Thinley Namgay

The Bhutan Olympic Committee’s (BOC) investigation found that Janchung’s 95-94 win against Zhoems at the Thimphu Open Basketball Championship finals on November 11 at the Swimming Pool Sports Complex was due to the false score count.

Following an appeal letter from the Zhoems on November 12, Basketball Federation of Bhutan (BFB) forwarded the case to the BOC on November 23.

In the second quarter (36 minutes 30 seconds), Rinzin Wangchuk’s (Jachung) lay-up entered from below the rim and fell back through it. The referee considered it as a score and awarded two points.

As per article 1,4,8 of the BOC constitution, the BOC is responsible to arbitrate and mediate all matters that may arise among members or between members and others as the apex body for sports in the country.

Decision

BOC officials said that the BFB admitted mistakes on the part of officials officiating the game.

“They agreed that it should have been considered a violation, and the points not awarded to team Jachung, as per the rules of the International Basketball Federation (FIBA),”  reads the report.

The federation reprimanded the officials concerned, forfeit their match allowances, and have been asked to submit an explanation letter.

The federation will issue an apology letter to the Zhoems. Re-match will not take place.

Way forward 

To refrain from such dispute in future, BOC has instructed all the national sports federations (NSFs) to review and update their constitution, incorporate dispute resolution mechanisms and add provisions for strict administrative action against the officials who bring their sport into disrepute.

The committee also asked the federations to focus on self-learning amongst officials and coaches, participation from the clubs in officiating courses, and to use and analyse the match video recordings for assessment and improvement.

BOC does not solve all the dispute from federations 

As the main body of sports in the country, BOC has a total of 34 members affiliated to it, comprising 15 NSFs, four Sports Associations and 15 Dzongkhag Sports Associations.

In accordance with international norms, all NSFs and other member affiliates are independent of the BOC in matters concerning their governance, management and development and promotion of the sport.

“All of them are governed and managed by their own board members and as per their own constitutions, often framed in accordance with the constitution of their respective IFs. BOC only exercises authority over them on overall policy matters and financial assistance based on the budget provided by the government to the BOC,” said BOC officials.

Disputes that arise within the NSFs, be it among the athletes, or with regard to competitions or any other matter relating to a particular sport or NSF, are primarily dealt with by the concerned NSFs.

BOC officials said that more prominent federation like Bhutan Football Federation had mechanisms within their own constitution and governance framework to resolve disputes. “They seldom refer such matters to the BOC.”