We recall that in the television show “Uncomfortable Questions,” R. Javtokas made offensive remarks about the then Lithuanian women’s basketball national team player Kamilė Nacickaitė-Van Der Horst and her family. The latter turned to the “Lithuanian Basketball” association regarding R. Javtokas’s public statements about her.
Read more The President of Latvia shortens vacation due to the security situation, will address the public
In the explanation presented on Friday by the Kaunas District Court, it is argued that EDAK had no legal basis to initiate a disciplinary case, and in examining the disciplinary case and imposing a sanction, it exceeded its competence.
You can read more about the court verdict here.
At the same time, the court recognized that R. Javtokas, due to his status and real influence on the Association members, can be considered an official person to whom the Code can in principle be applied. The court, by its decision, rejected R. Javtokas’s arguments that the Association or EDAK were biased in initiating the disciplinary case, examining it, and making a decision.
“We view this process much more broadly than just one specific case. This is a process of strengthening the disciplinary system of the ‘Lithuanian Basketball’ association and forming legal practice. There are few cases of this nature in Lithuanian court practice, so the explanations provided by the court are important to more clearly define the boundaries of competence of sports self-governance and its disciplinary institutions,” said Dominykas Domarkas, Secretary General of the “Lithuanian Basketball” association.
According to him, in making the decision in this case, the Ethics, Discipline, and Appeals Commission clearly expressed the Association’s value position regarding respect for the person, their dignity and privacy, and the standards of conduct expected from members of the Lithuanian basketball community – this value position is not changed by the court’s decision.
“We respect the first instance court decision and will carefully evaluate all the legal arguments presented in it. After doing so, we will make a decision regarding further legal actions,” said D. Domarkas. “Regardless of the final outcome of this process, such cases are significant not only for Lithuanian basketball but also for the entire country’s sports system. They shape legal practice, help to more clearly define the limits of self-regulation of sports organizations, and at the same time allow for the improvement of the disciplinary institutions themselves.”
Read more Retail sales volume in the US – lowest in over a year
