Section 11: Withdrawal of Carded Status

This section describes the policy and procedures associated with withdrawing carded status from an athlete.

11.1 Policy

Athletes may have their carded status withdrawn under certain conditions, including the following:

  • Failure to meet training or competitive commitments;
  • Violation of the Athlete/NSO Agreement;
  • The athlete’s failure to meet responsibilities outlined in AAP policies;
  • Gross breach of discipline;
  • Investigation for cause; and
  • Violations of anti-doping rules.

Note: In many cases, the NSO may recommend that carded status be withdrawn. Sport Canada may also withdraw carded status without a recommendation from the NSO. These situations are noted in the following sections.

Policies on anti-doping and AAP funding are outlined in Section 12.

11.2 Procedure

Failure to Meet Training or Competitive Commitments

Failure to meet agreed-to training or competitive commitments may include the following:

  • A decision by the athlete to live in an environment not conducive to high-performance achievement;
  • Any deliberate action by the athlete that significantly risks or limits performance; and
  • An inability to meet the training and competition obligations outlined in the athlete’s annual training/competitive plan or the Athlete/NSO Agreement for the particular carding cycle.

Note: Failure to achieve preset performance objectives does not in itself establish failure to meet agreed-to training or competitive commitments.

If an NSO wishes to recommend withdrawal of carded status for an alleged failure to meet agreed-to training and competitive commitments, the NSO must first comply with the following:

  • Provide a verbal warning to the athlete, including the steps and timelines to remedy the situation and the consequences of a failure to heed the warning; and
  • Where applicable, follow-up with a written warning to the athlete.

If the above steps are not successful in resolving the matter and the NSO still wishes to recommend withdrawal of carded status, the NSO must do the following:

  • Provide written notification to the NSO’s Sport Canada Program Officer and the AAP Manager, with a copy to the athlete, recommending withdrawal of the athlete’s carded status. This written notification must
    • indicate the grounds on which the recommendation is being made;
    • indicate the steps already taken to address the issue (verbal warning followed by formal letter of warning); and
    • notify the athlete of his or her right to contest the NSO’s recommendation to withdraw carded status through the NSO’s internal appeal process within the prescribed time.

Following receipt of a written notification from an NSO recommending withdrawal of an athlete’s carded status, the AAP Manager will

  • advise the athlete by registered mail of receipt of the recommendation from the NSO;
  • enclose a copy of the recommendation in the letter to the athlete; and
  • advise the athlete to contact the NSO if the athlete wishes to appeal the NSO’s recommendation for the withdrawal of his or her carded status.

Once the period for initiating an appeal has expired and the athlete has not filed an appeal, the NSO must advise the NSO’s Sport Canada Program Officer and the AAP Manager of the following in writing, with a copy to the athlete:

  • The athlete has not appealed the recommendation to withdraw his or her carded status.
  • Sport Canada may make a decision on the NSO’s recommendation to withdraw the athlete’s carded status.

Pending the resolution of any appeal, Sport Canada will continue to provide the athlete with AAP allowances for two months after the NSO’s initial notification recommending withdrawal of the athlete’s carded status.

If an appeal process continues for more than two months, the athlete may request that Sport Canada continue AAP support on a monthly basis until the appeal is resolved. Sport Canada will consider representations from the athlete to continue AAP support pending resolution of the appeal, including the following:

  • Representations that withdrawal of support could cause financial hardship that would prevent an athlete from training;
  • Representations that there have been significant delays in the appeal process that were not caused by the athlete; or
  • Any other matter that Sport Canada deems relevant to its determination.

Sport Canada may approve continued AAP funding subject to conditions.

The NSO will notify Sport Canada of the outcome of the appeal process and make a recommendation to Sport Canada that conforms to the final appeal decision. Sport Canada will then decide whether to accept or reject the NSO recommendation.

When Sport Canada considers the recommendation made by the NSO, it may

  • accept its recommendation and withdraw carded status from the athlete for the remainder of the carding cycle. The effective date of withdrawal of carded status will be two (2) months following the original letter from the NSO recommending withdrawal of the athlete’s carded status. 
  • reject its recommendation altogether.
  • dismiss the recommendation but impose some lesser penalty.
  • make additional recommendations to either party if it believes some useful purpose might be served by doing so.

