INFORM: Sports Law - Feb 2025
UPDATES:
FIA Updates International Sporting Code with Fines and Bans for Inappropriate Language
Formula 1 drivers could face fines, point deductions or even bans if they repeatedly use inappropriate language or criticise the sport’s governing body, according to new stewards penalty guidelines set by the FIA. The latest update to the FIA’s International Sporting Code (ISC) establishes clear guidelines for penalties concerning misconduct by drivers.
Trade Dress Battle: Logan Paul’s Prime Hydration Countersues Messi’s Mas+ Drink
Prime Hydration LLC, a beverage company founded by Logan Paul and KSI, has filed a countersuit against Lionel Messi’s drink company, Mas+ by Messi for infringement of trade dress. The legal dispute began in October 2024 when Mark Anthony International, the distributor of Mas+ by Messi, filed a lawsuit against Prime Hydration, in the US District Court for the Southern District of New York.
Four NADOs Taken Off the WADA Compliance Watchlist
On January 14, 2025, the World Anti-Doping Agency (WADA) issued a press release announcing that the National Anti-Doping Organisations (NADOs) of Namibia, Panama, Samoa and Senegal have been removed from the compliance watchlist. These NADOs have been removed from the compliance watchlist upon their successful handling of the non-conformities with the Code.
Horse-Whipping Case: British Rider Dujardin Handed One-Year Suspension
British dressage rider Charlotte Dujardin received a one-year suspension due to a controversy over the excessive whipping of a horse. Dujardin accepted to have committed Abuse of Horse, breach of the FEI Code of Conduct for the Welfare of the Horse and engaged in a conduct that brought the FEI and/or equestrian sport into disrepute.
Breather for Swiatek: WADA Will Not Challenge One-Month Ban
The World Anti-Doping Agency (WADA) will not contest the one-month ban imposed on Polish tennis player and World No.2, Iga Swiatek. Last year, Swiatek was charged with the commission of anti-doping rule violations under provisions of the Tennis Anti-Doping Programme (TADP) after testing positive for the prohibited substance trimetazidine (TMZ).
Wrestling Conundrum: UWW Renews Suspension Threat
The United World Wrestling (UWW) has renewed its threat to suspend the Wrestling Federation of India (WFI) due to political interference in its affairs. This was communicated in a letter addressed to WFI President Sanjay Kumar Singh.
Draft DPDP Rules, 2025: Online Gaming Platforms to Obtain Parental Consent
The Draft Digital Personal Data Protection Rules, 2025, released by the Ministry of Electronics and Information Technology (MeitY) on January 3, 2025, proposes additional measures for processing children’s personal data encompassing securing verifiable parental consent and observing due diligence requirements to verify the age and identity of the parent or lawful guardian.
BCCI Introduces 10-Point Disciplinary Guidelines
The Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) has introduced a comprehensive 10-point disciplinary guideline to enhance discipline and unity within the national cricket team through an exclusive policy document as reported by India Today. This initiative comes in response to recent underwhelming performances against New Zealand at home and a disappointing tour of Australia.
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GST Non-Compliance: DGGI Designated as Nodal Officer for Issuing Takedown Orders
The Ministry of Finance has appointed the Additional/ Joint Director (Intelligence) of the Directorate General of GST Intelligence Headquarters (DGGI-Hq) as the nodal officer responsible for issuing takedown orders under provisions of the Information Technology Act, 2000, in cases of non-compliance with the GST law by offshore suppliers of online money gaming.
Confusion Over NADA's Update on Hima Das' Suspension
Hima Das, a 2018 Asian Games gold Medalist, who had been recently acquitted of doping charges by the Anti-Doping Appeal Panel (ADAP), was again mentioned as provisionally suspended for 16 months, effective from 22 July 2023, for a ‘whereabouts’ failure.?
Formula E Controversy: Court Rejects Plea to Quash FIR
On January 7, 2025, the Telangana High Court refused to quash the FIR filed against K T Rama Rao, an MLA and former Minister, in the Formula E race case. It is alleged that an amount of INR 55 crore was released prior to the execution of the revised agreement with FEO, the revised agreement was executed, and a partial payment was made while the Model Code of Conduct (MCC) announced by the Election Commission of India (ECI) was in effect in the State of Telangana.
Govt Response Sought on Plea Seeking Non-Application of Jallikattu SOP on Manjuvirattu
The Madras High Court has sought a response from the state government while hearing a recent Public Interest Litigation (PIL) challenging the application of Jallikattu guidelines to Manjuvirattu events in Tamil Nadu.
CASE LAWS:
GST on Online Gaming: Apex Court Orders Stay on Show Cause Notices
In an order dated January 10, 2025, the Supreme Court stayed the show cause notices issued to online gaming companies, amounting to over INR 1.5 lakh crore. After the Revenue expressed that some of the show cause notices were likely to get time-barred by the first week of February 2025, the Court issued a stay on the further proceedings of the impugned show cause notices till the final disposal of the matters.
Sports Code: Exemptions Granted to EFI Held Arbitrary, Fact-Finding Committee Set Up
In a decision dated January 7, 2025, the Delhi High Court held the exemptions granted by the Ministry of Youth Affairs and Sports to the Equestrian Federation of India (EFI), from the applicability of specific provisions of the National Sports Development Code, 2011 (Sports Code) to be arbitrary.
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