Disciplinary and Grievance Procedures
British Rowing is responsible for the management of disciplinary cases within the sport
The purpose of British Rowing’s Disciplinary and Grievance regulations and procedures are to provide consistent guidance across rowing for handling disciplinary and grievance cases to ensure they are dealt with at an appropriate level in a fair, effective and timely manner.
Scope
Individual members who join British Rowing have agreed to adhere to British Rowing’s Regulations and Codes of Conduct, as well as adhering to their own club’s rules and codes of conduct. In addition, Race members must adhere to British Rowing’s Rules of Racing when taking part in affiliated competitions.
Clubs and competitions affiliated to British Rowing are required to adhere to British Rowing’s Disciplinary and Grievance Regulations (These can be found within sections 20-28 of Regulations of British Rowing which are on the Policies and Guidance webpage under ‘Rules and Regulations’) and conduct disciplinary and grievance cases in a manner that is materially consistent with British Rowing’s Dispute Guidance (Regulations of British Rowing – Paragraph 25, and Appendix 4).
Reporting a Concern
British Rowing is committed to a culture that is safe, inclusive, supportive, and protected. When a concern arises which goes against the rules or the values of British Rowing it’s important it is dealt with properly.
We have several mechanisms for raising concerns, click the link below for more information.
Disciplinary Matters and Sanctioning Powers
The Board has the power under the Articles to make and enforce rules and regulations concerning all forms and aspects of Rowing. This includes the power to establish disciplinary and complaints processes and impose sanctions in respect of the breach of any rules and regulations relating to Rowing.
The Board has in relation to any Club, Competition or Registered Individual, the power to order any measures that are recommended to it by the Disciplinary and Grievance Panel or the Case Management Group.
Disciplinary Matters: the Disciplinary and Grievance Panel
The Board has established the Disciplinary and Grievance Panel to ensure that British Rowing handles complaints, grievances and disciplinary matters fairly and efficiently.
The Board has designated the Disciplinary and Grievance Panel to be the dispute resolution body in respect of certain specified disputes, as detailed and explained in the British Rowing Regulations. The Disciplinary and Grievance Panel shall have the power, in relation to matters where it acts as the relevant dispute resolution body, to require that parties to a dispute participate and give evidence, and provide documents or other evidence.
The Disciplinary and Grievance Panel shall have the power impose sanctions that may include but shall not be limited to:
- ordering any party to pay some or all of the out-of-pocket expenses of the other party (but not any legal or other professional costs) to the relevant dispute; and/or
- ordering any party to pay the costs incurred by the Disciplinary and Grievance Panel
- recommending to any Club that a Registered Individual who is a member of that Club be suspended from membership of that Club or that membership be terminated;
- recommending to the Board that the rights enjoyed by a Registered Individual be suspended or that the Registered Individual shall have those rights terminated;
- recommending to the Board that a Club or Competition be suspended as an Affiliated Member of British Rowing or that the Club or Competition’s status as an Affiliated Member be terminated;
- recommending to the Board that appropriate measures be undertaken to give effect to any suspension.
An Affiliated Member, Registered Individual or any other relevant body or individual against whom an order has been made by the Board shall comply with the terms of that order including any full or partial suspension from any part of any activity controlled by British Rowing or any other activity within the sport.
The Board may if it believes that a sanction imposed by it might have any effect on international competition or competition in another country, report that sanction to World Rowing for recognition world-wide and, in the case of foreign nationals, to their country of origin.
Disciplinary Matters: Safeguarding
The Board has established the Case Management Group to ensure that British Rowing responds quickly and efficiently in relation to matters that arise in relation to the British Rowing Safeguarding Children and Young People Policy and Safeguarding Adults Policy.
The Case Management Group shall have all the powers detailed within the British Rowing Safeguarding Children and Young People Policy and Safeguarding Adults Policy.
An Affiliated Member, Registered Individual or any other relevant body or individual against whom an order has been made by the Case Management Group shall comply with the terms of that order including any full or partial suspension from any part of any activity controlled by British Rowing or any other activity within the sport.
The National Competition Committee
The Board has designated the National Competition Committee to be the dispute resolution body in respect of certain specified disputes, as detailed and explained in the British Rowing Rules of Racing.
The National Competition Committee shall have the power to impose sanctions as detailed and explained in the British Rowing Rules of Racing.
Submitting a Grievance
Anyone wishing to submit a grievance to British Rowing should follow the link to an online form below. The online Grievance Form is preceded by guidance notes which should be read in full and then the form itself will follow.
Submitting an Appeal
You have the right to appeal against a decision in certain circumstances; an appeal of a regional dispute decision, a British Rowing investigating officer decision, or a Disciplinary and Grievance panel decision. The link below provides guidance to making an appeal along with an online form if you wish to make an appeal against a decision. Please note that a Notice of Appeal form must be completed and submitted to British Rowing within twenty-one (21) days of the date of the decision.
Disciplinary Cases
British Rowing lists below the outcomes of disciplinary and appeal committees, unless there are exceptional circumstances in which it is considered inappropriate to publish. Such outcomes will be removed once the period of sanction has expired.
Disciplinary Cases
Name: Mr. Christopher Bailey
Rule Violated: World Rowing Anti-Doping Bye-Laws
Start Date of Sanction: 25/04/2022
End Date of Sanction: 24/04/2026
Name: Mr. Alex Turnbull
Rule violated: British Rowing’s Safeguarding and Protecting Children Policy
Start date of sanction: 18/03/2022
End date of sanction: 17/03/2032
Name: Mr. Andrew Cook
Rule Violated: British Rowing’s Safeguarding and Protecting Children Guidance
Start Date of Sanction: 05/06/2020
End Date of Sanction: 04/06/2030 (providing specified conditions are met)
Name: Mr. Andrew Strachan
Rule violated: World Rowing Anti-Doping Bye-Laws
Start date of sanction: 20/03/2020
End date of sanction: 19/03/2024
Name: Mr. Matthew Hackett
Rule violated: British Rowing’s Safeguarding and Protecting Children Guidance
Start date of sanction: 26/08/2016
End date of sanction: Until the conditions of reinstatement have been satisfied
