On the 31st March, the Court of Cologne issued a press release concerning its verdict announced on the 28th. The press release confirmed the story posted by the newspaper ‘Kölnische Rundschau’ in its 30th March edition.
On the 23 March 2014 the World Bridge Federation (WBF) found Elinescu and Wladow guilty of cheating by exchanging Unauthorised Information by coughing during the final of the World Seniors Team Championships held in Bali.
The Disciplinary Committee of the WBF imposed a lifelong ban playing as a pair, and a ten-year ban barring them playing as participants in any sanctioned event.
Following the WBF’s decision the German Bridge Federation (DBV) decided to adopt similar sanctions. Elinescu and Wladow filed an appeal in Cologne against the WBF and the DBV. The Court has declared that the judgment of the DBV to be invalid and suggested the federation compensate the plaintiffs for the damage caused by the suspension.
The Court of Colonia stated that the sanctions adopted by the DBV are not compliant: as the players are over 60 and over 70, a ten years ban is equivalent to a lifelong ban. More, the sanction is excessive because it was the first and unique violation by the players in a very long comptetive carreer.
The Court dismissed the appeal against the WBF, in a written submission the courts suggested that the plaintiffs should appeal to the Court of Arbitration for Sport (CAS).
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Press Release
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