FIKFA — Players, Referees/Officials and Commentators: Membership Terms and Conditions

1. Definitions and Status

In these Terms and Conditions, defined terms shall have the meanings given in the FIKFA Constitution unless otherwise stated. FIKFA is an international, non-profit, non-governmental association established to govern, promote and regulate Circle Style Kabaddi and related disciplines worldwide in accordance with its Constitution. FIKFA is registered in England as a company limited by guarantee under company number 16936119, has legal personality, and may make and enforce regulations, by-laws, policies and directives binding on Members and participants. These Terms supplement and are subject to the FIKFA Constitution.

2. Eligibility and Membership Requirements

2.1 Your eligibility. To be eligible for membership and participation in FIKFA-sanctioned activities, you must:

2.1.1 Be properly registered through your national or regional body recognised within the FIKFA framework or directly with FIKFA where permitted.

2.1.2 Meet integrity, safeguarding and eligibility criteria issued by FIKFA from time to time, including disclosure obligations where required.

2.1.3 Not be subject to a current suspension or ineligibility under any applicable disciplinary, ethics, safeguarding, anti-doping or integrity rules.

2.2 Documentary requirements. You must provide accurate and complete information requested by or on behalf of FIKFA, including identity verification and contact details, and update such information promptly if it changes.

2.3 Fees. You must pay any applicable registration or participation fees notified to you by or on behalf of FIKFA or the relevant recognised body by the deadlines specified.

2.4 Ongoing compliance. Eligibility and membership are conditional upon continuing compliance with these Terms, the FIKFA Constitution, regulations and decisions.

3. Acceptance of FIKFA Rules and Decisions

3.1 Binding effect. You agree to comply with and be bound by the FIKFA Constitution, rules of play, technical regulations, codes of conduct and all integrity-related instruments adopted and enforced by FIKFA, together with any amendments issued from time to time. FIKFA's objectives include adopting, maintaining and enforcing international rules of play, technical regulations and codes of conduct, and preventing discrimination while promoting equality, accessibility and safe participation.

3.2 Regulatory authority. You acknowledge FIKFA's authority to make and enforce regulations, to organise, sanction and oversee competitions and events, to establish judicial bodies (including Disciplinary, Ethics and Appeals Committees), and to apply proportionate sanctions for rule violations with due process and rights of appeal.

3.3 Decisions finality. Subject to applicable rights of appeal within FIKFA's structures and any external arbitral recourse designated by FIKFA, you agree to submit to and respect final decisions rendered by competent FIKFA bodies.

4. Conduct

4.1 General conduct. You must act with integrity, honesty, respect, and in the spirit of sport, and refrain from any behaviour that brings Kabaddi or FIKFA into disrepute.

4.2 On-field behaviour. You must comply with the rules of play, respect officials and opponents, and follow directions of event organisers, referees and technical officials.

4.3 Off-field behaviour. You must not engage in abusive, discriminatory, harassing, violent, or threatening conduct, including online. You must protect the health, safety and wellbeing of yourself and others, including vulnerable persons.

4.4 Integrity protections. You must not engage in competition manipulation, bribery, corruption, or improper influence, and you must report any approach or knowledge of such activity through FIKFA's confidential reporting mechanisms. FIKFA shall maintain confidential reporting mechanisms and protection measures for whistle-blowers and vulnerable persons.

4.5 Anti-doping. You must comply with FIKFA's Anti-Doping Rules and any applicable international standards, including testing, whereabouts (if applicable), results management and education requirements. FIKFA is committed to anti-doping compliance with globally recognised standards and shall adopt and enforce Anti-Doping Rules.

4.6 Safeguarding. You must comply with FIKFA's Safeguarding Policy, including any mandatory training, reporting and cooperation requirements. FIKFA shall adopt and enforce a Safeguarding Policy and promote safe participation.

4.7 Data integrity. You must not misuse confidential information, inside information, or personal data obtained through your participation.

5. Compliance and Cooperation

5.1 Investigations. You must cooperate fully and in good faith with any investigation, inquiry, hearing or audit conducted under FIKFA's rules, including providing truthful testimony and documents, and attending hearings as required.

5.2 Notifications. You must promptly notify FIKFA of any matter that may affect your eligibility, including criminal convictions, relevant civil judgments, safeguarding concerns, or disciplinary measures by other bodies.

5.3 Enforcement. Sanctions for violations may include warnings, fines, suspension, disqualification from events and other proportionate measures applied with due process and the right to be heard, with recognition and enforcement across FIKFA's framework.

6. Competitions and Technical Matters

6.1 Rules of play and technical regulations. You must comply with the official international rules of Kabaddi and technical regulations, including equipment and officiating standards, as maintained and published by FIKFA.

6.2 Sanctioned events. Participation in international events requires FIKFA sanction, and hosts must meet integrity and safeguarding requirements. You must not participate in unsanctioned events where such participation would breach FIKFA rules.

6.3 Officials and education. Certification systems for coaches, referees and technical officials are administered by FIKFA in accordance with its policies. You must respect the authority of certified officials at events.

7. Integrity, Ethics and Conflicts

7.1 Ethics. You are subject to FIKFA's Ethics and integrity framework, including an Ethics Code and Competition Manipulation Policy, and oversight by the Ethics Committee.

