Cathrine Latu CAS finds case inadmissible

Under the current IFNA regulations Cathrine Latu, who played for Samoa in the last World Netball Championships 2007, is ineligible to play for New Zealand in the forthcoming World Netball Championships 2011.

Netball New Zealand requested IFNA to exercise discretion in favour of Latu on the basis that there were exceptional circumstances, and that request was denied in March 2009 and again in October 2009. According to the CAS Arbitration Rules an appeal against a federation ruling must be submitted within 21 days of receipt of the decision. The appeal in this case was only filed in December 2010 and the CAS determined on Thursday 21st April 2011 that the case was inadmissible as it was submitted out of time.

The decision of CAS is final and binding on both parties. The Board decision refusing to exercise discretion in favour of Cathrine Latu stands and accordingly she will not be eligible to play for New Zealand in the forthcoming World Netball Championships which takes place in July 2011 in Singapore.

IFNA spokesperson Urvasi Naidoo, IFNA Chief Executive Officer, stated that IFNA was glad that the case had been resolved and that the international netball community could now fully concentrate on preparations for the Championships.