FIBA will present submissions on nationality appeal

And while at the training program, we got an update on the status of an appeal regarding the nationality of Herbert Allen, Dakin Braddik, Charlie Burgess and Kyron Stokes of Belizean Heritage who were disqualified by FIBA. In August, the team placed second in the COCABA Games. It’s been three months since the games that ensured Belize a spot in the Pan American Games and a shot at the 2012 Olympics. Belize Basketball Federation took the matter to the FIBA Appeals Tribunal that ruled against Belize. But the B.B.F. further appealed to the Court of Arbitration for Sports (CAS) in Switzerland which is the highest court of appeal. Attorney for B.B.F., Godfrey Smith, has made submissions to the Court and this Wednesday, FIBA is expected to present their own arguments. President of the Federation, Paul Thompson, says they are hopeful.

Paul Thompson, President, Belize Basketball Federation
“We have made written submissions on November fifth—our legal representative, Mr. Godfrey Smith did. FIBA now has twenty days to respond to that. Thereafter, the Court of Arbitration for Sports will set a date for hearing and we will go there to this Court of Arbitration for Sports. Each entity will select a judge or an arbitrator. We have selected one, FIBA will select one and the Court of Arbitration will select their judge and then there is a hearing and hopefully we will get a positive response this time. The last time I thought we had a very strong case; it was a FIBA Appeals Tribunal so it was in-house as you would want to say. This time, the Court of Arbitration for Sports is an independent body that deals with sports related disputes in all disciplines, not only basketball. So hopefully, we get the results that we want.”