IPF Removes Controversial "Ed Coan Rule"

The IPF has removed controversial Article 10.11 from its newest Anti-Doping Rules (pdf) which will become effective on January 1, 2009 if ratified at the 2008 Congress meeting in November.

Article 10.11, also known as Rule 10.11 or the Ed Coan Rule, penalized those who merely participated in the same competition as IPF-suspended lifters. Lifters and officials received a six month suspension for "participating in any division, section or bodyweight class of that contest or competition who has been expelled or suspended from his or her international or national federation or who is subject to Ineligibility for a doping related offence."

In addition, former Rule 10.9, which addressed ones status during ineligibility, is now Rule 10.10. The article has been expanded and clarified but still prohibits suspended lifters from competing and participating in other federations and even in other sports. Rule 10.9 was recently used to suspend Darren Matsumoto for competing in another federation while under suspension by the IPF.

The new Anti-Doping rules also have added extensive explanatory comments to many of the articles.

Old Rule 10.11:

10.11 Penalty for Participating while Ineligibility or Against Suspended Athletes

An Athlete or official cannot participate in contests or competitions if:

10.11.1 Article 10.9 above is applicable,

or

10.11.2 There is any Athlete or official participating in any division, section or bodyweight class of that contest or competition who has been expelled or suspended from his or her international or national federation or who is subject to Ineligibility for a doping related offence.

Penalties:

For participating while Ineligible:

Six (6) months elongation to Ineligibility.

First offence against this rule will elongate by six (6) months the period of Ineligibility originally imposed to the Athlete or other person violating this rule.

Second and subsequent offences will elongate the previously elongated Ineligibility by six (6) months per each violation.

For competing against an Athlete who have been expelled or is under a period of Ineligibility:

Six (6) months Ineligibility commencing from the date of violation.

The determination of the applicability or otherwise of penalties under this Article shall be made by the IPF Disciplinary Committee. Prior to any such determination by the Disciplinary Committee, the IPF-EC may provisionally suspend the athlete, such suspension to commence from the date of the alleged violation.

Old Rule 10.9:

10.9 Status during Ineligibility

No Person who has been declared Ineligible may, during the period of Ineligibility, participate in any capacity in an Event or activity (other than authorized anti-doping education or rehabilitation programs). This would preclude, but not be limited to:
a. practising/training with a national team;
b. acting as a coach or sport official;
c. selection in any representative team;
d. competing in any Competition/Events;
e. receiving, directly or indirectly, funding or assistance from National Federation;
f. use of official National Federation or Member facilities;
g. holding any position with the National Federation.
In addition, for any anti-doping rule violation not involving specified substances described in Article 10.3, some or all sport-related financial support or other sport-related benefits received by such Person will be withheld by IPF and its National Federations. A Person subject to a period of Ineligibility longer than four years may, after completing four years of the period of Ineligibility, participate in local sport events in a sport other than sports subject to the jurisdiction of IPF and its National Federations, but only so long as the local sport event is not at a level that could otherwise qualify such Person directly or indirectly to compete in (or accumulate points toward) a national championship or International Event.

2009 Rule 10.10:

10.10 Status During Ineligibility

10.10.1 Prohibition against Participation during Ineligibility

No Athlete or other Person who has been declared Ineligible may, during the period of
Ineligibility, participate in any capacity in an Event or activity (other than authorized
anti-doping education or rehabilitation programs) authorized or organized by the IPF
or any National Federation or a club or other member organization of the IPF or any
National Federation, or in Competitions authorized or organized by any professional
league or any international or national level Event organization.

This would preclude, but not be limited to:
a) practising/training with a national team, or a club or other member organization of
the IPF’s member organization;
b) acting as a coach or sport official;
c) selection in any representative team;
d) receiving, directly or indirectly, funding or assistance from National Federation;
e) use of official National Federation or Member facilities;
f) holding any position with the National Federation.

An Athlete or other Person subject to a period of Ineligibility longer than four years
may, after completing four years of the period of Ineligibility, participate in local sport
events in a sport other than sports subject to the jurisdiction of the IPF and its
National Federations, but only so long as the local sport event is not at a level that
could otherwise qualify such Person directly or indirectly to compete in (or accumulate
points toward) a national championship or International Event.

An Athlete or other Person subject to a period of Ineligibility shall remain subject to
Testing.

[Comment to Article 10.10.1: For example, an ineligible Athlete cannot participate in a training camp, exhibition or practice organized by his or her National Federation or a club which is a member of that National Federation. Further, an ineligible Athlete may not compete in a non-Signatory professional league (e.g., the National Hockey League, the National Basketball Association, etc.), Events organized by a non-Signatory International Event organization or a non- Signatory national-level event organization without triggering the consequences set forth in Article 10.10.2. Sanctions in one sport will also be recognized by other sports (see Article 15).]

10.10.2 Violation of the Prohibition of Participation during Ineligibility

Where an Athlete or other Person who has been declared Ineligible violates the
prohibition against participation during Ineligibility described in Article 10.10.1, the
results of such participation shall be Disqualified and the period of Ineligibility which
was originally imposed shall start over again as of the date of the violation. The new
period of Ineligibility may be reduced under Article 10.5.2 if the Athlete or other
Person establishes he or she bears No Significant Fault or Negligence for violating the
prohibition against participation. The determination of whether an Athlete or other
Person has violated the prohibition against participation, and whether a reduction
under Article 10.5.2 is appropriate, shall be made by the IPF.

[Comment to Article 10.10.2: If an Athlete or other Person is alleged to have violated the
prohibition against participation during a period of Ineligibility, the IPF shall determine whether the Athlete violated the prohibition and, if so, whether the Athlete or other Person has established grounds for a reduction in the restarted period of Ineligibility under Article 10.5.2. Decisions rendered by the IPF under this Article may be appealed pursuant to Article 13.2. Where an Athlete Support Personnel or other Person substantially assists an Athlete in violating the prohibition against participation during Ineligibility, the IPF may appropriately impose sanctions under its own disciplinary rules for such assistance.]

10.10.3 Withholding of Financial Support during Ineligibility

In addition, for any anti-doping rule violation not involving a reduced sanction for
Specified Substances as described in Article 10.4, some or all sport-related financial
support or other sport-related benefits received by such Person will be withheld by the
IPF and its National Federations.