Protest periods
This discussion has an associated proposal. View Proposal Details here.Comments about this discussion:
Started
A discussion came up in the Road Racing committee about making protest periods more predictable for competitors. We ended up adopting a rule, but I think it generally works better to have this as a unified rule.
> For all results published after 8 p.m. on the same day or on another day, the protest deadline is 12 p.m. (noon time) on the day after publication.
I proposed an approach like this because sometimes it is impossible to post results quickly after an event is complete. This would allow delayed results to be posted after 8 pm, giving a generous protest period that is predictable. Competitors who didn't see results in the evening can expect to check some time in the morning and not have missed their protest period. It also eliminates competitors feeling they need to urgently reach their event director later in the evening when it may be difficult to make yourself available. It also offers a specific time that results can reasonable be expected for ease of scheduling awards.
Do others find this to be an improvement? If so I can make a proposal that fits it into '1C.10 Protests'
Comment
I think the idea of standardizing the procedure as much as possible so that not every discipline has a completely separate system is a good one. I think the proposal from the Road Racing Committee is a very good basis for this.
Comment
Allowing for time to breath especially at night sounds like a good idea. I am all for it.
Comment
I echo François. it's never seemed reasonable to me that results can be posted at any hour (especially for road or muni) and the protest period is not explicitly extended. I know we have done it informally in the past, but that has been a curtesy, not a requirement and I think it should be required.
Comment
I'm also in favor of this proposal.
Comment
I would suggest structuring the rule analogous to the one proposed in the Road Committee:
1C.10 Protests
1. An offcial protest/correction form must be available to riders at all times. All protests against any results must be submitted in writing on the proper form. The form must be filled in completely. Mistakes in paperwork, inaccuracies in placing, and interference from other riders or other sources are all grounds for protests. All Chief Judge or Referee decisions are final, and cannot be protested.
2. The default protest time (counting from the posting of results) is 120 minutes, unless there is a shorter time specified for certain events (for example: track racing). By default for all results published after 8 p.m. on the same day or on another day, the protest deadline is 12 p.m. (noon time) on the day after publication, unless something different is specified for certain events. Every deviation from the default protest time has to be clearly announced when the results are posted, including stating the protest deadline on the results list itself. The protest time may be extended for riders who have to be in other races/events during the protest period.
3. All protests will be acknowledged within 30 minutes from the time they are received, and an effort will be made to settle the issue within those 30 minutes.
4. Protests handed in after awards have been delivered will not be considered if the results have been posted for at least three hours before the awards. If awards are delivered before results are posted, it is recommended to announce the schedule of posting and the deadline for protests at the awarding ceremonies.
I'm not sure whether paragraph 4 still fits in with the rest, or whether we are creating ambiguity. I wonder whether we need this paragraph at all, or whether the content is not actually sufficiently covered by the other paragraphs.