The discipline of martial arts is administered by the Disciplinary Committee, which operates in accordance with the rules laid down by the federations. The one-week deadline for reporting violations prevents old harassment cases from being processed.
7.6. 20:14 • Updated June 7th. 20:27
The Joint Disciplinary Committee of Martial Arts Associations has failed to investigate several cases of harassment. The reason is the one-week deadline for reporting violations recorded in the disciplinary regulations.
The Disciplinary Committee operates in accordance with the rules laid down by the sports federations. They state that a report made by an individual must be submitted within one week of the violation or when it becomes apparent.
Member of the Bureau Kari-Matti Lehden reports of harassment have also not been processed due to the deadline.
– In harassment situations and related announcements, it is typical that they often tell a long history. It may then run counter to that one-week period if it is not considered to have been so continuous that the most recent acts were within that week.
– In history, we have had the kind of solutions in which this one-week deadline has cut the possibility of dealing with the disturbance situation, Lehti says.
Executive Director of the Boxing Association Marko Laine confirms the information to Sport.
– I can’t comment on behalf of other sports federations, but there is one case on the boxing side where this has happened, Laine says.
The discipline of martial arts rose to the spotlight when Helsingin Sanomat (you switch to another service) said the boxer Jonna Hakkarainen harassment, mental violence, manipulation, control, intimidation and harassment.
A spare valve in the rules would allow even older cases to be handled
The Joint Martial Arts Disciplinary Committee was established in 2017. The disciplinary rules have since been updated several times, most recently in January this year. According to Laine, the problems caused by the one-week deadline have been aroused in the unions.
– The disciplinary rules define certain parties who may make disciplinary notifications without this one-week deadline. But if, for example, there is no competition officer, judge or other similar person, then this week’s deadline is expected. It has been found to be challenging and changes are underway, Laine says.
Amendments to the rules must be approved by the federal assembly of each union, so they are likely to take effect no earlier than next year.
The current disciplinary rules already contain a section stating that:
“For serious reasons, violations brought to the attention of the Martial Arts Association may be dealt with, even if they have not been reported or reported.”
It is not known to Laine that the Disciplinary Committee has taken cases on its own initiative with regard to boxing.
Expert in sports law, professor of law Antti Aine The universities of Turku and Helsinki commented on the disciplinary code in general. He does not comment on the case of Jonna Hakkarainen or the work of the Martial Arts Disciplinary Committee.
– The provision allows for discretion by the disciplinary body and, in principle, creates the conditions for taking into account the specificities of each case in these harassment situations as well. What is crucial is how the code is applied in practice. In other words, whether these issues are taken into account when the need arises, Aine ponders.
The one-week deadline for notifications of competition practices and infringements is justified in a number of ways. However, they are less suitable for harassment during leisure and training.
– This background may have influenced the definition of the acquis. In any case, time sounds reasonably tight, especially in these harassment cases, Aine estimates.
On the other hand, unlimited notice is not the best solution in all situations. Sports law expert Olli Rauste points out that time limits exist because it is difficult to prove old things afterwards.
– On the criminal justice side, for example, we have only a few years of limitation periods for the most minor offenses. The longer the time has elapsed, the more difficult it is to find out afterwards, Rauste says.
The decision on Hakkarainen’s harassment report – will be announced next week
Hakkarainen told HS that he had been subjected to inappropriate behavior in the Tammer tournament the weekend before the announcement.
According to Kari-Matti Lehti, the Disciplinary Committee made a decision on the matter at its meeting on Monday evening.
However, he does not comment on the content of the decision, as it is still being drafted. The decision is published by the Boxing Association and from the point of view of the Disciplinary Committee, the matter has been finalized.
– Of course, the decision is appealable. You can appeal to the Sports Judicial Security Committee. As such, this may not be the final solution, but our proceedings have since ended, Lehti says.