Sport Rule Review & Updates

The matrix below details the timelines for the process of EA Sport Rule updates due for implementation in January each year.

DATE

RESPONSIBILITY

ACTION

First Monday in July 

EA Sports Development Officers (SDO) to State Discipline Committees (SDC), State CEOs

REMINDER: Rule change requests and issues raised

First Monday in August

SDC, State CEOs

SUBMIT: Agenda items to EA NDC for consideration (one template per item, template is below)

During August

EA National Discipline Committee (NDC)

MEET: NDC to review all agenda items and rules

Within 7 days of NDC meeting

EA SDOs

REVIEW: Minutes/rule proposals sent out to NDC for review before changes are sent to the Board

During September

EA NDC & EA SDOs to consider whole of sport implementation

REVIEW: NDCs to finalise rule changes and provide feedback on adoption/rejection of rule changes &

MEET: National Sport Committee meeting for any contradictions/issues 

EA Board

EA Board

RATIFY: Rule changes submitted to the Board for ratification

After EA Board approval

EA SDOs

SEND: Approved rule change summary to be sent to NDC/SDCs/State CEOs for their information

1st October

EA SDOs

PUBLISH: Rule changes published on the EA website for 3 months notice before implementation

Mid November

 

FEI rule changes published: NDCs/SDCs to consider implementation

1st January

EA SDOs

EFFECTIVE: Rules come into effect 

 

POLICY – PERIODICAL RULES REVISION

FEI Periodical Rules Revision Policy came into force on 1 January 2020. Rulebooks are now reviewed every 4 years (apart from the following modifications)

  1. Urgent repairs, i.e., changes in the Rules that cannot await because of their impact on the welfare of the Horses or the safety of the Athletes;
  2. Correction of inconsistencies, manifest errors, contradictions, etc.
  3.  New/recently introduced rule(s) that has(ve) proven to be problematic in its implementation;
  4. Implementation of new technology development(s) relevant to the specific set of Rules;
  5. IOC, IPC, WADA, ASOIF and similar organisations’ policies’ implementation; and
  6. Other scenarios not foreseen by this Policy as considered and approved by the Board.

The FEI will request changes be presented in May the year prior to be presented at the FEI Sports Forum:

* Although the Anti-Doping Rules for Human Athletes were originally scheduled to undergo a full review in 2024, this revision will be postponed to 2026 (for implementation as of 1 January 2027) in order to align with the next full revision of the WADA Code.

STATE BRANCHES