ACBL District 21

Let's Play Duplicate Bridge

 

 

APPENDIX C

ACBL Disciplinary Sanction Guidelines

The following range of discipline for conduct and ethics violations is provided as a guide to a disciplinary committee not a mandate. This is not intended to be an exhaustive list of all possible infractions but rather to set forth examples. The committee is free to impose on a guilty defendant whatever punishment it deems is appropriate from options described in the CDR. However, a disciplinary committee which imposes a sanction which is outside the range recommended by these guidelines must explain why it chose the sanction imposed. Part A of these guidelines is intended to apply to the typical case involving a single incident and a defendant who has no previous disciplinary record. If this is not the case, the committee must read Part B of these guidelines before deciding on an appropriate discipline.

Part A

 

CONDUCT
OFFENSE Recommended Discipline

C1 Poor personal hygiene or dress (CDR 3.7)

 		Reprimand to 30 days Probation

C2 Rudeness in conversation, gesture, or general behavior (CDR 3.7)

 		Reprimand to 30 days Probation

C3 Publicly belittle partner or opponent on bid or play (CDR 3.7)

Reprimand to 30 days Probation

C4 Influence or attempt to influence an entrant to withdraw from an event to improve one’s likelihood of winning more masterpoints CDR 3.12)

 		Reprimand to 90 days Probation

C5 Harass a tournament director or tournament official (CDR 3.11)

 		Reprimand to 90 days Probation to 30 days Suspension

C6 Deliberately fail to follow instructions given by a tournament director or official including leaving a session without permission of the tournament director or game director. (CDR 3.1 & 3.2)

 		90 days Probation to 30 days Suspension

C7 Fail to report a known incorrect score (CDR 3.2)

 		90 days Probation to 30 days Suspension

C8 Publicly made obscene comments (CDR 3.7)

 		Reprimand to 120 days Probation

C9 Intimidate or harass another player or ACBL official (CDR 3.11)

 		90 days Probation to 30 days Suspension

C10 Publicly accuse another player of unethical behavior (CDR 3.4)

 		90 days Probation to 180 days Suspension

C11 Threat of abusive or violent contact with another person (CDR 3.7)

 		90 days Probation to 180 days Suspension

C12 Abusive or violent contact with another person (CDR 3.7)

 		90 days Suspension to 1 year Suspension

C13 Knowingly submit false information or deliberately distort facts to an ACBL official or committee (CDR 3.13)

 		90 days Probation to 1 year Suspension

C14 Failure of Complainant to appear at hearing (CDR 3.14)

 		30 days Suspension

C15 Appeal a decision from a disciplinary body with no reasonable basis (CDR 3.15)

 		Reprimand 90 days Probation to 90 days Suspension

C16 Initiate disciplinary action against another player with no reasonable basis (CDR 3.15)

 		30 days Suspension to 90 days Suspension

C17 Initiate and maintain legal action against the ACBL (including a District or Unit) without first exhausting administrative remedies (CDR 3.10)

 		1 year Suspension

C18 Misappropriate ACBL, Unit or District Funds (CDR 3.9)

 		Indefinite Suspension pending return of funds

 

Part A (continued)

 

ETHICS
OFFENSE Recommended Discipline

E1 Deliberately ask for or give information about a board in play after both parties played it (CDR 3.2)

 		Reprimand

E2 Deliberately ask for or give information about a board in play prior to one or both parties playing the board (CDR 3.2)

 		30 days Suspension to 1 year Suspension *

E3 Unsportsmanlike and frivolous psyching (CDR 3.2)

 		Reprimand to 30 days Suspension

E4 Play a convention, system, or treatment knowing it is illegal; Purposefully fail to disclose partnership agreements with intent to deceive. (CDR 3.2)

 		Reprimand to 30 days Suspension *

E5 Bid or play with the specific intent to achieve a poor result on that hand (CDR 3.2)

 		90 days Probation to 90 days Suspension *

E6 Intentionally change a score or any information that could result in awarding incorrect masterpoints (CDR 3.1)

 		180 days Suspension to 1 year Suspension *

E7 Accidentally gain access to information and then act on it (CDR 3.1 & 3.2)

 		90 days Probation to 180 days Suspension *

E8 Hesitate with an intent to deceive; use intonations and mannerisms that may deceive opponents or help partner (CDR 3.1 & 3.2)

 		1 year Probation to 180 days Suspension *

E9 Deliberately try to see from where an opponent plays his cards (CDR 3.1 & 3.2)

 		90 days Probation to 90 days Suspension *

E10 Actively and deliberately try to see an opponent’s cards (CDR 3.1 & 3.2)

 		90 days Suspension to 1 year Suspension *

E11 Actively seek advance information about a board in play

 		2-year Suspension to Expulsion *

E12 Prearrange a deal or part thereof including one card (CDR 3.1 & 3.2)

 		2-year Suspension to Expulsion *

E13 Intentionally gain access to hand records (CDR 3.1 & 3.2)

 		2-year Suspension to Expulsion *

E14 Prearranged partnership collusion by means of signaling to exchange information (CDR 3.1 & 3.2)

 		Expulsion *

* If a committee imposes a suspension, then it should also disqualify the pair from the event. This will mean the pair or team will lose its place in the event, any masterpoints earned in the event and any other benefits it may have earned from playing in the event. Should this disqualification take place after the correction period for the event has expired, other pairs and teams do not move up - the place formerly held by the disqualified contestant (pair or team) remains vacant.

Part B

There are three major reasons why the suggested guidelines in Part A might not be appropriate. First, the single violation might be either so slight or severe as to make the suggested sanction inappropriate. Second, the defendant might be convicted for several violations (such as a pattern of behavior). Third, the defendant might have a previous record.

1. When the defendant’s single violation is either extremely slight or severe, the committee should apply its sound, unemotional judgment. For example, either the experience or mental intentions of the defendant might be a consideration. Please explain on the Hearing Report Form why the violation was considered atypical.

2. When the defendant is convicted of several violations, such as a pattern of behavior, the committee should impose a sanction as if each violation was a separate offense. The Committee should note the separate violations and/or explain the pattern.

3. When the defendant has a prior record, the nature of the previous offense is not particularly important. The number of prior convictions is important. The reason is that the defendant was already sanctioned for the specific prior violation(s). The committee should pay close attention to how the prior conviction(s) reflects on the defendant’s ability to behave according to ACBL standards and explain on the Hearing Report Form the reasons for its decision.

 

 

 

 

The original documents referenced above are available at:

http://www.acbl.org

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

  
 

 

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Last modified: 12/07/04