Casanova and PJU win suit against Internacional Judo Federation

The Court of Arbitration for Sports, an organization recognized by the International Olympic Committee (IOC), has ruled in favor of the dominican Jaime Casanova Martinez, in regards to the suit against the International Judo Federation.

The decision is part of the record CAS 2009/1823 Panamerican Judo Union v. International Judo Federation, which is captured in more than 42 pages, where the decision of march 27^th, 2009, which unrecognizes the Panamerican Judo Union as the sole representative organization of the countries of the american continent.

The ruling is governed by the Swiss Federal law, is final this not appealable, for both parties.

The document also unrecognizes the Panamerican Judo Confederation as legal representative of Judo in the American continent, before the International Judo Federation.

Another of the statements indicates that the payment of the legal fees of the process shall be notified by the Court of Arbitration to the International Federation, who shall pay them completely.

Furthermore, the International Judo Federation is ordered to pay the Panamerican Judo Union Fifteen Thousand Swiss Francs, for legal fees.

The same document states that all other demands shall be dismissed by the panel chaired by Jan Paulsson, and completed by Quentin Byrne-Sutton and Bernard Hanotiau.

Precisely, the judge of the arbitration panel that knew the suit of the Panamerican Judo Union, Quentin Byrne-Sutton, was challenged by the International Judo Federation last november 5^th, which was dismissed by the International Counsel of Arbitration for Sports under the signature of their president Mino Auletta.

On his side, Engineer Jaime Casanova, who chairs the Panamerican Judo Union and the Dominican Judo Federation, received with much joy the decision of the international tribunal, and at the same time called the parties to reconcile and is willing to set a new dialogue.

“This decision is a great step for Judo in the american continent, especially for the Dominican Republic, which has had taugh moments in last years”, Casanova said, who is also vice president of the Internationl Judo Federation.

Moreover, he stated that he shall continue working for the sport, the youth and Judo in the American continent and the world, always within the ethical, moral and legal principles.