IIHF Council refers cases to Ethics Board
by IIHF|24 MAR 2022
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During its last meeting the IIHF Council has decided to refer two cases to the independent IIHF Ethics Board.

The purpose of the newly-created Ethics Board is to determine if the actions of an IIHF Member National Association or an individual associated with the IIHF or its members could constitute an ethical conduct violation. As such, none of the cases referred below automatically require disciplinary action. If the Ethics Board finds that a violation has occurred, the case is then subsequently referred to the IIHF Disciplinary Board for further review. 

The IIHF Council has referred the Russian Ice Hockey Federation to the Ethics Board for review, due to reports that the RIHF allegedly sent instructions to Kontinental Hockey League (KHL) teams to take demonstrative actions in support of the Russia-Ukraine war. As such an action would constitute a violation of the IIHF Ethics Code, the Ethics Board will investigate further and determine whether this case will be referred to the IIHF Disciplinary Board. 

The IIHF Council also decided to refer IIHF Life President René Fasel to the Ethics Board for review, following reports of his involvement with Russia and the KHL as well as public statements made about the war. 

The IIHF has referred this matter to the independent Ethics Board in order to determine whether Fasel’s actions have violated the IIHF Integrity Book. The IIHF Ethics Code, which is an integral part of the IIHF Integrity Book, requires “[a Life President to] conduct themselves in accordance with the principles of dignity, integrity, loyalty and responsibility in all relations of a competitive, economic, social (including social media) and moral nature.” The IIHF Integrity Book is applicable specifically when a Life President is acting within the scope of his duties for the IIHF or whenever his conduct reflects upon the IIHF or might otherwise undermine the objectives of the IIHF. 

The Ethics Board will subsequently decide whether to refer these cases to the IIHF Disciplinary Board for further review. Currently, no disciplinary action has been brought against the IIHF Life President or the Russian Ice Hockey Federation.