Ontario athletes competing in 2009!

[Praetorian]

see below for details.
P


Posted: Monday, July 06, 2009

On June 20th, 2009 the Canadian Bodybuilding Federation (CBBF) withdrew recognition of the Ontario Physique Association (OPA) as the official CBBF affiliate in the province of Ontario.

The new CBBF affiliate organization in Ontario is now the CBBF Ontario Division, and as such is now the governing body for bikini, bodybuilding, (body fitness) figure and fitness, in the province of Ontario.

This important change was made in response to a strong desire from within the OPA and within the broader athlete and sponsor community for new leadership in Ontario and necessary in order to

* Improve representation and membership services for all Ontario athletes,
* Increase sponsorship and fan support in Ontario and
* Strengthen the CBBF and its affiliates across Canada.


To ensure Ontario athletes maintain their qualifications to compete in CBBF sanctioned national events the following rules have been adopted by the CBBF,

o Any Ontario athlete who has won an overall title in an OPA qualifying event up to and including the Ontario Provincial Championships, held on June 20th, 2009 shall retain their life time option to compete in CBBF national events.
o Any Ontario athlete who won a top-3 position in an OPA qualifying event during 2007, 2008 and up to and including the Ontario Provincial Championships, held on June 20th, 2009 shall be qualified to compete in CBBF national events, for a period of two years following the OPA qualifying event in which they won a top-3 position.
o The results of all OPA competitive events taking place after June 20th, 2009 shall not be recognized by the CBBF.
o In order to compete in CBBF national events all Ontario athletes must have a valid membership in the CBBF Ontario Division, and follow the qualification standards as set by the CBBF Ontario Division.


If you have concerns about your qualifications or competing in Ontario in the future please contact the CBBF Ontario Division by email at cbbfontario@rogers.com

Thank you.

Mark Smishek
President CBBF

[Adonis13]

thanks P...

[Sean Summers]

Pay special attention to the 3rd bullet.



o The results of all OPA competitive events taking place after June 20th, 2009 shall not be recognized by the CBBF.
SS

[drdnj]

Pay special attention to the 3rd bullet.



SS

Thanks SS, it is strange that they told me last week (when I started dieting) that the Jamor shows will be honored.

Do you know if CBBF will sanction shows in 2009 to make up for the loss of the OPA shows?

[drdnj]

see below for details.
P


Posted: Monday, July 06, 2009

On June 20th, 2009 the Canadian Bodybuilding Federation (CBBF) withdrew recognition of the Ontario Physique Association (OPA) as the official CBBF affiliate in the province of Ontario.

The new CBBF affiliate organization in Ontario is now the CBBF Ontario Division, and as such is now the governing body for bikini, bodybuilding, (body fitness) figure and fitness, in the province of Ontario.

This important change was made in response to a strong desire from within the OPA and within the broader athlete and sponsor community for new leadership in Ontario and necessary in order to

* Improve representation and membership services for all Ontario athletes,
* Increase sponsorship and fan support in Ontario and
* Strengthen the CBBF and its affiliates across Canada.


To ensure Ontario athletes maintain their qualifications to compete in CBBF sanctioned national events the following rules have been adopted by the CBBF,

o Any Ontario athlete who has won an overall title in an OPA qualifying event up to and including the Ontario Provincial Championships, held on June 20th, 2009 shall retain their life time option to compete in CBBF national events.
o Any Ontario athlete who won a top-3 position in an OPA qualifying event during 2007, 2008 and up to and including the Ontario Provincial Championships, held on June 20th, 2009 shall be qualified to compete in CBBF national events, for a period of two years following the OPA qualifying event in which they won a top-3 position.
o The results of all OPA competitive events taking place after June 20th, 2009 shall not be recognized by the CBBF.
o In order to compete in CBBF national events all Ontario athletes must have a valid membership in the CBBF Ontario Division, and follow the qualification standards as set by the CBBF Ontario Division.


If you have concerns about your qualifications or competing in Ontario in the future please contact the CBBF Ontario Division by email at cbbfontario@rogers.com

Thank you.

