Tuesday, May 17, 2016
Abu Dhabi: The UAE Sports Arbitration Centre will adopt a policy of zero tolerance towards doping in sports, Shaikh Nahyan Bin Mubarak Al Nahyan, Minister of Culture and knowledge Development, told the Federal National Council on Tuesday.
Shaikh Nahyan, also chairman of the Youth and Sports Authority, added the UAE Arbitration Centre will act with zero tolerance against any athletes with dubious test results and its rulings will be final, citing international athletes who were stripped of their medals for doping.
Shaikh Nahyan was speaking as the House passed a draft law setting up the UAE Sports Arbitration Centre with its headquarters located in Abu Dhabi.
In May 2012, Abu Dhabi became one of only four cities in the world to host a permanent Court of Arbitration for Sport, the other cities being Lausanne, Sydney and New York.
The Court of Arbitration for Sport is the world’s leading sports law forum and was established on June 30, 1984.
It is the only tribunal that can hear disputes over the interpretation of the Olympic Charter and the sole tribunal of appeal from decisions of the world Anti-Doping Agency and the final tribunal of appeal for many major international sports federations.
The UAE Sports Arbitration Centre will hear any disputes over sports activities or decisions taken by sports federations and clubs.
Decisions of the centre cannot be appealed. A sports-related dispute may be submitted to the UAE Sports Arbitration Centre only if there is an arbitration agreement between the parties which specifies recourse to the centre, which will be run by a sports arbitration board chaired by the head of the Olympic committee.
Shaikh Nahyan said the centre will promote the swift settlement of sports disputes by specialised arbitral tribunals that offer sufficient guarantees of independence and impartiality.
The House has passed a draft law meant to ensure doping-free horse racing and promote health, fairness and equality for horses and jockeys in the UAE.
The draft law aims at ensuring a harmonised and effective anti-doping programme is set up at the national level with regard to detection, deterrence and prevention of doping, according to a report made by an FNC panel.
The draft law envisages protecting and promoting the horse racing industry and ensuring international sport ethics and standards are met. The goal is to ensure that all participants in equestrian sports who violate the equine anti-doping and controlled medication regulations are held accountable.
The law bans all drugs, unless they are licensed for use by the authorities concerned, to treat specific medical conditions such as anti-inflammatories and muscle relaxants.
Offenders will face a minimum fine of Dh20,000, but not more than Dh100,000. Repeat offences within three years will carry a fine of up to Dh500,000, according to the draft law.
by Samir Salama Associate Editor
Gulf News 2016. All rights reserved.
