New laws affecting the Tribunal came into force on July 1 2007

New laws came into force on July 1 2007 that affect the Tribunal. 

The laws are part of the Sports Anti-Doping Act 2006.  One of the purposes of the Sports Anti-Doping Act is to continue the Tribunal as an independent body charged with:

• implementing the World Anti-Doping Code in New Zealand and
• hearing, considering, and determining other sports-related matters.

New Name: The Sports Tribunal of New Zealand

On July 1 2007, the Sports Disputes Tribunal changed its name to the Sports Tribunal of New Zealand. 

Tribunal will have wider powers

While the Tribunal will continue to hear the same types of sports-related disputes that it did before 1 July 2007, the Tribunal has increased powers and jurisdiction under the Sports Anti-Doping Act and will be able to hear a wider range of matters. 

In relation to Anti-Doping matters, from July 1 2007, the Tribunal will have the jurisdiction to determine whether an anti-doping violation has occurred.  Previously, if an athlete wanted to challenge a finding that he or she had committed an anti-doping violation (such as challenging a positive drugs test result for a prohibited substance), the athlete had to take an appeal to the District Court.  The Tribunal will now hear these cases. 

Functions of Tribunal under the Act

The functions of the Tribunal under the Act include:

• Hearing and determining anti-doping cases and doing all things necessary to comply with and implement the Sports Anti-Doping Rules 2007 (which have been made under the Sports Anti-Doping Act).
• Hearing appeals against a decision of a National Sporting Organisation or the New Zealand Olympic Committee if the constitution, rules or regulations of that body specifically provide for an appeal to the Tribunal in relation to that matter.
• Hearing and determining other sports-related disputes if the parties agree to refer the dispute to the Tribunal and the Tribunal agrees to hear it.
• Considering any matter referred to it by the Board of Sport and Recreation New Zealand (SPARC).

New Rules of the Sports Tribunal

To coincide with the law changes, new Rules of the Sports Tribunal have been adopted and these will govern the procedure of the Tribunal after 1 July 2007.  These Rules are available for download.  

Further information

For inquiries or further information, please contact the Registrar, Brent Ellis.  Please note that the contact details, e-mail and website address of the Tribunal will remain the same.