Rivista di Diritto ed Economia dello Sport - Rdes.it

244 Giurisprudenza Internazionalesuch sanctions on anti-doping violations it deems appropriate and providefor lower minimum sanctions than those suggested by the WADC.7. Question sec. 4 para. 2: “Ou ledit organe a-t-il la faculté de prononcerune sanction inférieure à la sanction minimale du C.M.A.?” (translation : Ordoes the said body have the power to impose a sanction lower than theminimum sanction of the WADC ?)175 Answer: FIFA has validly adopted its own Anti-Doping Rules whichare not fully consistent with the WADC. As an association governed bySwiss law, FIFA is free, within the limits of mandatory Swiss law, to determinesuch sanctions on anti-doping violations it deems appropriate and apply lowerminimum sanctions than those provided by the WADC.B. Answers to the Questions of the WADA, Submitted by the CASPresident1. Question sec I.: “En l’état actuel des relations juridiques entre WADAet la FIFA, et en tenant dûment compte des documents fournis à la fois parWADA et par la FIFA, cette dernière est-elle tenue de mettre son CodeDisciplinaire en conformité avec le Code Mondial Antidopage?” (translation:In the current state of the legal relations between WADA and FIFA, and onthe basis of the documents provided by both WADA and FIFA, is the latterobliged to amend the Disciplinary Code in accordance with the World Anti-Doping Code?)176 Answer: The documents submitted by the WADA or FIFA do notconstitute a formal acceptance or implementation of the WADC by FIFA.As an association governed by Swiss law, FIFA is free, within the limits ofmandatory Swiss law, to adopt such anti-doping rules it deems appropriate,whether or not such own rules comply with the WADC.177 However, FIFA is a recognized International Federation under Rule26 of the Olympic Charter. According to Rule 26 para. 2 of the OlympicCharter, FIFA is obliged to implement the WADC. Not implementing theWADC does not render the WADC applicable by substitution, but may leadto sanctions as provided in Rule 23 of the Olympic Charter.178 By signing the Declaration of May 21, 2004, FIFA expressed itsintention to live up to the spirit of the WADC and indicated its unconditionalsupport for the fight against doping and its respect for the WADC. To date,this intention has not yet been completely satisfied.2. Question sec. II.: “Si la réponse à la question «I.» est oui:” (translation: If the answer to question « I. » is yes:)179 The answer is yes with regard to FIFA’s obligations under Rule 26 ofthe Olympic Charter. The Panel deems it therefore appropriate to addressthe following questions.