Today the European Bridge League (EBL) has published the following statement:
EBL President Yves Aubry has asked the EBL Investigating Committee to complete its work on the four current cases before the end of 2015. Its recommendations will then be passed to the EBL Disciplinary Committee who will consider and act on them before the end of February 2016. This will allow adequate time to complete any appeals process before the European Teams Championships to be held in Budapest in June 2016.
Additionally, the EBL has commenced a complete review of all possible areas connected to the complete eradication of cheating in our game, where integrity must remain above reproach.
This will include a review of the Disciplinary Code, where sanctions for specific infractions will be outlined, a review of all technological assistance to be used for monitoring our game and the participation in a co-operative worldwide protocol to identify and monitor any possible cheating practices.
More, EBL President Yves Aubry replied to the letter from the President of the Dutch Federation:
Dear President,
The statement of the World Bridge Federation written and published by David Harris on October 9th received a lot of justified criticism. The critics noticed not only some inadequate expressions of intent but mainly a combative tone and an unpleasant impression given in the name of WBF to hide behind legal considerations rather than to act.
I got the opportunity to have a talk with Gianarrigo RONA, WBF President, last week during the Cavendish. I suggested to the WBF President that he should send strong signals to NBOs and players to show that the WBF has not only the best of intentions but also will act against cheating and cheaters. Also, that it is the duty of the WBF President himself to assume the communication and not to entrust this task to a WBF employee.
At the EBL level, since the beginning of the allegations published on Internet, I mobilized the EBL to react quickly and I appointed an investigating committee that immediately set to work. I set deadlines so that cases do not go on forever. In compliance with the disciplinary rules the pending procedures have to be completed before the next European Championships.
The EBL has also to work for the future. Additionally, the EBL has commenced a complete review of all possible areas connected to the complete eradication of cheating in our game, where integrity must remain above reproach. This will include a review of the Disciplinary Code, where sanctions for specific infractions will be outlined, a review of all technological assistance to be used for monitoring our game and the participation in a co-operative worldwide protocol to identify and monitor any possible cheating practices.
Yours sincerely
Yves Aubry
EBL President
Lausanne October 27, 2015
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Read letter from President of Dutch Federation »
Read WBF Statement (October 9, 2015) »