What is a tribunal?
A tribunal is a forum for dispute resolution. An athlete appearing before a tribunal must receive natural justice.
What is a tribunal?
A tribunal is a forum for dispute resolution. An athlete appearing before a tribunal must receive natural justice. This means that:
- the person(s) involved in the process knows the charge he/she is facing
- he/she has an opportunity to state their case
- there is a tribunal/panel that will hear and act on the matter in good faith
Who makes up a tribunal?
Establishing a tribunal or forum to rule on matters of discipline is an important task for sports administrators.
Tribunal members should:
- be fair, objective and consistent
- have a sound knowledge of the sport
- be good communicators with a commonsense approach
- ensure decisions are published
To avoid conflict of interest tribunal members should be selected from an independent panel.
Your role at the tribunal?
Giving evidence at a tribunal can be an intimidating prospect — it doesn’t need to be.
The tribunal is there to help all concerned and make a fair decision.
They need your help to do so. Remember, members of the tribunal did not witness the event, you did.
To prepare for your appearance remember:
- you need to state the facts with confidence
- you need to record and clearly explain the incident
- refrain from discussing the incident until the tribunal is convened
- make sure you know what time the tribunal hearing is scheduled for
- be prompt and well presented when attending the tribunal
- give clear, concise, objective evidence
- witnesses may be required
- there may be a video of the incident available
Following these simple guidelines will help you to assist your sport’s tribunal in reaching a fair decision for all concerned.
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