If Sport Canada decides to withdraw the athlete’s carded status, the AAP Manager must notify the athlete of the decision and the reasons for it by registered mail.

The athlete may request a review of a Sport Canada decision to withdraw carded status by following the appeal procedures in Section 13.

If Sport Canada wishes to withdraw an athlete’s carded status for allegedly failing to meet training or competitive requirements, the steps listed below under Investigations for Cause will apply.

Violation of the Athlete/NSO Agreement

If an athlete allegedly violates any of the obligations specified in his or her Athlete/NSO Agreement, the NSO may recommend withdrawal of carded status. In such cases, the steps listed in Failure to Meet Training or Competitive Commitments will apply.

The Athlete’s Failure to Meet Responsibilities Outlined in AAP Policies

If Sport Canada wishes to withdraw an athlete’s carded status because it has reason to believe the athlete has failed to meet responsibilities outlined in AAP policies, the steps listed in Investigation for Cause will apply.

Gross Breach of Discipline

If the NSO wishes to recommend withdrawal of an athlete’s carded status for an alleged gross breach of discipline, the steps listed in Failure to Meet Training or Competitive Commitments will apply.

If Sport Canada wishes to withdraw an athlete’s carded status because it has reason to believe the athlete is guilty of a gross breach of discipline, the steps listed in Investigation for Cause will apply.

Investigation for Cause

Investigation for cause may include, but is not limited to, making a false application to obtain AAP benefits for which the athlete would not otherwise have been eligible (for example, the AAP living and training allowance, tuition support, or special-needs assistance).

The following occurs in situations where Sport Canada wishes to pursue an investigation for cause:

  • The AAP Manager asks the NSO by registered mail to undertake an investigation with appropriate due process regarding the specific allegations against the athlete. A copy of this letter is also sent to the athlete by registered mail.
  • Sport Canada will continue to provide the athlete with AAP allowances for two months after the AAP Manager’s letter requesting an investigation is sent to the NSO. Following this two-month period, AAP financial benefits may be withheld pending resolution of the matter.
  • The athlete may request that Sport Canada continue AAP support on a monthly basis until the matter is resolved. Sport Canada will consider representations from the athlete to continue AAP support pending the results of the investigation, including the following:
  • Representations that withdrawal of support could cause financial hardship that would prevent an athlete from training;
  • Representations that there have been significant delays in the investigation not caused by the athlete; or
  • Any other matter that Sport Canada deems relevant to its determination.

Sport Canada may approve continued AAP funding subject to conditions.

Following the NSO’s report of its investigation, Sport Canada may

  • withdraw the athlete’s carded status effective from the beginning of the carding cycle;
  • withdraw the athlete’s carded status for the remainder of the carding cycle only; or
  • reinstate AAP support if it is determined that the allegations against the athlete are groundless and if support was withheld pending the investigation or appeal.

If Sport Canada decides to consider withdrawing carded status, the AAP Manager will notify the athlete by registered mail of the allegations against him or her. The AAP Manager will also notify the athlete that he or she may make representations to Sport Canada stating the reasons why Sport Canada should not decide to withdraw carded status. The athlete will also be advised that where there are valid reasons, a Sport Canada decision to withdraw carded status may be appealed by following the appeal procedures in Section 13.

Sport Canada reserves the right to impose penalties for a false application above and beyond the immediate withdrawal of carded status. For example, Sport Canada may declare the athlete ineligible for AAP benefits for one full year from the time of the finding of a false application.

If an athlete has his or her carded status withdrawn because of a false application, the athlete must refund any AAP benefits received. Furthermore, since NSOs endorse all AAP applications, NSOs are responsible for facilitating the refunding of AAP benefits by athletes in these circumstances.

Anti-Doping Rule Violations

If an athlete is asserted to have committed an anti-doping rule violation by CCES, an International Federation, a Major Games Organization, the World Anti-Doping Agency or any other anti-doping organization, his or her carded status will be placed on hold pending resolution of the matter.

The AAP will advise the athlete of any such hold by registered mail.

If it is determined that an athlete has committed and is sanctioned for an anti-doping rule violation, Sport Canada will withdraw that athlete’s carded status from the date of the sport ineligibility.

Note: For more information on the anti-doping policy related to AAP funding, refer to Section 12.

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