The services of a legal counsellor for an anti-doping rule violation proceeding are available through the Finnish Sports Law Association’s legal aid system. The system applies to those individuals (athletes and support personnel) who have received a notification of or a request for information on a suspected anti-doping rule violation from FINCIS. Through therapy support, an athlete suspected of an anti-doping rule violation has the opportunity to get professional help. Support is only available in cases of anti-doping rule violations processed in Finland.
The legal aid system is based on a recommendation issued by the Council of Europe (Recommendation on ensuring the independence of hearing panels and promoting fair trial in anti-doping cases). The legal aid system is administrated by the Finnish Sports Law Association, which receives funding from the Ministry of Education and Culture.
Purpose of the legal aid system
The purpose of the legal aid system for athletes is to provide athletes and other private persons suspected of committing an anti-doping rule violation with access to the services of a legal counsellor with adequate legal expertise in the processing of anti-doping rule violation in the Anti-Doping Hearing Panel with reasonable costs. This system ensures that processing the anti-doping rule violation is performed fairly and equally to all parties.
Athletes may use the services of a legal counsellor even before the anti-doping rule violation is brought to the hearing panel if the athlete or other person entitled to the services of a legal counsellor has received a request for information concerning the anti-doping rule violation from FINCIS and it is possible that the matter is brought to the hearing panel (for example, in the case of a positive A-sample in a doping test).
Legal aid system activities
Anyone interested in legal aid must contact the Finnish Sports Law Association. The association provides the person entitled to the services of a legal counsellor with a list of available counsellors after the person has completed the payment of a deductible of EUR 100 to the association’s bank account.
The person suspected of committing an anti-doping rule violation can then select their preferred counsellor and contact them about the matter.
The duties of the counsellor are completed when the Anti-Doping Hearing Panel has issued a decision regarding the case. It is not possible to get access to the services of a legal counsellor in order to submit an appeal to the Finnish Sports Arbitration Board through the system.
Athlete’s therapy service
Suspected anti-doping rule violations may burden the athlete. For this reason, FINCIS has actively sought an independent partner who can provide the athlete with psychological support during the violation process. In connection with the notification of an anti-doping rule violation, the athlete will also be informed of the free therapy service.
The service’s experts have a mental health and crisis work education and personal experience in acting in the sports field. Confidential discussion assistance is free of charge for athletes suspected of an anti-doping rule violation and is available free of charge for a maximum of five times. FINCIS is responsible for the costs of the service.
