Introduction Claimant: Respondent: Affected Party: Type of Dispute: Arbitrator: Tamara Medwidsky Canadian Amateur Wrestling Assn. (CAWA) Tara Hedican Selection to 2003 World Cup Team Richard W. Pound, Q.C. Date of Decision: October 8 th, 2003
Dispute Summary Tamara Medwidsky appealed a decision by the Canadian (CAWA) not to select her to the 2003 Canadian Women s World Cup Team competing in Tokyo, Japan in October 2003.
Background Facts Tamara Medwidsky is a wrestler competing in the 63 kg weight category. She finished second at the 2003 Canadian National Championships and was named to the 2003 Women s World Alternate Team. En route to the final, she defeated Tara Hedican in the semi-final match. CAWA selected Ms. Hedican to the 2003 World Cup Team. Ms. Medwidsky was not selected. Believing she should have been named to the team, Ms. Medwidsky launched an appeal on September 19 th, 2003, based on the CAWA Grievance Policy. It was unanimously rejected on October 2 nd, 2003 by the CAWA Executive Committee. Ms. Medwidsky filed for arbitration through ADRsportRED on October 6 th, 2003.
Claimant s Position Ms. Medwidsky s case was based on the following arguments: The CAWA media release that named Canada s team for the World Cup stated: Normally Canada sends it s (sic) World Alternate Team to this event but this year a few additions from the World Championships Team have been included ; and, Since she had won the last match, Ms. Medwidsky not Ms. Hedican should have been named to the 2003 World Cup Team.
Respondent s Position CAWA s case was based on the following arguments: The Women s World Cup program is a separate entity in the 2003 Women s World Team Program. Each athlete in each weight category is reviewed on an individual basis and there are many factors considered when selecting team members; Ms. Hedican (21 years old) was the 2001 Junior World Champion and it was felt that she had greater long term potential than Ms. Medwidsky (28); Ms. Hedican had better international results, having recently won the 2003 Pan American Championships, the 2002 NYAC Tournament, and placed third in the 2001 World Cup; and, Ms. Medwidsky was not the only World Alternate Team wrestler not to be chosen for the World Cup Team.
Arbitrator s Analysis Arbitrator, Richard W. Pound Q.C., recognized Ms. Medwidsky s frustration: (she) sees an athlete that she has recently defeated selected for the World Cup, ahead of her. To (Medwidsky), the best measure of performance is the head-to-head combat, in which she was successful. He further noted that CAWA has organizational goals that are performancerelated as well and has particular objectives in mind as it selects athletes for various events. I have, however, seen no evidence of any bad faith in the selection of the World Cup team and no evidence that would point to any discrimination with respect to (Medwidsky). Mr. Pound added that Ms. Medwidsky s failure to participate in the Tokyo World Cup would have no impact on her ability to enter the Olympic trials in December 2003 and to compete for a position on the Canadian Olympic team.
Ruling Ms. Medwidsky s application was denied and she was not added to the 2003 World Cup Team. Click here for the full text of this ADRsportRED judgment.
Lessons Learned 1. Selection criteria must be clearly defined; 2. NSO s may consider a range of factors when defining selection criteria including future potential, a variety of performances, and unique development opportunities; and, 3. One victory does not necessarily guarantee selection to a national team.