Mark Smishek
President CBBF

P,
isn't this contrasting information from what was posted by CBBF on June 23rd? In that letter they said they would be honoring Jamor's shows for 2009.

D

[Praetorian]

Yes I would say so...however this is what was posted as official on the CBBF site.
P

[Sean Summers]

I don't understand why you guys are making this so difficult. Once the OPA was no longer recognized by the CBBF then that was it. OPA shows after the Provincials will not count towards earning an IFBB Pro Card. I don't recall the CBBF saying they would honor any shows after the change - that may be the OPA saying it but it is the CBBF who dictates the rules.
The CBBF Ontario is putting on at least 1 fall show.
They will have shows in 2010 - get ready for them - come in ready and take home the hardware!!!
Good luck!
SS

[Felinecougar]

I don't understand why you guys are making this so difficult. Once the OPA was no longer recognized by the CBBF then that was it. OPA shows after the Provincials will not count towards earning an IFBB Pro Card. I don't recall the CBBF saying they would honor any shows after the change - that may be the OPA saying it but it is the CBBF who dictates the rules.
The CBBF Ontario is putting on at least 1 fall show.
They will have shows in 2010 - get ready for them - come in ready and take home the hardware!!!
Good luck!
SS

The CBBF Ontario is putting on at least 1 fall show.
They will have shows in 2010 - get ready for them - come in ready and take home the hardware!!!

Love that...take home the hardware.

[St]

The Ontairo CBBF site is up and running with 2 shows this fall.

[Sean Summers]

The full site should be up later today.
SS

[phatkid77]

??/?///??

http://www.cbbfontario.com/

[69challenger]

Try this
http://www.cbbf-on.com/

[steve_d]

??/?///??

http://www.cbbfontario.com/

yeah...what to believe eh?


Try this
http://www.cbbf-on.com/

Still waiting for the full site - but this is really all I was waiting for - show dates that is. I still think this whole thing is messed up.

[Sean Summers]

I was told it should go live later tonight...at the latest tomorrow.
SS

[phatkid77]

hey summers... i see its old home week on the advisory board>>>>lol
maybe glen grant needs some help :)

phats

[steve_d]

more emails from OPA....More confusion.

Before anyone jumps in and says there is nothing to be confused about - you have to think about in the athletes eyes who knows NOTHING about the politics behind what is going on. There are basically two sides to the story so neither side is the "obvious" winner. Both sides are saying the other is corrupt, so how am I supposed to know what is what. Who knows. If even 1/3 of the things OPA claims is true then there are some serious things to consider.

I have basically decided to not compete in the natural qualifier this year and a lot of it has to do with what is going on this near to the contest. There are other reasons, but the decision is a lot easier when no one knows what the hell is going on.

[Sean Summers]

Both sides are saying the other is corrupt

Where are you reading this??? The COD has not issued any such statement. The COD has been silent and are putting their efforts into creating a new website, getting the shows lined up...etc.
As I see the issue it's quite simple...if the CBBF says that the COD is the affiliated body in Ontario that that is the way it is. If and when the CBBF retracts that statement then I will be aligned with my only option to picking up an IFBB Pro Card - the COD.

SS

[steve_d]

Thats a very good point Sean...the only problem is the "if and when"...If there still is a chance OPA will be reinstated, then its tough to line yourself up with the COD and planning contest dates (flights, hotels, time off work, not to mention the dieting process) only to realize things have changed again.

The positive to this is that the contest dates are 1 week apart (for the natural show) so really you could just diet and decide closer to show date which to compete in - and hopefully some dust will have settled.

Basically OPA is saying that CBBF is being instructed to reinstate the OPA and has alot to do with the natural qualifier show. Then there is the thing about ABBA executive not willing to sign letter of support to CBBFs decision....

As for COD not saying the other is corrupt...I meant it in the fact that they have taken over, and the long list of reasons given as to why which implies that the OPA was basically not doing there job and a failure of an organization. If its true that OPA was a failure, I feel bad for some of the regional directors/organizers/promoters which have put on great shows in the past - they are the ones that lose here.

