BJA Apology for BJC suspension

BJA Apology for BJC suspension

Please find below the apology from the BJA re the BJC affiliation suspension.

 British Judo Council Affiliation to British Judo.

Firstly, we would like to thank you for the time you have spent with us discussing the issues raised by us.

Following the suspension and subsequent lifting of the British Judo Council’s (BJC) Affiliation with the British Judo Association (BJA), we would like to offer the BJA’s sincere apologies for the way in which we acted and for the confusion caused.

Whilst we acted in haste, please be assured that the action that we took was, in our sincere belief at the time, necessary in the best interests of the sport we all love. Our overarching goal is to ensure that all participants in judo, regardless of the membership body they are attached to adhere to a common set of standards. I’m sure the BJC would agree that successfully furthering this aim can only benefit the sport. We look forward to working with you to reach this goal and move forward.

The Board recommended the course of action based on the information given to it. It transpires that this information was not fully substantiated, and our subsequent actions proved to have been in haste. Whilst we acted wholly in good faith, we realise that we should have undertaken additional checks before we did so.

We are taking steps to tighten up our processes and to ensure that this will not happen again. Part of this is to ensure that all the information given to the Board is properly verified and checked before action is taken.

In addition, we will take steps to ensure that any affiliates to the BJA will have a regular forum in which any issues can be aired and discussed before any similar action is taken. We will also review the affiliation agreements. We look forward to putting this behind us and to working together in a constructive manner.

Yours sincerely

Gerry Gualtieri - Chairman

Andrew Scoular - Chief Executive

Below are a few words from the BJC HQC Chair Bernard Richmond. 

“I am glad that this unfortunate episode has come to an end.  We are grateful to our friends and colleagues in the BJA for dealing with this matter in a positive and expeditious manner.   We were quickly able to identify the cause of the misinformation, remedy the matter and ensure that procedures will be put in place so that this does not happen again.

 The BJA are the guardians of British Judo, not the owners.  Like all guardians they are in a position of trust and responsibility.  We reiterate our support for them in that role and are committed to working with them to ensure that Judo, throughout the UK is practised in a safe environment, with properly insured, trained and DBS checked instructors.

 Ultimately, the majority of judoka in this country want to get on with practising the sport they love without worrying about politics.   Relationships at grass-roots level between our two associations are excellent and that is a matter to be celebrated. 

Finally, my congratulations to our Olympians - it should be remembered that those who went were the best in the world.  The medal winners were the best of the best;  this does not detract from the very real achievement of those who did not win medals.  As we all know, so many things go into whether you have a good or bad day on the mat - at the highest levels, small differences can have a huge effect. 

I encourage all of our young judoka to look to those Olympians and others like them and dare to dream.   For those with more modest ambitions - please enjoy your judo.  Whatever your motivation, please know and remember that the BJC will support you and will do everything we can to ensure that politics and bureaucracy do not spoil your experience."