7.2 Conflicts of interest. You must disclose and appropriately manage conflicts of interest in accordance with applicable FIKFA policies. Conflicts must be disclosed and are overseen under policies approved within FIKFA's governance framework.

8. Disciplinary and Dispute Resolution

8.1 Jurisdiction. Alleged breaches of playing rules and regulations are heard by the Disciplinary Committee, alleged ethics breaches by the Ethics Committee, and appeals by the Appeals Committee, with independence, natural justice, and reasoned decisions.

8.2 Internal remedies. Disputes within FIKFA's jurisdiction must first be addressed through internal procedures and judicial bodies.

8.3 External arbitration. Subject to applicable laws, final appeals from FIKFA decisions may be referred to an independent international sports arbitral tribunal designated by FIKFA, in accordance with its rules, to the exclusion of ordinary courts except for non-arbitrable matters.

8.4 Mediation. FIKFA may offer or require mediation before or alongside formal proceedings where appropriate.

9. Health, Safety and Medical

9.1 Fitness to participate. You warrant that you are medically fit to participate and accept responsibility for obtaining appropriate medical advice before participation.

9.2 Medical treatment consent. You consent to the provision of on-site first aid and emergency medical treatment during events where reasonably necessary, and agree to provide relevant medical information to authorised medical personnel when requested for safety purposes.

9.3 Insurance. You are responsible for maintaining appropriate personal insurance, including medical and personal accident cover, unless expressly confirmed in writing by FIKFA that such cover is provided for a specific event.

10. Data Protection and Communications

10.1 Data processing. Personal data will be processed in accordance with applicable data protection laws and FIKFA policies.

10.2 Event data and media. You consent to the capture and use of your image, voice, statistics and performance data in connection with FIKFA competitions and activities, for legitimate purposes including competition administration, integrity operations, media, education and promotion of the sport, subject to applicable law and FIKFA policies.

10.3 Communications. You agree to receive communications relating to your membership, competitions, integrity, education and governance. You may manage optional marketing preferences in accordance with FIKFA's policies.

11. Intellectual Property and Branding

11.1 FIKFA Rights. FIKFA owns the rights to its name, logos, events, data, and all commercial and media rights associated with FIKFA-sanctioned competitions, and their licensing and protection are managed under FIKFA's governance.

11.2 Use of IP. You must not use FIKFA intellectual property without prior written consent and must comply with any brand guidelines provided by or on behalf of FIKFA.

12. Sanctions and Provisional Measures

12.1 Sanctions. Sanctions for breach of these Terms or applicable rules may include reprimands, education orders, fines, points deductions, match suspensions, disqualification, and exclusion from events, imposed proportionately and with due process under FIKFA procedures. Sanctions are to be applied proportionately with due process, including the right to be heard.

12.2 Provisional measures. Where necessary to protect integrity or safety, provisional measures may be imposed pending a final decision, subject to the right to be heard at the earliest opportunity consistent with fairness.

13. Term, Suspension and Termination

13.1 Term. Your membership commences on written confirmation of acceptance and continues unless suspended or terminated in accordance with these Terms.

13.2 Suspension. Membership and participation rights may be suspended for suspected or proven breaches, or where interim protection is required for integrity or safety reasons, subject to applicable procedures.

13.3 Termination. Membership may be terminated upon your written resignation or by decision of the competent FIKFA body following due process. Outstanding obligations remain payable and any pending proceedings may continue. FIKFA's governance framework provides for suspension and expulsion measures applied following due process and the right to be heard.

14. Limitation of Liability and Indemnity

14.1 Your responsibilities. You are responsible for your actions and omissions. To the maximum extent permitted by law, neither FIKFA nor its officers, committees, judicial bodies, employees or agents shall be liable for any indirect or consequential loss arising out of participation in FIKFA activities, save where caused by fraud, wilful misconduct or gross negligence.

14.2 Indemnity. Officers, committee and judicial body members, and staff acting in good faith within the scope of their authority are indemnified out of FIKFA assets against liabilities reasonably incurred, save for fraud, wilful misconduct or gross negligence.

15. Amendments and Notices

15.1 Amendments. FIKFA may amend these Terms to ensure alignment with the FIKFA Constitution, regulations or applicable law. Material changes will be notified to you by reasonable means and take effect on the date specified in the notice.

15.2 Notices. Notices may be given by email to the last contact details provided by you, by publication on FIKFA's official website, or through official event communications.

16. Governing Law and Jurisdiction

16.1 Governing law. These Terms are governed by the laws of England and Wales, consistent with the FIKFA Constitution's governing law provision.

16.2 Arbitration. Disputes are subject to FIKFA's internal dispute resolution processes and, where applicable, the external arbitral forum designated by FIKFA as provided above.

17. General

17.1 Entire agreement. These Terms, together with the FIKFA Constitution and applicable rules, constitute the entire agreement between you and FIKFA regarding your participation, superseding prior understandings on the same subject.

17.2 Severability. If any provision is held invalid, the remainder shall continue in full force and effect.

17.3 No waiver. Failure or delay to enforce any provision does not constitute a waiver of that or any other provision.

17.4 Assignment. Your rights and obligations are personal and may not be assigned. FIKFA may assign or delegate its rights and responsibilities to lawful successors or authorised entities within its governance framework.

17.5 Translations. Where these Terms are translated, the English version prevails in case of conflict.