[Praetorian]

An fyi...Recently posted by the OPA
P

JULY 18, 2009



Dear OPA members,



Please take note of the following:



The Natural Ontario Championships being held in Hamilton on September 19/2009 is still, in our view, the qualifying contest to the Canadian Natural Physique Championships (formerly the CBBF National World Qualifier) as the CBBF’s decision was illegal and void.



Mr. Jim Manion, President of the NPC and the IFBB Pro League, has written to the CBBF and, in no uncertain terms, advised the CBBF President that the Natural Ontario Championships should be recognized as the qualifying contest to the Canadian Natural Physique Championships. It is plain and obvious that failing to do so would be unduly punishing to the Ontario athletes.



The Ontario Physique Association along with Jamor Productions will be handing out over

$10,000 in bursaries to cover expenses to the Canadian Natural Physique Championships in Montreal 2010.



All overall winners will receive $1,000 in bursaries.



This will be the contest of the year with extensive magazine coverage.





REALLY SETTING THE RECORD STRAIGHT: ILLEGAL ACTION BY THE CBBF



As all of you know, on June 20, 2009, the OPA held the 2009 Ontario Provincial Bodybuilding Championships. The show was a resounding success with over 100 competitors and two IFBB PRO guest posers, Branch Warren and Ben Pakulski.



On June 21, 2009 at 12:41 a.m., I received an email from Mark Smishek, President of the CBBF, advising that as of Saturday, June 20, 2009 at midnight EST, the CBBF ceased to recognize the OPA as the CBBF affiliated bodybuilding, fitness and figure organization in Ontario.



In the email message Mr. Smishek indicated that the CBBF Executive Committee had received "a petition from a number of prominent members of the bodybuilding, figure and fitness community in Ontario."



However, despite a formal request from the OPA’s legal counsel, Mr. Smishek has not, to this day, provided the OPA with a copy of the aforementioned petition which supposedly led the CBBF to the determination that "the OPA and bodybuilding, figure and fitness in Ontario is in crisis", as stated in the email.



Prior to this email, the OPA had not, at any time, been informed that its conduct was under investigation and had not, at any time, been informed of the specifics of any allegations of wrongdoing; much less that disciplinary action might be taken.



Needless to say, this illegal coup came as a surprise to all of us, but for two members of the OPA Executive Staff who were, at all material times, OPA regional directors, and who are now part of the Executive Staff of the “CBBF–Ontario Division”. This also must not have come as a surprise to our award recipient at the 2009 Ontario Bodybuilding Championships, who is now the President of this newly formed association.



As with most other sport governing bodies that have a regulatory or sanctioning function, the CBBF has a Constitution, By‑laws, Rules and Policies. The CBBF has blatantly disregarded or chosen not to follow its own procedure as established by the By-laws, Rules and Regulations.



It is unfortunate that the Constitution, By‑laws, Rules and Policies are not readily available on the CBBF website. However, we invite you to view relevant excerpts from the Rules and Regulations and Discipline Policy of the CBBF by clicking here.



____



After clicking link...



Excerpts from the Rules and Regulations and Discipline Policy of the CBBF



At article 10.2 of the Rules and Regulations, it is stated that:



In all matters of a disciplinary nature, every member of the Federation shall have the rights as follows:



(1) the right to be presumed innocent until proven guilty;

(2) prior to the taking of any form of disciplinary action, the right;



(a) to be confronted, by rightful accuser, with the specific allegations of wrongdoing and, where applicable, documented proof of such alleged wrongdoing;



(b) to present a defence to any allegations of wrongdoing.



Article 10.9 of the Rules and Regulations explains step‑by‑step the disciplinary process of the CBBF:



(1) the member shall be informed that his or her conduct is under investigation;



(2) the member shall be informed, by registered mail, of the specifics of any allegations of wrongdoing, failing which disciplinary action may be taken;



(3) the member shall be given a period of 30 days to respond to any allegations of wrongdoing, failing which disciplinary action may be taken;



(4) the competent authority shall render a decision in the matter within 30 days of the member's response. Said decision shall be forwarded, by registered mail and shall contain, but not be limited to, the following:



(a) the reason, or reasons, why the member is being disciplined;

(b) the form of discipline;

(c) the terms of discipline;

(d) a notice that the member has the right to appeal



The following is stated at article 10.10 of the Rules and Regulations :

Every effort must be made on the part of the competent authority to ensure that the disciplinary process is carried out in a professional manner so as not to unduly prejudice the rights of any member.



