Health-Related Activities in Turkish Football Law

Abstract

Unlawful action cannot be justified even when it is committed in sport or the health field. Although character-wise, both fields are covered by different legal rules, both of them lie under the discipline of law and must be conducted within the rule of law. Theoretically, doping can be considered as fraud, although to this date, no doping actions were incriminated. It is regulated as a disciplinary offense (Turkish Football Federal Disciplinary Directive, art. 61). The usage and possession of drugs by athletes is considered a criminal offense (Turkish Criminal Code, art. 18 & ors.) and a legitimate reason for an athlete’s contract termination. A football player who organizes or uses a counterfeit report concealing a health problem or represents a fraudulent statement to the official authority is considered to have committed a fraud crime (Turkish Criminal Code, art. 24 & ors.) as well as a disciplinary offense (Turkish Football Federal Disciplinary Directive, art. 47-48).