SIGNIFICANT progress was made on clarifying the rules regarding international eligibility in Rugby League by the RLIF at meetings held during the Gillette Four Nations.
RLIF Chairman, Scott Carter said: “In constructive discussions we managed to make some progress in clarifying player eligibility for a nation and ensuring that players that play for one country in qualifying for a tournament can’t then play for another country in the finals.
“Improvements continue to be made on the rules regarding International eligibility and we are working together to meet the dual needs of ensuring that the best athletes are available as well as supporting the development of local talent.
“We also reached an agreement on an improved process for national teams to prove player eligibility and resolve disputes.”
Meanwhile, the Federation has formally agreed to sign up to the World Anti-Doping Agency Code which will further strengthen Rugby League’s global commitment to eradicating drug use.
The WADA Code is a document that provides the framework for harmonised anti-doping policies, rules and regulations within sport organisations and among public authorities all over the world.
Carter added: “This is an important development for all nations and highlights the sport’s commitment to anti-doping across the world.
“The individual nations are already signed up to the WADA code and the formal acceptance of the WADA code by the RLIF will ensure greater global consistency.”
One of the most significant achievements in the fight against doping in sport to date has been the drafting, acceptance and implementation of a coordinated set of anti-doping rules, the World Anti-Doping Code.
Since it entered into force on January 1, 2004, the Code has proven to be a very powerful and effective tool in the harmonisation of anti-doping efforts worldwide.
This has been demonstrated by the overwhelming support of governments and sports in accepting the Code, in addition to the growing body of jurisprudence from the Court of Arbitration for Sport (CAS) in supporting the Code’s tenets.
The adoption of the Code led to several significant advances in the global fight against doping in sport, including the formalization of certain rules as well as the clarification of stakeholder responsibilities.
The RLIF Board, consists of Chairman Scott Carter (New Zealand); Vice Chairman Richard Lewis (RFL) and delegates David Gallop and Tas Baitieri (Australia), John Numapo (PNG), Nigel Wood (RFL), John Bishop (New Zealand), Herve Guiraud (RLEF, France) and Graeme Thompson (RLEF, Scotland).