Section 5 of the Discipline Policy deals with major infractions, which are defined as follows at section 5.1:



Major infractions are instances of misconduct which violate the Code of Conduct and which result, or have the potential, to result, in harm to other persons, to C.B.B.F. or to the sport of [Bodybuilding].



Section 5.2 of the Discipline Policy states the following:



If the incident is a major infraction, a hearing is required. The president will notify the individual alleged to have committed a major infraction of the matter as soon as possible, and will provide the individual with a copy of the Incident Report and a copy of this policy.



_______



At a minimum, prior to making such a critical decision, the CBBF should have informed the OPA of the conduct, which had been considered contrary to the “well-being of the CBBF and the other CBBF affiliated provincial bodybuilding, fitness and figure organizations”. It should have also given the OPA a fair opportunity to respond.



The fact is that the OPA had not engaged in any conduct, which could be considered to be prejudicial, injurious or contrary to the objects of the CBBF. A concern of the OPA was the emergence of rival organizations in Ontario and it had, in effect, scheduled events in order to compete directly with these organizations. The OPA is a very successful bodybuilding organization – the largest organization in the country both in terms of the number of competitions we hold and competitors that enter – and we will continue to the promote growth of this sport in Ontario and across Canada with integrity.



As of July 6, 2009, the CBBF has ruthlessly taken the position that it will not be recognizing the OPA’s Natural Ontario Championships on September 19, 2009.



Mr. Jim Manion, President of the NPC and the IFBB Pro League, in a letter to Mark Smishek, expressed serious concerns as to this decision of the CBBF to not recognize the Natural Ontario Championships as a qualifier to the Natural Canada Championships (World Qualifier) and indicated that it is truly punishing to the athletes.



Other provinces’ governing body for bodybuilding, fitness and figure have voiced their concerns as to the legality, procedure and circumstances leading up to this decision as well as their belief that this process to cease recognition of the OPA has created bad optics for the CBBF and related provincial associations.



Finally, one matter that needs to be addressed concerns the false assertions of the CBBF, through its media representative, as to events that transpired prior to the illegal decision of the CBBF. As a matter of fact, the OPA had never been advised that it was in “jeopardy of being dropped” as the CBBF's recognized governing body for bodybuilding, figure and fitness in Ontario. Further, I was never “provided with a series of reasonable demands” from the CBBF, as alleged.



This is a very serious matter with considerable consequences, financial and otherwise, for bodybuilding, figure and fitness in Ontario as well as in Canada. Surely if the CBBF was frustrated with the OPA to the point where it would consider ceasing to recognize it as an affiliate, the CBBF would have notified the OPA in writing. Again, the CBBF did not, at any time, inform the OPA of any disciplinary action.



Ontario athletes, please rest assured that the CBBF’s “decision” to cease to recognize the OPA as the CBBF affiliate is both invalid and illegal. The OPA has formally, through its legal counsel, appealed this decision, which was void of any procedural fairness or justice.



The OPA is confident that upon careful review of the facts, its affiliation with the CBBF will be permanently restored, bearing in mind the following factors:



a) The nature of the CBBF decision;

b) The flawed process followed in making its determination;

c) The importance of the decision to the OPA and its operations;

d) The legitimate expectations of the OPA and the CBBF;

e) The merits of the OPA's position on this issue;

f) The considerable damages that the OPA has suffered and will continue to suffer in account of this unlawful action.



It remains the OPA’s desire that this matter be resolved in a professional and businesslike manner. However, if the OPA is not reinstated as a CBBF affiliate, we will have no choice but to commence the appropriate litigation to preserve our rights given the appreciable financial ramifications of this illegitimate decision on the OPA, its sponsors, promoters, and other business owners that work with and on behalf of the OPA





Sincerely,





Ron Hache, President of the OPA