Independent Anti-Doping Tribunal to hear IPC cases appointed

Alan Darfi, the Senior Discipline Manager of the Football Association in England, was appointed as President of the Independent Anti-Doping Tribunal 21 Jan 2025
Imagen
A series of glass sample tubes with blue labels
The newly appointed Tribunal members will bring together expertise in anti-doping, legal, sports medicine, sports science and sports administration.
ⒸAlex Livesey/Getty Images
By IPC

A new President and 19 members have been appointed to an Independent Anti-Doping Tribunal to hear and determine anti-doping rule violations and other related matters in accordance with the IPC Anti-Doping Code.

As part of the IPC’s governance reforms and to meet requirements of the World Anti-Doping Code, anti-doping tribunals need to be operationally independent of the IPC, the organisation bringing cases forward.

In 2024 the IPC launched a recruitment drive for experienced lawyers and sport practitioners to join the new Independent Anti-Doping Tribunal. The IPC’s external Nominations Panel assessed the applications, conducted interviews and then made recommendations to the IPC’s Governing Board, which finalised the appointments. 

The recruitment drive led to a very high calibre of candidates applying and volunteering their time to be Tribunal members.

Alan Darfi, the Senior Discipline Manager of the Football Association in England, was appointed as President of the Independent Anti-Doping Tribunal.

Darfi boasts vast experience of working for sport governing bodies and possesses more than a decade of experience of regulatory panels. He currently serves as a Specialist Member on Sport Resolutions UK’s National Panel and has previously sat on panels at the English Football Association, England Boxing, Table Tennis England and the British Table Tennis Association for People with Disabilities. 

From 2019 onwards he has served as a member of the IPC Anti-Doping Tribunal and was one of three tribunal members present at the Paris 2024 Paralympic Games.

Darfi has vast experience of working for sport governing bodies.  @IPC


Darfi said, ‘’I am delighted to have been appointed to the role of President of the Independent Anti-Doping Tribunal and look forward to bringing my experience of both regulatory panels and sport governing bodies to the role.

“Given the importance of anti-doping cases and the potential impact on athletes, it is essential that those sitting to consider matters are independent and will work together with the other independent members to deliver an excellent level of service.’’

In addition to Darfi, 19 other Tribunal members have been appointed, bringing together expertise in anti-doping, legal, sports medicine, sports science and sports administration.

The role of President includes appointing Tribunal members to sit on panels, to hear and determine cases brought before the Tribunal by the IPC. The Tribunal will hear cases related to alleged violations of the IPC Anti-Doping Code and will determine resolutions in accordance with the terms of the Code and the Tribunal Rules.

After the conclusion of a hearing, the panel issues a written decision which sets out its findings and the rationale for its decision, as well as any consequences to be imposed.

Decisions of the Tribunal may be appealed exclusively to the Court of Arbitration for Sport.