The document details an appeal process initiated by two South African artistic swimmers, Laura Strugnell and Jessica Hayes-Hill, against Swimming South Africa (SSA). They were subject to a disciplinary action without proper notice or sufficient evidence while competing at the 2023 World Championships in Doha. The swimmers were summoned to a disciplinary hearing with minimal notice, accused of “deceitful actioning of training protocol without management approval.” Despite contesting the charges and raising concerns about the fairness of the process, they were withdrawn from competition and sent home. The appeal judgment found the disciplinary process procedurally and substantively unfair, ruling in favor of the swimmers.
The appeal also highlighted that SSA failed to provide adequate reasons for the sanctions and disregarded proper procedures for handling disciplinary matters. The rushed nature of the hearing, vague charges, and lack of opportunity for the swimmers to present their case resulted in the decision being overturned. The swimmers are seeking compensation for emotional distress, financial losses, and damage to their reputations, as the flawed process jeopardized their chances to compete in future competitions, including the Paris Olympics.