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CAS confirms serious ethics violations committed by Mr. Luciano Rossi

Upon appeal filed by Mr. Rossi the Court of Arbitration for Sport (CAS) issued a decision confirming serious violations by Mr. Rossi of his duties of loyalty towards the ISSF and to disclose any conflict of interest when acting in his capacity as ISSF Vice President. CAS partially upheld Mr. Rossi’s appeal in respect of the length of his suspension, but concurrently increased the fine imposed on him. 

The Court of Arbitration for Sport (CAS) in Lausanne on 7 September 2018 issued a decision in the arbitration procedure between Luciano Rossi and the International Shooting Sport Federation (ISSF). 

 

The CAS proceedings have been initiated by an appeal filed by Mr. Luciano Rossi against the decision of the ISSF Ethics Committee dated 28 April 2018, in which the ISSF Ethics Committee sanctioned Mr. Luciano Rossi for violating the ISSF Ethics Code. 

 

The arbitration procedure was conducted by a Panel of CAS arbitrators, composed of Mr Murray Rosen QC, President (United Kingdom), Mr Luigi Fumagalli (Italy) and Mr Michele A. R. Bernasconi (Switzerland). 

The CAS confirmed that Mr Rossi seriously breached certain duties stipulated in the ISSF Code of Ethics.

 

The CAS Panel consequently increased the fine imposed on Mr. Luciano Rossi by the ISSF Ethics Committee, from EUR 30.000 up to EUR 50.000. At the same time, the CAS Panel reduced Mr Rossi’s 3-year suspension from shooting-related activities (administrative, sports and other) to a suspension of 20 weeks (approximately five months). 

In its decision, the CAS Panel determined that: 

 

  1. Mr Rossi is held responsible for serious breaches Article 2.2.1 (Conflict of Interest) and Article 2.1.3 (Loyalty) of the ISSF Code of Ethics; 
  2. Mr Rossi is banned from taking part in any shooting-related activities (administrative, sports and other) for a period of twenty (20) weeks as from 27 April 2018; 
  3. Mr Rossi is suspended from his office of Vice-President of the ISSF for a period of twenty (20) weeks as from 27 April 2018; 
  4. Mr Rossi is subjected to a fine in the total amount of EUR 50.000. 
  5. The cost of the arbitration shall borne as to 75% to Mr. Luciano Rossi and as to 25% by the ISSF
  6. Mr. Luciano Rossi is ordered to pay to the ISSF a total of CHF 3.000 as a contribution for the legal expenses. 

 

On behalf of the ISSF Ethics Committee, the ISSF appreciates CAS’ guidance with respect to the first case of a violation of the ISSF Code of Ethics in its history. At the same time the ISSF deeply regrets that one of its highest officials has been found guilty by CAS of committing serious violations of his duties to act loyal towards the ISSF and without conflict of interest stipulated in the ISSF Code of Ethics.

 

The ISSF is also looking forward to receiving the grounds for the decision in order to fully understand CAS’ findings with respect to the violations committed. 

 

The ISSF believes in sport justice and governance integrity, and will never refrain from undertaking all steps necessary to protect its code of ethics, in the benefit of the athletes, of its members, of the shooting sport movement and of the Olympic movement. 

 

Find a press release of the Court of Arbitration for Sport on the case at this link (click here).

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