One of the most important—and most confusing—aspects of the 2026 SafeSport Code is the question of jurisdiction. Who has authority to investigate and resolve allegations of misconduct? The answer depends on the type of misconduct alleged, and getting it wrong can have serious consequences for everyone involved.
Exclusive Jurisdiction
The U.S. Center for SafeSport has exclusive jurisdiction over certain categories of misconduct. This means that only the Center can investigate and resolve these allegations. National Governing Bodies (NGBs), Local Affiliated Organizations (LAOs), and the USOPC cannot investigate or resolve these matters themselves, though they can impose temporary safety measures.
The Center’s exclusive jurisdiction covers sexual misconduct (including child sexual abuse), criminal charges or dispositions involving child abuse or sexual misconduct, misconduct related to reporting when the underlying allegation involves child abuse or sexual misconduct, abuse of process or retaliation related to the Center’s process, other inappropriate conduct as defined in the Code, and willful tolerance or cyber abuse when the underlying conduct is sexual in nature.
Discretionary Jurisdiction
The Center also has discretionary jurisdiction over a broader set of misconduct categories. This means the Center may choose to investigate and resolve these matters, but it is not required to do so. If the Center declines, the relevant NGB, LAO, or the USOPC may handle the matter under its own procedures.
Discretionary jurisdiction includes non-sexual child abuse, emotional and physical misconduct (including stalking, bullying, hazing, and harassment), criminal charges or dispositions not involving child abuse or sexual misconduct, proactive policy violations, and aiding and abetting, abuse of process, or retaliation related to the processes of organizations other than the Center.
What Happens When the Center Steps In
When the Center exercises jurisdiction, it issues a Notice of Exercise of Jurisdiction. At that point, any temporary measures previously imposed by the NGB, LAO, or USOPC are automatically adopted by the Center and become applicable across the entire Movement. The relevant organization can no longer issue a suspension in response to those allegations, though it may still make employment or membership decisions based on information it received directly.
The Center can also reassess its jurisdictional decision at any time, and other entities outside the Movement—such as Title IX offices or law enforcement—may conduct concurrent investigations.
Understanding jurisdiction matters because it determines who controls the process, what procedures apply, and what rights and options are available to a respondent. If you are the subject of a SafeSport proceeding, knowing whether the Center has exclusive or discretionary jurisdiction over your case is a critical first step. At The Chetson Firm, we help clients navigate these complex jurisdictional questions. Contact us to discuss your situation.
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