The American Contract Bridge League (ACBL) has just announced at BridgeWinners that “Josef Piekarek and Alexander Smirnov have been suspended for four years, beginning June 14, 2016, and given a lifetime ban from playing together as a pair in all ACBL-sanctioned events.”
In response to the discipline imposed by the European Bridge League (EBL) on June 14, 2016, the ACBL discipline has been imposed pursuant to 2.2.3 (f) of the ACBL Code of Disciplinary Regulations (CDR).
CDR 2.2.3 (f)
The ACBL Board of Directors has original jurisdiction of the following:
(f) When an ACBL member has been disciplined by another bridge organization for an ethical violation, the CEO of the ACBL may refer the matter to the Ethical Oversight Committee for resentencing purposes, but only if the sentence imposed was less than that contained in the suggested sentencing guidelines enacted by the World Bridge Federation. In all other cases, the ACBL shall honor the discipline imposed, enforcing it in ACBL events, unless the ACBL member requests a hearing under ACBL rules and regulations and provides substantial evidence that
1) he was not accorded a fair process in the hearing held by the other bridge organization and/or
2) the penalty imposed is grossly inappropriate for the violation proven. If the rehearing is granted, the sanctions will not be enforced until and unless the findings and sanctions are confirmed by the ACBL. The decision as to whether or not substantial evidence of a lack of a fair process was provided or that the penalty imposed was grossly inappropriate shall be made by the CEO of the ACBL with the advice of League Counsel. If a new hearing is requested, the ACBL is entitled to impose its own sentence if the conviction is affirmed or it is found that the penalty imposed was inappropriate. Nothing in this section shall prohibit the ACBL from initiating a disciplinary process for ethical violations in ACBL sanctioned events.
In this case, the ACBL accepts the discipline imposed by the European Bridge League and will not refer the matter the Ethical Oversight Committee for resentencing purposes.
Piekarek and Smirnov may request a hearing under ACBL rules and regulations providing substantial evidence that they were 1) not accorded a fair process in the hearing held by the European Bridge League and/or 2) the penalty imposed is grossly inappropriate for the violation proven.
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