Safe Sport Disciplinary Panel Calibration

On 5 July 2025, the Safe Sport Disciplinary Panel, which is chaired by Kuah Boon Theng SC, convened for a community of practice aimed improving the enhancing their skills in disciplinary hearings. 

The members of the Disciplinary Panel were given updates related international developments in safeguarding such as International Olympic Council’s Consensus Statement: Interpersonal Violence and Safeguarding in Sport and reviewed cases decided by sports tribunals in Canada and Australia.

An overview of the total number of hearings conducted from 2023 to April 2025 was also presented. Of these hearings, 72% involved Respondents who had been charged and convicted of a crime, emphasising the serious nature of the cases.  Furthermore, 81% of the hearings involved affected parties who were minors, highlighting the need for robust safeguarding measures.

Whilst engaging in the mock hearing activities, the members of the Disciplinary Panel grappled with issues of evidence and the application of the harmonized Decision-Making Framework of the Safe Sport Programme. Members shared insights to their hearing experiences which surpassed the information and knowledge available from documents alone.   

With shared learning and open discussions, the session ensured that the members felt confident in their role in safeguarding the sporting community.