BAHRAIN Law and Practice Contributed by: Sultan bin Nasser Alsowaidi
1. Athlete Conduct, Integrity and Enforcement 1.1 Anti-Doping Regimes Criminal Law Interface Doping in Bahrain is treated primarily as a sports disciplinary matter under the Bahraini Anti-Doping Regulations in Sports (Decision No (6) of 2022). Anti- doping rule violations lead to sporting sanctions such as provisional suspension, disqualification of results and periods of ineligibility, rather than standalone criminal liability. Criminal exposure may arise where the relevant pro - hibited substance is also classified as a narcotic or controlled psychoactive substance under Bahrain’s criminal legislation. By way of example, cocaine use/ possession would be handled as a criminal offence, in parallel with anti-doping proceedings. The discipli - nary and criminal tracks are distinct and may proceed independently. National Anti-Doping Organisation and WADA Code Bahrain’s National Anti-Doping Organisation (BNADO) is responsible for protecting sports integrity and ath - lete welfare through education, in-competition and out-of-competition testing, results management, investigations and disciplinary processes. The World Anti-Doping Agency (WADA) Code and International Standards are implemented through incorporation into the national framework, enabling alignment with updates without the need for a separate domestic instrument for each amendment, subject to due pro - cess safeguards. Sanctions are applied across sports via the national anti-doping framework in co-ordination with federa - tions and leagues. Testing is generally randomised and risk-based in and out of competition. Football stakeholders have publicly discussed expanding rou - tine match-related testing; if implemented, this would strengthen deterrence and consistency across com - petitions.
1.2 Misconduct and Match-Fixing Criminal Law Framework
Bahrain does not have a dedicated “match-fixing” statute. Integrity misconduct is addressed through general criminal provisions where the facts meet the elements of offences such as bribery, fraud, cheating or breach of trust under the Penal Code, alongside the criminalisation of gambling which is commonly associated with manipulation risks. Sports Governance and Disciplinary Rules Sports federations and national bodies regulate integ - rity through disciplinary and ethics rules prohibiting match-fixing, attempts to influence participants or officials, and the offering or receipt of improper ben - efits. Sanctions may include lengthy suspensions or lifetime bans, applied irrespective of whether criminal proceedings are pursued. Prevention and Detection Measures In practice, integrity work is supported by education and awareness programmes, internal reporting chan - nels, and governance measures aimed at transpar - ency and accountability within clubs and federations. Enforcement typically begins with internal investiga - tions by ethics/disciplinary committees, with referral to competent authorities where conduct may consti - tute a criminal offence. Publicly reported judicial decisions on match-fixing in Bahrain are limited. Most cases are handled within the sports disciplinary system and are not routinely published in the manner of court judgments. 1.3 Betting-Related Offences Legal Status of Betting Betting and gambling, including sports betting, are prohibited in Bahrain under the Penal Code. There is no licensing framework for sports betting and, as a result, betting is treated as an absolute prohibition rather than as a regulated commercial activity. Sports Rules and Disciplinary Exposure Sports governing bodies and federations prohibit betting-related involvement by athletes, officials, coaches, referees and others capable of influencing outcomes. Breaches are treated as integrity violations and may result in disciplinary sanctions up to sus -
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