14. DISCIPLINARY ACTIONS AND PENALTIES
14.1 Failure to apply for Competition Permit
Any State Association, Club or Sporting organization, which neglect to request the required NCF permit for national or State or local competition any one who do not pay the required fee, shall be fined an additional Hundred thousand naira (#100,000.00). The Secretary General shall send a warning letter to them. If the fee and fine are not paid within thirty (30) days of sending the warning, such body or organization shall be suspended until such time as the total amount has been paid. Sanction fees for world championships must be paid at the time of application for the event.
14.2 Failure to Pay Annual Subscription Fee
A state association, which has not paid its annual subscription by the 30th of September of each year, despite having received a reminder letter, shall be suspended from membership of the NCF.
14.3 Defaulting on Agreements to Compete
If any association defaults on a competition engagement with another state or country, the DC may, in the case of disagreement between them, make a decision or impose penalties if the NCF Constitution or rules have been ignored.
14.4 Reporting Infractions in International / National Competition
If a Curler or official commits any form of violation during National or an International contest in another country, the organizing State Association must send a detailed report to the NCF Secretary General in which if necessary NCF in turn will inform the Disciplinary Committee which will impose appropriate penalties.
The organizing State Association cannot penalize Curling or officials from other State.
14.5 Suspension of Association for Violations of Constitution/Bylaws
Any affiliated State Association, which violates the Constitution or rules of the NCF, shall be suspended by recommendation of the Disciplinary Committee for a period to be decided by the General Assembly.
14.6 Hearing prior to Penalty
Any State Association Curler or official asserted to have committed a rule violation has the right to be heard in its or his/her case before the relevant disciplinary or hearing body decides upon the penalty to be imposed.
14.7 Procedure for Filing Complaints against Inpiduals
Any Curler or official who considers that he has been wronged has the right to file a written complaint stating his reasons for complaining. This must be done through the intermediary of his State Association. If another person is implicated, the latter must be heard if at all possible. If the complaint is not made to the organizing national federation, it may be made to the Jury before the start of the competition. It must be examined immediately and if possible a decision taken.
A copy of the complaint and the decision of the Jury must be in writing and must be sent to the Disciplinary Committee.
14.8 Participation of Foreign Curler in National Competition
A Curler living in a foreign country may only participate in competitions organized competition in Nigeria provided that he/she presents written evidence of permission of his/her national federation to take part in such competition. This is to be provided by his/her own national federation.
14.9 Participating in Non-NCF Competition
Any Curlerer, coach, referee or official who competes or participates in any event or local event, competition not organized, sanctioned or approved by the NCF shall not be permitted to take part in any NCF National, international or regional competition for a period of 12 months from the date of that non-approved competition.
14.10 Other causes for Suspension/Expulsion:
Dishonorable conduct, failure to attend, “throwing competitions”, competing against an Athlete who have been expelled or is under a period of Ineligibility.
The following may be subject to suspension or expulsion:
14.10.1 Any Curler properly entered for a competition that without acceptable reasons does not attend.
14.10.2 Any Curler who is deemed guilty of violating the rules or disobedience towards his national federation or any official in the execution of his duties.
14.10.3 Any Curler convicted of agreement to alter his best effort.
14.10.4 Any Curler, who by words or gestures threatens referees or any other officials in the execution of their duties.
14.10.5 Any Curler who participates in a contest with other countries without permission of his national federation.
Penalties
Up to a maximum of 6-month suspension for the first offence.
Up to a maximum of 12-month suspension for the second offence and a maximum fine of EUR 200 or its equivalent in naira.
14.10.6 An Athlete or official shall not participate in contests or competitions if there is any Athlete or official participating in any pision, section or bodyweight class of that contest or competition who has been expelled or suspended from his or her international or national federation or State association or who is serving the period of Ineligibility for a doping related offence.
Penalty for violation of this rule (14.10.6):
Six (6) months’ Ineligibility commencing from the date of violation.
The determination of the applicability or otherwise of penalty under this rule (14.10.6) shall be made by the NCF Disciplinary Committee (DC). Prior to such determination by the DC, the NCF Executive Committee may provisionally suspend the athlete, such suspension to commence from the date of the alleged violation.
14.11 Offences against person while at Championships, Jury Role
For offences such as false accusations of dishonor or dishonesty against a Curler or Official occurring at a championship, the Jury decides in these cases as soon as is possible (see Constitution 14.12 and 14.15).
Penalties
First minor offence: up to a maximum of 6-month suspension.
Second minor offence: up to a maximum of 12-month suspension and a maximum fine of XYZ Naira?
First serious offence: up to a maximum of 12-month suspension.
Second serious offence: up to a maximum of 24-month suspension and a maximum fine of XYZ Naira?
14.12 Ad Hoc Jury as Discipline Body
In absence of a Jury an ad hoc Jury may exclude a Curler or official from a competition for reasons of his misconduct. In such a case the Jury or ad hoc Jury must inform the Curler or official’s own national federation or association, who in turn must decide what punishment to impose upon the Curler or official.
In absence of a Jury the NCF Official, who is the official representative of the WCF at this championship, must arrange an ad hoc Jury. The decisions of this Jury must be sent to the Disciplinary Committee.
14.13 Penalty for “Bringing the Sport into Disrepute”
Any member of an affiliated national federation who is found to be guilty of bringing the sport into disrepute by means of his comments, published articles, TV or radio broadcasts may be requested to appear before the Disciplinary Committee. Should the Committee feel that a bona fide case of violation exists, they will then present the matter to the General Assembly with a recommendation for appropriate penalties.
14.14 Responsibility for Payment of Fines
The concerned member federations are responsible for the payment of all fines that the Disciplinary Committee has imposed.
14.15 Limitation of Jury’s Role in Discipline
The Jury has the right to act as Disciplinary Committee, but only in cases which are connected to the championship and which need an immediate decision. The decision of the Jury is definite for this championship. The President of the Jury must send a copy of all decisions with all related documents to the Disciplinary Committee who will then review the actions of the Jury.
14.16 Sanctions and Consequences for Anti-Doping Rule Violations
14.16.1 In case of a violation of the NCF Anti-Doping Rules, the Curler or other person involved shall be imposed in an appropriate period of Ineligibility as defined under Article 10 of the NCF Anti-Doping Rules and shall be subject to other consequences as defined under Articles 9 and 10 of the NCF Anti-Doping Rules.
14.16.2 Consequences to Teams shall be as defined under Article 11 of the NCF Anti-Doping Rules.
14.16.3 Sanctions and costs assessed against State association shall be as defined under Article of the NCF Anti-Doping Rules.
14.17 Official Defined
The term "official" wherever it may appear in this Article, shall be deemed to include all persons described as such in the NCF Technical Rules or appointed by the organizing committee of a championship, to act in any official capacity during the whole or any part of that championship.
