POSTED: Thursday May 17th 2012
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

NATIONAL OLYMPIC COMMITTEE VOTES TO RESCIND BOA ELIGIBILITY BYE LAW

The National Olympic Committee (NOC) of the British Olympic Association (BOA) convened today via teleconference to formally consider a recommendation from the BOA Board of Directors to rescind the BOA Eligibility Bye Law relating to selection for British Olympic Teams and other teams selected and managed by the BOA.

The NOC includes a representative from each of the British National Governing Bodies for Sport, summer and winter, as well as two voting Athlete Representatives.

The BOA Board of Directors made the recommendation to rescind the BOA Eligibility Bye Law as a result of a decision taken by the Court of Arbitration for Sport (CAS) on 30th April in an arbitration between the BOA and the World Anti-Doping Agency (WADA).  WADA had declared the BOA Eligibility Bye Law, which was first enacted in March 1992, to be non-compliant with the World Anti-Doping Code, and the BOA challenged that decision before CAS.

Following a discussion period, during which members of the NOC reiterated their support for the decision taken by the BOA Board to defend the Eligibility Bye Law before CAS, it was agreed that the bye law would immediately be rescinded in order for the BOA to comply with the CAS ruling.

The BOA will now notify WADA of this decision in writing.

Additionally, the NOC encouraged the BOA to remain actively and constructively involved in the ongoing consultation process to amend the World Anti-Doping Code.  NOC members expressed a desire to see the Code amended in a manner that would provide stronger penalties for serious doping offenses, and for the autonomy of National Olympic Committees in determining selection criteria for their Olympic Teams to not be undermined or subjugated as a result of the Code.

For more information, please contact the British Olympic Association Communications Team at +44 (0) 207 842 5700

# # #

Keywords · British Olympic Association · BOA

Name: British Olympic Association Communications Team
Organization: British Olympic Association
Email:
Phone: 442078425700
URL: http://www.olympics.org.uk

Please refer all questions to the company listed above issuing the press release. SFC will not be able to assist you with any inquiries and disclaims any content in these press releases.