Decision of Etics Committee

[anatoli gantvarg]

For the very first time I come to forum for two reasons:
First, from draughts' public is hidden decision of Ethic Committee of unlawfully not including K.Thijssen into the World Championship of 2013 held in Ufa.
Secondly, in my article I would like to show a unique for sports atmosphere full of lawlessness in draughts' sports. Draughts' public must know it. First three (3) parts of my article were published on Belorussian site. I was given a translation of the first part. I did not discuss my article with Kees because he is poisoned with draughts' questions and wishes to lay off from all of them. 

Dolls and Puppeteers
Decision of Ethics Committee: FMJD should have included Mr. Thijssen as a reserve player to the World Championship of 2013 in Ufa.

I was Kees Thijssen's trainer within 22 years, and became the witness of the metamorphosis, which has happened with him. How could it happen, that one of the strongest grandmasters of the world, taken 6th place in the World Championship of 2003 and 2005, won 5 times in a row title of the Champion of Netherlands and some international tournaments, fanatically loving draughts, working much over increase of level of the game, suddenly, by its recognition, felt poisoning with draughts and disgust for draughts tournaments? He refused participation in the Championship of Netherlands and, probably, tournament in Salou 2014 was his last tournament. I hope so much, that he will change the decision.
In this article, I want to show, how lawlessness and intrigues in the draughts sports, created by certain people from FMJD and KNDB management, lead to so deplorable consequences.

Qualification in the World Championship 2013 began with the European Championship 2012.
Kees took high 6th place (among candidates for the World Championship – 4th), having bypassed Georgiev, Boomstra, Balyakin etc. 3 players got places in the World Championship. Kees was the following. Why to the European Championship in which 68 players from 25 countries participated, including 23 international grandmasters, were given only 3 places, and to tournament in Korbache, where played 24 people from 12 countries (6 of Germany), including 8 grandmasters, were given 11 places, we will consider later. As, in addition, for 6 places given to very strange tournament in Budapest united players not corresponding with their strength to World Championship level.
Korbach was the following qualification tournament. Intrigues around this tournament showed as far the people who have stuck to draughts sport became impudent. I will call things by their proper names because some masters of intrigues think that they can disguised the actions.
Netherlands, as well as to other countries, were provided 4 places. Kees reported that he wants to play in Korbaсh according to result in the Championship of Netherlands, because A. Scholma had refused his right to play. After refusal of R. Boomstra, Kees had the direct right to play in Korbach…But arrangement between KNDB and J. Pawliсky, who according to the FMJD rules controls qualification to the World Championship, went into action. You can judge: KNDB did not declare other players, except Balyakin and Boomstra, referring to statement that only winners of first 3 places were allowed to participate according to regulations of the Championship of Netherlands. As though heads of KNDB were born just now and do not know, that if places are given to a country, and someone ill, or got qualification from other tournament etc., they are replaced by players of the same country, next from the same tournament. It is known more than 60 years. KNDB could pay only for 3 players according to the budget, but even not to declare K. Thijssen and P. Heusdens, who were ready to play at their own expenses, players of the federation, it is impossible to call otherwise than disgusting arrangement. The obvious proof of arrangement is the fact that EDC allowed weak players, whose country have no federations or are not members of FMJD, to participate in the European Championship. Who declared them? There is a question: who controls EDC, imposing similar decisions against players who have successfully played in the European Championship? We will answer on this question later. It is obvious that KNDB did not want excess competitors for A.Balyakin and R. Boomstra. There are no doubts that decisions against K.Thijssen and R. Heusdens are Y. Krajenbrink's initiative. Certainly, he remembered how in 2009 in the same situation Kees outstripped Balyakin and Meurs in Berlin and received the only Dutch place from this tournament in the World Championship of 2009. Except Krayenbrink this matter in KNDB is not interesting to anybody in such degree so frankly to work against the players who have played most successfully (after P. Meurs) in the European Championship.
The situation was aggravated with that rules of preservation of the status "A" has changed, and for Kees and Ron it was necessary to became participants of the Championship-2013. There was a hope for a reserve list, but R. Heusdens was not included at all, and K.Thijssen was included with 3rd number just after correspondence with H. Otten and J. Pawlicky, demanded big nervous expenses because J. Pawlicky didn't want to include him in a reserve list. Further Kees arrived to Ufa, considering that, as usual, somebody will not arrive. Also, from J. Pawlicky’s letters it was visible to Federations, that Federations of several players didn't fulfill financial requirements and thus, chances to play for Kees were rather big. However, the following circumstances became known further: from Krajenbrink letter to Kees it became clear, that KNDB paid expenses of D. Berishvili from Georgia (how to understand it?) for participation in the Championship. Also, Pawlicky and F. Teer suppressed the fact that some participants which Federations, including Russian, didn't satisfy necessary financial conditions and F. Teer had no right, according to the FMJD rules, to allow them in the Championship of 2013. The Belarusian federation (not KNDB) had found this fact and addressed to GA 2013 for explanations, especially keeping in mind that in 5 days prior to the World Championship J. Pawlicky warned all federations, that if they don't satisfy debts until May 29, 2013, their participants will be replaced by reserve players.
As Pawlicky's explanations on GA were frankly false, I addressed with the complaint in Ethical Committee. K. Thijssen began to find out this issue with KNDB and Krajenbrink also as the issue with Korbach. Answers were full of lies, or considered reference that it is necessary to address all questions to the FMJD. But actually, KNDB is the member of the FMJD, but not K. Thijssen personally, and it is KNDB job to find out all questions of its members, especially as their representatives were present on GA 2013. All this extremely negatively worked on Kees and brought him out of psychological balance. At last, in May the Ethical Committee made the decision: FMJD was required to include Mr. Thijssen as a reserve player to the World Championship of 2013 in Ufa.

