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1 November 2012, 06:00 pm

Update Statement On RS:X Legal Challenge

On 1 August 2012, ISAF was notified of a legal challenge by the International RS:X Class Association Ltd (IRSXCAL) to the decision of the ISAF Council to select kiteboarding for the Rio 2016 Olympic Sailing Competition.

The challenge requested a judicial review and was submitted to the High Court in the UK. Judicial review proceedings require permission from the Court before they can proceed to a full hearing.

ISAF has received notification that on 19 October 2012, the High Court refused IRSXCAL permission to proceed with its claim against ISAF. The judge accepted ISAF's arguments that it is not a government body that can be subjected to judicial review proceedings. ISAF will ask the Court to order the legal costs of defending the judicial review proceedings to this point by paid by IRSXCAL.

On 30 October 2012, IRSXCAL exercised its right for this decision to be reconsidered by the Court at an oral hearing. ISAF has not yet been notified by IRSXCAL of the grounds on which it is seeking a re-consideration. A date for this hearing to take place will be fixed by the Court within the next eight weeks.

It remains ISAFs position that this case is without merit and will be denied reconsideration at the oral hearing.

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