicial Experts Group

The Badminton World Federation (BWF) is taking an important step forward in its commitment to maintaining ethics and fair play in the sport. Starting from June 1, the BWF has established an External Judicial Experts Group to handle all doping and ethics-related cases.

Previously, the BWF relied on external expertise for doping cases. However, after a review of their judicial procedures, the BWF has expanded the use of external experts to include ethics-related cases as well.

The External Judicial Experts Group consists of lawyers, scientists, and medical practitioners who have been appointed by the BWF Council. This diverse group brings independent expertise and representation from different fields and regions. The current members include Kevin Carpenter from Britain, Professor Toni Graff-Bauman from Germany, Sylvia Schenk from Germany, Dr. P. S. M. Chandran from India, Rune Bård Hansen from Norway, and Annabel Pennefather from Singapore. Three more appointments are expected to be made soon.

As chairman, Rune Bård Hansen, a judge of the Court of Appeals in Norway and a long-time member of BWF Doping Hearing Panels, will select individuals from this group to serve on either a doping hearing panel or an ethics hearing panel as cases arise.

This development is a direct result of the amendments made to the BWF Constitution and the revised Judicial Procedures. These changes were approved by the membership in May and came into effect on June 1, 2017. Furthermore, significant amendments to the BWF Code of Ethics and related Codes of Conduct were approved by the Council in March.

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According to BWF President Poul-Erik Høyer, this move towards greater independence in judgment demonstrates the BWF’s commitment to maintaining the integrity of badminton. Previously, only the Doping Hearing Panel consisted of external experts, while general disciplinary and ethics-related cases were handled by an internal Disciplinary Committee. With the newly-constituted External Judicial Experts Group, both doping and ethics-related cases will now be heard by panels formed from this group.

In addition to establishing the External Judicial Experts Group, the BWF has also introduced the role of Referral Officer. This independent legal expert is responsible for assessing whether there are grounds to bring a case in either doping or ethics-related matters.

To ensure fair, transparent, systematic, and consistent application of principles and procedures, the BWF has strengthened various regulations and rules pertaining to judicial matters. These enhancements cover reporting, investigations, referral, respondent rights, hearings, and appeals. By January 1, 2018, the BWF plans to release a new electronic version of the BWF Handbook, integrating all governance, ethics, and judicial rules, as well as the sport’s regulations.

With these measures in place, the BWF is committed to upholding the highest standards of ethics and integrity in badminton. The establishment of the External Judicial Experts Group and the introduction of the Referral Officer position demonstrate the BWF’s dedication to fair play and preserving the sport’s reputation.

FAQs

Q: Why did the BWF establish an External Judicial Experts Group?
A: The BWF established the External Judicial Experts Group to ensure independent expertise in handling doping and ethics-related cases. This group consists of lawyers, scientists, and medical practitioners who bring their diverse knowledge and experience to the judicial proceedings.

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Q: Who are the members of the External Judicial Experts Group?
A: The group is comprised of individuals appointed by the BWF Council. The current members include Kevin Carpenter from Britain, Professor Toni Graff-Bauman from Germany, Sylvia Schenk from Germany, Dr. P. S. M. Chandran from India, Rune Bård Hansen from Norway, and Annabel Pennefather from Singapore. Three more appointments are forthcoming.

Q: How will the panels for doping and ethics cases be selected?
A: Rune Bård Hansen, the chairman of the External Judicial Experts Group, will select individuals from the group to serve on either a doping hearing panel or an ethics hearing panel as cases arise.

Summary

The Badminton World Federation (BWF) has taken a significant step towards ensuring ethics and fair play in the sport. By establishing an External Judicial Experts Group to handle doping and ethics-related cases, the BWF is demonstrating its commitment to maintaining the integrity of badminton. The group, consisting of lawyers, scientists, and medical practitioners, brings independent expertise and representation from various fields and regions. Under the leadership of chairman Rune Bård Hansen, this group will play a vital role in the fair judgment of cases. The BWF has also introduced the position of Referral Officer to assess the grounds for bringing a case. With these measures in place, the BWF is dedicated to upholding the highest standards of ethics and integrity in badminton.