According to the FMJD rules, qualification to the World Championship is carried out through Continental championships that provide the geography. There is a question: according to what rules the FMJD carries out discrimination of players of strong countries, and most of all the Netherlands, within the European Confederation? Why other continental championships are qualifications to the World Championship and only with Europe J. Pawlicky carries out absurd qualification? From 19 European players qualified to the World Championship 2013 there were not presented players got in the European Championship places ##4, 5, 6, 8, 9, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17 (including 6 Dutch players), but were presented places ##20, 24, 28, 29, 36, 39, 40, 44. Moreover, 6 from them didn't improve geography. Plus of 5 European players from tournament in Budapest who didn't play in the European Championship or played badly and are very far from level of the World Championship. Is it sport? Why Latvia as a result received 3 places, having only one among top-19, and the Netherlands received 2 places (Boomstra got help from organizers), having 6 in top-19? Why Latvia needs such help? Are other European countries should be helped due to violation of the sport rights of others and, first of all, the Dutch players?
In order to satisfy absurdity of J. Pawlicky players have to bear double sometimes even triple expenditures.
Why there is no reaction ever from KNDB and Russian Draughts Federation, players of which suffer more than anyone else from Pawlicky's manipulations? Why Netherland representatives of FMJD who have decisive majority of any meeting of the FMJD Board are lobbying interests of J. Pawlicky against players of Nederland ? Why these people constantly and without ever being punished violate rules, break sporting life of players and not only sporting life? There are so many questions that require answers.

To be continued.
Anatoly Gantvarg

To FMJD office,Гантварг Анатолий,Нургазиев Айрат and 3 More... May 12 

Dear all,

send you FMJD EC Decision about K.Thijssen from A.Gantvarg's complaint of 02.12.2013.

Best regards,

Anatolii Iatsenko,
FMJD EC President

EC Decision ab. K.Thijssen - A.Gantvarg's complaint of 02.12.2013, eng. + ru.
.doc
Decision of FMJD Ethics Committee in connection with Anatoli Gantvarg's complaint of 02.12.2013.

Complaint was received by FMJD on 02.12.2013. 
Complaint came to Ethics Committee on the 17th of January 2014. 
Inquiry of Ethics Committee was sent to the office of FMJD on the 18th of
February 2014.

Mr. Тееr's response was received on the 22nd of March 2014. 

The foundation of Anatoli Gantvarg's complaint was not permitting his pupil, International Grand-Master, К. Тhijssen, to the World Championship of 2013 in Ufa. 
A. Gantvarg believes that К. Тhijssen, as a reserve player, had the right to play in the World Championship 2013 and that he was unlawfully deprived of that right. 
Mr. Gantvarg brings his facts and arguments in his complaint and its enclosures. 

Ethics Committee of FMJD notes as follows: 

1.It is difficult to understand the meaning of "registration fee"
In Article 7 of the Regulations of World Championship simply because
in documents of FMJD we see both "Competitions fee per player"
as well as "participation fee". 
In "WORLD CHAMPIONSHIP 2013 Rules & Regulations": 
"…The national federations presenting players have to pay the registration fee of their players to the FMJD, according to the regulation of the General Assembly. A player for whom the registration fee is not paid before the first round, is not allowed to participate in the tournament". 

Obviously A. Gantvarg and F. Teer differently interpret the term "registration fee". Due to the fact that F. Teer was the main referee we can not conclude that the Article 7 was violated. 

2.Conditions of participation of sportsmen in individual World
Championships are described in Article 5 of Annex/Enclosure 17 of
Regulation of FMJD as follows:

"5. Conditions The organising federation and all participating federations must be fully paid up members of the FMJD. 
The participants pay a participation fee described in the financial
regulations in the bye laws of the FMJD". 

