Disciplinary chamber for doping cases

 

The Disciplinary Chamber for Doping Cases (DC) of Swiss Olympic is the central sanctions authority of the first instance for all doping cases concerning member associations. It was established on 1 January 2002 and it seeks to harmonise legislation.

 

In the Swiss Olympic Doping Statute of 18 November 1989 the sports federations were responsible in the first instance for the imposition of sanctions against their athletes. The second appeal body was an internal organ of the federation or an organ of the relevant international sport federation. This resulted in major differences in the quality of proceedings and the duration of sanctions. In particular there were calls from athletes at the national and the international level for a harmonisation of sanctions.

 

The individual sports federations have ceded their right to impose sanctions to the Disciplinary Chamber. Since this date this body has been responsible for all doping cases in the first instance. The second instance or recourse is the International Court of Arbitration for Sport (CAS) in Lausanne or another arbitration court of an international sport association. The DC consists of about 20 judges and medical experts. They are selected directly by the Sport Parliament.

 

In the event of a positive case of doping, the files are transferred from Antidoping Switzerland to the DC, which selects a three-person committee from the pool of its members. A decision in the first instance will generally be made within two to four weeks after the transfer of files. This is one of the fastest procedures in the world.

Regulation regarding a proceeding in front of the Disciplinary Chamber for Doping Cases (German) (valid from November 1, 2010)

 

President:
Attorney at law Martin Sterchi
Swiss Olympic Disciplinary Chamber for Doping Cases
P.O. Box 129
CH-3074 Muri/Berne

 

Telephone +41 31 951 44 88
Telefax +41 31 951 78 27