Basketball: Tribunal says world body out of step on Dickel ban

On the day the Sports Disputes Tribunal re-stated its reasons for letting Tall Black Mark Dickel off with a warning, New Zealand's drug agency hit out at the punishment handed down by the sport's governing body.

Dickel was given a reprimand by the tribunal after testing positive for cannabis, having been stood down for two internationals against Qatar last week.

But world body Fiba slapped Dickel with a three-game ban when the Tall Blacks arrived in Japan for the world championships, where New Zealand lost to Spain, Germany and Angola. He was free to return for last night's game against the hosts.

The tribunal insisted yesterday its penalty was consistent with its policy on cannabis use.

"In determining the appropriate penalty for cannabis violations, [the tribunal] ... found there was no consistency between countries in applying sanctions," it said.

Tribunal chairman Barry Paterson, QC, said under Basketball NZ rules, BBNZ had the right to appeal to the Court of Arbitration for Sport against Dickel's ban, and those rules did not allow Fiba any right to intervene, other than through an appeal.

Drug Free Sport New Zealand executive director Graeme Steel yesterday said Fiba was wrong to re-hear the Dickel case, arguing their actions did not comply with the requirements of World Anti-Doping Agency's code.

"We have written to Fiba seeking an immediate explanation," Steel said.

He emphasised his concern was not registered on behalf of Dickel or the New Zealand team, and the penalty which should apply was not the issue.

"Both Fiba and ourselves are signatories to the code and, as part of that, agree to 'mutually recognise' the decisions of each other," Steel said.

Steel said DFSNZ did not see how the code "gives them any provision to re-hear the case and replace the decision of the New Zealand Tribunal with their own".