DP 9.0 HEARING PROCEDURE

(a)           Each Hearing held within the jurisdiction of the SAS shall be conducted in accordance with the following:

(i)            A Hearing Committee shall have no less than three (3) Committee Members, one (1) of whom shall act as Chair, and one (1) of whom shall act as a Secretary;

(i)            In the case where the Hearing Committee has less than three (3) members available for a Hearing, the Player must give written consent for the Hearing to proceed;

(ii)           The Participant will not be allowed legal counsel at the Hearing;

(iii)         If a Participant is absent for their scheduled hearing, a decision will be made in their absence by the Hearing Committee based on the available information

(iv)          Please see DP.6.3 SUPSPENSIONS STEP 2: HEARING APPEAL for information on how to appeal a Hearing Decision.

(v)           A Postponement of the Hearing may be granted by the Committee on terms published in advance of the Hearing;

(vi)          The Referee will be required to attend only if requested by the Chair;

(vii)        All witness statements must be received by the SAS Office within 3 working days prior to the hearing date.  Any witness statements, verbal or written, that are found to be of intentional deception, shall result in application of penalty to the witness.  The suspended player may receive an additional suspension.

(viii)       Any suspension being reviewed at a discipline hearing may also receive further punishment through a fine, probation or a bond.

(ix)       Witness statements must be sent to the Office or staff email.

(b)          Terms and Conditions

(i)            The Player and the Committee may, by writing and their consent, waive any or all of the following terms and conditions of the Hearing:

(i)            Any Participant accused of misconduct shall be given at least three (3) working days’ Notice of any Hearing.

(ii)           A copy of Notice will be sent to the Team or Club if the person under suspension is one of the registered participants, or is their Team Representative.

(iii)         The hearing package must be sent to the Committee at least three (3) working days prior to the hearing.

(iv)         Any witness shall be given at least three (3) working days’ Notice of any Hearing if their presence is required by the Committee;

(v)          Requests for postponements of a Hearing must be received by the SAS, in writing, at least two (2) working days prior to the Hearing;

(vi)           In cases where a Participant is suspended pending a Hearing, or because a Hearing has been adjourned, the date for the Hearing shall be set within fifteen (15) working days of the receipt of the Discipline By Hearing Request, or in the case of an adjournment, within fifteen (15) days of the adjourned Hearing;

(vii)          In all, the Hearing must not take place later than twenty-five (25) working days after the receipt of the Discipline By Hearing Request unless postponement is agreed upon by all parties;

(viii)        Any Suspension will take immediately effect unless otherwise indicated.

(ix)       The Participant will be notified within three (3) working days of the result of the Hearing;

(x)          Video footage as evidence shall be allowed provided that an electronic file is submitted to the SAS office within seven (7) working days of being notified of the Suspension, and three (3) working days prior to the hearing.  The Committee has the right to refuse edited versions.

(xi)           SAS can request and may receive video footage from the SSC for the following purposes:

(a)            For the use of discipline hearings and appeals to aid in the process of determining appropriate outcomes;

(b)           For cases of mistaken identity;

(c)         For serious incidents involving Violent Conduct or Serious Foul Play;

(d)          Game Abandonments;

(e)           To review reports of unlawful or illegal activity.

(xii)           Any breach of the rules, terms, or conditions will result in the hearing being cancelled and the suspension being upheld. Further appeals will not be granted.