Sports Disputes Tribunal Members Announced

Sports Disputes Tribunal Members Announced

Two Queens Counsel and the 2002 captain of the Black Ferns are among the seven Sports Disputes Tribunal members announced by SPARC (Sport and Recreation New Zealand) today.

The eight member panel is made up of a combination of legal and sporting expertise. It will be chaired by the Rt Hon E W (Ted) Thomas DCNZM QC whose appointment was announced in December. The other members of the panel announced today comprise a combination of legal and sporting expertise: Nicholas Davidson QC (deputy chair) Kit Toogood QC (deputy chair) Tim Castle Ron Cheatley Adrienne Greenwood Dr Farah Palmer Carol Quirk

The need for a specialist Sports Disputes Tribunal was determined in an independent review commissioned by SPARC last year. Sports in New Zealand confirmed that a properly resourced independent Sports Disputes Tribunal was necessary to preside in increasingly complex disputes and differences in sport.

SPARC Chairman John Wells said he was delighted with the number and quality of the applicants. As an independent body the Tribunal will provide integrity, consistency and independence to the disputes process and in time lead to an improvement in governance in sport.

"SPARC as a Crown Entity and the central point of contact for sport in New Zealand is the appropriate body to facilitate the formation of the Tribunal to ensure it is established and run independently and its services implemented and operated effectively."

Mr Wells said, "SPARC's role is to provide leadership in sport and the accomplishment of this initiative is one of a number that will be announced this year."

On an average there are about 46 disputes/cases each year at national level of which approximately 10-15 involve doping. Other disputes relate to selection, harassment, misconduct on and off the field, as well as disputes about the rules of a sporting competition, contracts, constitutions and other matters.

For each dispute it is proposed that a panel of three will be appointed by the Chairman to hear and determine the dispute.

© Scoop Media