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Appendix L: Social Media
L Social media
L.1 With the advent of social media (Facebook, Twitter, etc.), it has become
easier for competitors to publish information about an event quicker than
before. This brings with it the inevitable problem that a competitor,
dissatisfied with a decision or event, turns to social media as a way of venting
their anger.
L.2 Comments made on social media by a competitor, if they could be reasonably
associated with the event or the sport by an outsider, fall within the scope of
rule 69. It is more likely the sport will have been brought into disrepute by this
method, as comments made on social media quickly circulate beyond the
control of the author.
L.3 If using comments made on social media as evidence, it is important to take a
copy of them at the time you see them. You should make a note of when,
where and how you accessed them. The competitor may remove them
before the start of a hearing and they may be inaccessible again.
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