3.The documents provided on GA 2013 (see Annex 1 of complaint) confirm that 11 players which were included in the list of participants of World Championship 2013 were members of national federations which did not pay their FMJD membership fee as of September of 2013. 

It means that all of them were allowed to participate in the World Championship in violation of Article 5 of Annex 17 of Regulation of FMJD.

К. Тhijssen was admitted to the reserve list, therefore he had the
right to be included as a reserve player to the World Championship
2013 and that was the reason why he came to Ufa.

4. As 11 players were delegated by the federations which did not fulfill
requirements of participations in the World Championship, that means
their participation was illegitimate. К. Тhijssen had thus the right to play in the World Championship 2013. 

5. In his response of 22.03.2014 Mr. Тееr suppose that the fees
weren't paid by those countries due to difficulties with transferring
funds. Treasurer accepted their promises to pay their debts later on. 

6. According to сhаrter 7.1 of FMJD Statutes yearly dues are supposed to be paid of up to March 31 of each year. Ethics Committee recognizes that in draughts sport there is a practice of paying dues in cash prior to start of the tournament, which is actually after the 31st of March. But to allow a sportsman to participate in the World Championship without paying off in full for all of his/her dues prior to the beginning of the tournament is absolutely impossible (see Article 5 of Annex 17) which defines conditions of who is allowed to participate in the World Championship. 

Moreover, the national federations were advised twice by director of tournaments Mr J. Pawlicki, (see Annex 2 of complaint) that those who should not pay their debts on time will not be allowed to participate in the World Championship. 

The same letter of J. Pawlicki refutes the statement of F. Teer that the including of reserve players into the tournament in the case Article 17 is not fulfilled could be optional. «Without any information from Frits, it will be impossible for the players from that countries to play in World Championship. I will ask Frits for the updated list onWednesday 29th. I need this few days to look for reserve players». 

National federations and participants of the World Championship had from the director of tournaments only this information and nothing else. 

The statement of Mr. Teer about the support by the GA of the actions violating the Regulations and the FMJD rules can not be taken into consideration as the Article 5 Annex 17 doesn’t presume any exceptions. 
The violation of the FMJD regulations was recognized by the GA and the Mr. Teer , therefore the violation of the regulations of the FMJD is considered as a fact. 
The reason of the violation of the regulations of the FMJD specified by Mr. Teer are not objective because there is a common practice of paying the unpaid fees in cash before the beginning of the tournament. 

As a matter of fact the law isn’t retroactive and its violation should be considered first by the Ethical Commission (according to Statutes and Bye Laws of the FMJD). GA didn’t act according to the Article 9.4.5 of the Bye Law. 

As a result of considerations given towards Anatoli Gantvarg's complaint, the Ethics Committee complies with the following demands of A. Gantvarg: 

1.Ethics Committee acknowledges that according to Article 5 Annex 17 of FMJD Regulations and the documents provided on GA 2013 (see Annex 1 of complaint) 11 players from 6 federations unlawfully participated in the World Championship 2013 in Ufa. 

2.Ethics Committee acknowledges the fact that due to countries not carrying out requirements of Article 5Annex 17 of FMJD Regulations, confirmed by letters of Director of Tournaments, FMJD should have included Mr. Thijssen as a reserve player to the World Championship of 2013 in Ufa. 

3.Compensate
Mr. Thijssen for expenses incurred in his trip to Ufa in the amount
of 1,000 Euro minus 400 Euro he received from KNDB. 

To comply partially to the following demands:

4.Compensate Mr. Thijssen for not allowing him to participate in the World
Championship of 2013. Compensation should be in Euros and should be
equalled to 50,000 Russian Rubles. Date of exchange to be used: 20th
of June 2013. This amount corresponds with the rating of 11th place
amongst all participants of the Championship. On April 1, 2013 that
was exactly the rating of Mr. Thijssen (11th) among ratings of all
participants at the Championship. (see Annex 3).

Reject the following demands:

5.Ethics Committee is of an opinion that they have no rights to make any
decisions with respect to any other compensations. These questions
are the competence of the court.

6.Ethics Committee does not think it is possible to comply with the demand of
not acknowledging the results of the World Championship of 2013 because such decision would harm players who were not at fault and had nothing to do with violations.

Anatolii Iatsenko,
FMJD EC President

[Bert Zwart]

Thanks Anatoli, for standing up for Kees.

I am sick and tired of KNDB's policies for elite draughts players. I created a facebook group with a similar title in Dutch. If you care, join.

[Klaas van der Laan]

Dear mr. Gantwarg,

A game where a draw is celebrated as two small victories attracts many cowardly people. That mass you do not get moving. A famous quote from Dutch HM Randwijk reads: A nation that yields to tyrants, will lose more than life and property, then the light goes out. Your problem is structural. Many cases have gone before you. I finally wanted no longer support this, discontinued my dues payment and play draughts only locally for fun.

