In a significant development for the sports sector, the Ethics and Sports Protection Committee is poised to wield the authority to impose fines of up to €200,000 on individuals suspected of involvement in criminal activities.
This change is part of proposed modifications to the existing law governing the committee’s operations.
The legislation, finalized last week and currently undergoing legal scrutiny, brings about substantial reforms within the realm of sports.
It broadens the powers of the Ethics Committee, enabling swift intervention in cases of observed corruption within sports.
The 2017 Law on Combating the Manipulation of Sports Competitions (Law 180(I)/2017) has been criticized for several shortcomings, such as the absence of provisions for instances of manipulation of sports events.
However, the proposed amendment appears to adequately address these issues.
Simultaneously, the proposed changes grant the Ethics Committee the authority to impose administrative fines and timely interventions in cases of corruption.
It also includes provisions to expedite the investigation process when a complaint is lodged.
As reported by Phileleftheros, key provisions of the legislation include:
- Administrative Sanctions: The Ethics Committee can impose fines of up to €200,000 when criminal offenses are substantiated. It’s noteworthy that other institutions of the Republic of Cyprus, such as the Commissioner for Personal Data Protection, also have the authority to levy fines.
- Removal of Sports Figures: Administrative sanctions include provisions for the removal of sports figures from federations. One notable measure is the imposition of penalties resulting in the loss of athlete status. This automatically disqualifies the sports official from engaging in any administrative or other activities within the realm of sports.
- Criminal Investigation Powers: The Committee can seek consent from the Attorney General to appoint its investigators as criminal investigators for specific serious cases. This measure aims to save valuable time and ensure that evidence is not compromised due to lengthy procedures.
- State Sponsorship: Sports federations under investigation for malpractices and acts of corruption will not receive state sponsorship.
- Implementation of the White Paper: The legislation allows scrutiny not only of state funds given to federations but also of funds received by sports organizations from private sponsors.
- Redefined Notions: The preamble of the law now clarifies the definitions of match-fixing and manipulation of events, addressing ambiguities present in the 2017 Law.
The amendments were sent to the Attorney General and the Ministry of Justice at the end of last week for legal review.
Pending any issues arising from the review, the proposed legislation will proceed to the Cabinet for approval before advancing to the Parliament for consideration.
