L1 Basic Principles of Sanctions Imposed by IWBF

L1.1 Violations of the Constitution and the Internal Regulations of IWBF, whether committed at an administrative or sports level, may be penalised.

L1.2 The penalties are applicable to:

• Zones.

• NOWBs.

• Clubs.

• Individual persons.

L1.3 The severity of the penalties depends on the nature of the violation.

The penalties may be:

• A warning.

• A reprimand.

• The repeal of a right.

• A fine.

• The repeal of a right and the imposition of a fine.

• The suspension of a sanction, in whole or in part, subject to certain conditions.

L1.4 Unless otherwise specified in the Internal Regulations of IWBF, any decision concerning penalties not covered under L2 below is taken, in the first instance and with immediate effect, by the President of the CLME.

L1.5 The President of the CLME may decide also that the aforementioned penalty must be applied by all NOWBs for their national competitions. For this purpose, IWBF must advise all affiliated NOWBs of the penalty adopted.

L1.6 An appeal against these decisions may be submitted to the IWBF Appeals Committee. This appeal shall be governed by the provisions in the Regulations governing Appeals.

L1.7 Where sanctions are imposed by IWBF according to these basic principles, NOWBs shall apply these sanctions in the framework of their national competitions. To this end, IWBF shall inform all its affiliated NOWBs of these sanctions.

L1.8 These regulations are also valid for the Zone for their respective zonal competitions.

L1.9 In order to facilitate the decisions of the appropriate authorities, the  IWBF Secretary General maintains a list of violations and penalties.

L1.10 If and when a hearing is organised under these regulations involving NOWBs, clubs or players, IWBF shall be authorised to make the organisation of such hearing dependent upon the parties paying to IWBF reasonable administrative costs.

L2 Sanctions And Penalties During The Main Official Competitions Of IWBF

L2.1 During main official competitions, cups and tournaments of IWBF, decisions concerning penalties are taken in the first instance by the TTC of the competition concerned.

L2.2 An immediate appeal against these decisions may be lodged with the Jury of Appeal of the competition.  A decision of the Jury of Appeal cannot further be appealed.

L2.3 In the event of sanctions being imposed by IWBF on the occasion of IWBF competitions, the NOWBs shall apply these sanctions for the purposes of their national competitions. To this end, IWBF shall inform all affiliated NOWBs of such sanctions.

L3 Sanctions Imposed by NOWBs

L3.1 NOWBs may impose sanctions on players, coaches, player support officials, and other officials closely involved in the staging of games (including referees and commissioners) in terms of their own regulations.

L3.2 Such regulations must provide for hearing by an independent party or panel, the right to be heard for the person implicated, and a right of appeal for that person.

L3.3 A complete file on the sanction must be compiled in the English language to be available to IWBF on request.

L3.4 In principle, a person suspended under the auspices of a NOWB is suspended throughout the world, unless or until the sanction is reduced by an IWBF Committee in terms of L4.1 or the IWBF Appeals Committee.

L3.5 In the event of a violation of the principles of fair play and good sportsmanship by a player during competitions under the control of NOWBs, the IWBF Committee as described in L4.1 below is authorised to impose a sanction according to these Internal Regulations if the NOWB fails to do so.

L3.6 An IWBF Committee (see L4.1) shall have discretion to adopt, increase, or reduce a sanction imposed by an NOWB. The implicated player has the right to be heard

L4 Player Under Sanction By An NOWB Seeking To Play In IWBF Competitions, Or Seeking An International Transfer

L4.1 For the purposes of IWBF competitions, an IWBF Committee consisting of the President of the CLME or his delegate and the IWBF Secretary General or his delegate ("the IWBF Committee") may review a sanction imposed by an NOWB.

L4.2 A player seeking a letter of clearance for an international transfer but who is under sanction by the NOWB where he is currently licensed may seek review of the sanction by the IWBF Committee constituted as in L4.1.

L4.3 If a sanction imposed by an NOWB is adopted by the IWBF Committee under L4.1 and L4.2, the IWBF Committee may decide also that the sanction shall be applied by all other NOWBs for the purposes of their national competitions. To this end, IWBF shall inform all affiliated national federations of the sanction thus adopted.

L5 Sanctions Imposed By Bodies Outside IWBF

L5.1 In the event that a player is sanctioned by an organisation outside IWBF and its affiliated NOWBs (e.g. state bodies, the IPC or other national or international sports organisations inside or outside the Paralympic movement), the IWBF Committee as described in L4.1 shall decide whether and to what extent a sanction shall be imposed on the player for the purposes of IWBF competitions.

L5.2 The implicated player has the right to be heard. If a sanction is imposed, IWBF shall inform all affiliated NOWBs of the sanction thus imposed which shall be applied by them for the purposes of their national competitions. Whatever the circumstances, a suspended Player may not use his licence (national or IWBF) for the duration of the sanction.

L6 Disciplinary Panel

L6.1 The Disciplinary Panel is authorised to hear and adjudicate upon the following:

• Any matter referred to it in the IWBF General Statutes and/or Internal Regulations.

• Any other matter referred to it by the Secretary General.

L6.2 General Principles attaching to the operations of the Disciplinary Panel

L6.2.1 Any entity/person who is the subject to proceedings before the Disciplinary Panel has the right to be heard, and may have one legal representative and one representative of its/his national member federation present to assist it/him in the hearing. Witnesses may be called at the discretion of the President of the Panel.

L6.2.2 The Panel is entitled to the benefit of legal counsel at hearings.

L6.2.3 Any costs of witnesses, legal representation, etc of the parties are for their expense.

L6.2.4 Members of the Panel for a particular hearing shall be of a neutral nationality.

L6.2.5 Hearings may be conducted in person, by telephone, by video conference, or through consultation in the written form.

L6.2.6 The Panel may develop administrative procedures to assist in the process of hearings.

L6.2.7 Appeals against decisions of the Panel may be lodged in the IWBF Appeals’ Committee.

L6.3 Composition of the Disciplinary Panel

L6.3.1 The President of the IWBF Commission for Legal Matters and Eligibility (CLME) shall act as President of the Panel.

L6.3.2 Up to five other persons shall be appointed to a pool by the IWBF President, and the IWBF President and the President of the Disciplinary Panel shall decide a minimum of two members who will adjudicate on a particular case. If the President of the Panel is not one of those nominated, the IWBF President shall designate an alternate President for that hearing.