Athletics Ireland are facing an anti-competition challenge on the one day license for non-members introduced in January.
Athletics Ireland introduced a €2 surcharge to every non-member competing in licensed athletics Ireland road races from January first.
The introduction of the charge, approved by the Athletics Ireland board has caused a lot of disquiet in athletics circles with a number of clubs and county boards registering their unhappiness that the change was not brought to the associations congress for an open vote.
As part of the levy’s introduction, all licensed Athletics Ireland events must use “eventmaster” as the entry provider for race entries. Individual clubs and race promoters previously had individual choice on race entry provider.
The association’s congress took place last Saturday (April 15) in the Tullamore Court hotel.
At the end of the finance report, a Cork delegate stated “that a legal action had been raised with the Competition and Consumer Protection Commission”.
The Athletics Ireland board immediately replied they were unable to comment on a live legal action.
In a statement to Shannonside Sport, the Competition and Consumer Protection Commission confirmed “A complaint has recently been made to the CCPC alleging anti-competitive practices in this sector”.
“Due to the legal nature of this work, we are precluded from providing an indicative timeframe or updates on our examination.”
At last weekend’s congress Athletics Ireland Life vice-president, Ballinamore’s Padraig Griffin commented to the meeting, that there was unhappiness across the association on the one day licenses introduction.
Griffin stated his belief the one day levy should have been brought to congress for approval as it was a change impacting every association member.
