When the U.S. Center for SafeSport finds that a participant has violated the Code, it determines whether and to what extent that participant may continue in sport. The range of available sanctions is broad, and the consequences can extend far beyond the sport itself.
Types of Sanctions
The Code provides for several levels of sanction. A written warning is formal notice that the Code was violated and that further violations will result in more severe consequences. Probation is a specified period during which further violations will result in additional discipline, and may include loss of privileges or conditions on participation.
Suspension bars a participant from all programs, activities, events, and competitions under the USOPC, any NGB, or any LAO for a specified period. A suspended participant may be eligible to return after the suspension lapses, but reinstatement can be subject to conditions. Ineligibility bars participation until further notice and is typically imposed when a respondent has pending criminal charges. Permanent ineligibility is exactly what it sounds like—a lifetime ban from all organized amateur sport in the United States.
The Center also has discretion to impose other sanctions, including no-contact directives, educational program requirements, and other conditions it deems appropriate.
How Sanctions Are Determined
The Code lists numerous factors the Center considers, including the respondent’s prior history, whether there is a pattern of behavior, the ages of the individuals involved, whether the respondent poses an ongoing threat, acceptance of responsibility, cooperation in the process, and the impact on the claimant and the sporting community. The Center may also consider any rehabilitative efforts and other mitigating or aggravating circumstances.
A single factor, if severe enough, can justify the sanctions imposed. The respondent’s competitive history—including Olympic medals or other achievements—is explicitly given no weight. For violations involving child sexual abuse, the age of the incidents is not considered relevant.
Publication
The Center is required by federal law to maintain a publicly searchable database of adult participants whose eligibility has been restricted. Being listed on this database carries its own reputational and professional consequences, beyond the direct impact of the sanction itself.
The stakes in a SafeSport proceeding cannot be overstated. A permanent ineligibility finding effectively ends a person’s involvement in organized amateur sport and can affect their professional reputation and livelihood. If you are facing potential SafeSport sanctions, experienced legal counsel is not optional—it is essential. Contact The Chetson Firm for a consultation.
Previous in this series: SafeSport Temporary Measures: What They Are and How to Challenge Them
Next in this series: SafeSport Arbitration: How to Challenge the Center’s Decisions