The Canadian Centre for Ethics in Sport has placed Cricket Canada on suspension from the Canadian Safe Sport Program due to non-compliance with mandatory e-learning and consent requirements for participants. This action was taken as the organization failed to meet the stipulated criteria set by the CCES, according to a statement released on Wednesday.
Responsibility for overseeing safe sport practices in Canada was transferred to the Canadian Centre For Ethics in Sport from the now-closed Office of the Sport Integrity Commissioner on April 1. Since then, the CCES has been tasked with managing and investigating reports of abuse and maltreatment in sports. In line with this, efforts were made to integrate Cricket Canada into the Canadian Safe Sport Program, which involved participants completing a 40-minute e-learning module and signing a consent form to understand their rights and obligations within the program.
The CCES highlighted that Cricket Canada has yet to fulfill the necessary requirements, leading to the suspension. Both Cricket Canada and Sport Canada have been informed of this development. Without meeting these foundational criteria, the CCES faces challenges in handling safe sport reports concerning individuals from these organizations, which are essential for safeguarding all participants and reinforcing the sport community’s collective responsibility in upholding safe sport standards.
As a result of the suspension, cricket players no longer have access to CCES reporting mechanisms and protections. They are advised to reach out to Cricket Canada for alternative options. However, once the outstanding obligations are met, the CCES intends to reinstate Cricket Canada in the Canadian Safe Sport Program, with this information to be publicly disclosed.
Cricket Canada has not yet responded to a request for comment via email.