[Jelmer Martens]

In the 1 March meeting of the KNDB members council ("Bondsraad"), Korbach was discussed extensively.
The minutes of this meeting are available on the KNDB website (please see news 14 March).

I quote from these minutes (in Dutch to avoid translation problems):
"Achteraf bezien was het misschien goed geweest ook anderen in de gelegenheid te stellen om in Korbach mee te doen (..)"

Hence, not allowing more Dutch men to play in Korbach was perhaps a wrong decision, albeit within the KNDB policy.
At this moment, listening to the protests, the KNDB would make a different decision. But we cannot change 2012.

People make mistakes and KNDB "Bobo's" are people too. Please, let's stop with the typical Dutch negative habit to burn down people. Draughts is a small sport; we need each other.

[Douwe Edelenbos]

"Achteraf bezien was het misschien goed geweest ook anderen in de gelegenheid te stellen om in Korbach mee te doen (..)"

Het was beter geweest als de zelfreflectie zover was gegaan, dat het had geresulteerd in het weglaten van het woord 'misschien'.

[Eric van Dusseldorp]

Thanks Anatoli, for standing up for Kees.

I am sick and tired of KNDB's policies for elite draughts players. I created a facebook group with a similar title in Dutch. If you care, join.

Leuk, maar weet jij dat jij op Facebook opeens totaal onzichtbaar bent geworden voor mij en wellicht ook anderen? Niet eens 'ontvriend' maar zelfs compleet onzichtbaar, terwijl je nog wel meedoet aan discussies omdat ik dat aan de reacties merk. Wat is er gebeurd? Per ongeluk op een verkeerde knop gedrukt?

[Jan Pieter]

People make mistakes and KNDB "Bobo's" are people too. Please, let's stop with the typical Dutch negative habit to burn down people. Draughts is a small sport; we need each other.

You miss the point. This is not about a couple of mistakes, it is about a long history of actions that favour some chosen players at the expense of others.
Many people are sick of this unfair approach, Kees may be literally sick of it.

[Bert Zwart]

I removed the group from FB again.

[Michel Stempher]

I removed the group from FB again.

Why?

[Bert Zwart]

I originally intended to use all acquired info to write to NOC-NSF. But it became clear to me that that is what the community does not want. Like Klaas, I no longer feel part of the community. You have weak leadership, it's your own fault that Krajenbrink is allowed to run his show. It seems also that Kees' reason to quit has nothing to do with KNDB policy.

Given all this, I felt it was best to quit immediately, and not to store what has been said. With hindsight I should not have started the group.

[Jelmer Martens]

Kees' reason to quit has nothing to do with KNDB policy? I thought this was the main reason for Gantwarg to start this topic.
What is the reason, Bert? Sorry, perhaps I missed something because I am not on Facebook.

[Paul van de Veen]

I removed the group from FB again.

Why?

Bert has found an unique invariant point in the macroscopic behaviour of the infinite-dimensional stochastic system called KNDB.

[Ganesha]

However, the following circumstances became known further: from Krajenbrink letter to Kees it became clear, that KNDB paid expenses of D. Berishvili from Georgia (how to understand it?) for participation in the Championship

1. Did this really happen?
What can be the reason that KNDB pays expenses for a player from another country while it won't allow Kees to play as 1st reserve player??

The only reason which I see is to have enough countries in WC for NOC/NSF and to continue to get subsidies. But KNDB (and certanly Technical Director KNDB Johan Krajenbrink) should know that selecting tournaments are also counting for the amount of countries, so Georgia was counted already!

2. From which money then did KNDB pay for Berishvili?
Is this from Topsport money?
Is this from wide sport money?
I don't remeber that this was reported to the Bondsraad

[Jelmer Martens]

Kees Thijssen traveled to the World Championship 2013 in Ufa, hoping he can play as a reserve. The chance is 100% because in draughts, players always have a reason not to show up: they miss their planes, they have problems with passports/visa or their lousy national federation treasurer refused to pay the FMJD bills in time. Dutch players are lucky: Schiphol is reliable, the KNDB knows how to deal with visa and the KNDB treasurer always pays the FMJD bills properly, so they can be sure they can play. Should you profit from the misfortune of players of other countries?

[Bert Zwart]

Krajenbrink heeft daadkracht en zet alles op de WK titel voor de subsidie afloopt. Niemand houdt hem tegen. Hij is heel transparant. Hij heeft niet de persoonlijkheid om een rat te kunnen zijn. Gezeur hou je altijd is zijn terechte credo. Dammers die klagen en niks doen zijn slapjanussen.