FEDERAL COLLEGE OF EDUCATION (TECHNICAL), OMOKU

IN AFFILIATION WITH UNIVERSITY OF UYO,

AKWA-IBOM

AN
ASSIGNMENT
PRESENTED

BY

THADDEUS C. FAVOUR

SCHOOL OF SCIENCE EDUCATION

DEPARTMENT OF HEALTH EDUCATION

COURSE TITLE:
VIOLENCE AND ARBITRATION IN SPORTS
COURSE CODE: HKE 114

QUESTION:
THREE (3) CASES OF ATHLETES THAT WERE FINED BY SPORTS
FEDERATION AND ALSO PUNISHED IN COURT

LEVEL: 100 (1/4)

LECTURER
DR. KAYODE

DATE: 29TH FEBRUARY, 2024

Introduction
When athletes are found to have violated the rules of their sports federation, they
can be punished in a number of ways. The most common penalties include fines,
bans from competition, and the stripping of titles and medals. However, in some
cases, athletes may also face legal action in court. This can result in additional
penalties, such as prison time or hefty fines.

1. Tank Johnson
On April 30, 2007, Terry "Tank" Johnson pleaded guilty to a misdemeanor weapons
charge as part of an arrangement with prosecutors that will keep him from serving
additional jail time. He was sentenced to 45 days in jail, which was served
concurrently with a four-month sentence he was already serving in the Cook County
Jail for violating his probation; to donate $2,500 to the Gurnee, Illinois Police
Department and $2,500 to the Gurnee Exchange Club's child abuse prevention
program.
Johnson's release from jail on May 13 ended his legal problems from the December
2006 weapons incident. The league ultimately suspended Johnson for half of the
regular season on June 4. However, he will have the opportunity to reduce the
sentence to six games if he complies with Commissioner Goodell's guidelines of
behavior, which include going to counseling. On June 22, Johnson was pulled over
speeding in Arizona. According to the police, he was stopped by the police after
traveling at forty miles per hour in a twenty-five-mile per hour zone. He was later
suspected of drinking, but was released without being booked or charged.

On June 25, 2007, Johnson was released from his contract by the Chicago Bears as
a result of the June 22 incident. Bears General manager Jerry Angelo stated that he
had "no room for error left." The results of Johnson's blood tests were still pending
when the Bears made their decision. On July 2, it was announced that Johnson was
under the legal limit and will not be charged with driving under the influence.
On September 18, 2007, Johnson agreed to terms of a two-year contract with the
Dallas Cowboys, but was unable to contact the team until week 9 of the 2007 NFL
season

2. Michael Vick
Bad Newz Kennels dog fighting investigation
Beginning on April 25, 2007, a large house and surrounding 15-acre (61,000 m2)
property Michael Vick owned in rural Surry County, Virginia where his 26-year-old
cousin Davon T. Boddie had been residing became part of a continuing police
investigation for possible operation of an illegal dog fighting ring. The action came
after police executed a search warrant following two narcotics arrests of Boddie
within a week in the Virginia Peninsula cities of Newport News and Hampton (each
about 20 miles (32 km) away from the Surry County property) earlier in April. Boddie
had given the address of Vick's property in Surry County as his home address when
arrested. Earlier, in February 2007, Boddie was convicted in the City of Norfolk of
disorderly conduct. At that time, he was carrying a Georgia driver's license giving his
address as a house in Duluth, Georgia which was once owned by Vick.
According to ESPN (Entertainment and Sports Programming Network), during the
April 25 narcotics-related search of Vick's home and property at 1915 Moonlight
Drive in the southeastern portion of Surry County, police discovered a large number
of animals, and evidence which they felt indicated dog fighting, they called animal-
control officers, who saw what they said was evidence that dogfights had taken
place there. Police obtained another search warrant and, with the help of animal
control officials from several localities, removed 66 dogs, 55 of them pit bulls, and
seized equipment and some physical evidence that could be associated with dog
fighting, WAVY-TV reported that detectives also seized guns, illegal ammunition
magazines, suspected marijuana and paperwork on dog fighting.

Vick, along with three others, was indicted by a federal grand jury on July 17, 2007,
for "conspiracy to travel in interstate commerce in aid of unlawful activities and to
sponsor a dog in animal fighting venture”. The 18-page federal indictment outlines
an extensive operation which included not only unlawful fighting, but violence
against dogs which did not perform well including executions by electrocution,
hanging, and shooting, as well as involving tens of thousands of dollars in gambling
activity. The four face $350,000 in fines and six years in prison if convicted of the
federal charges. The operation was based at Vick's 15-acre (61,000 m2) property
near Smithfield, Virginia, valued at over $700,000, which could conceivably be
forfeited to the government, as the indictment also puts them on notice that the
government intends to take possession of property used in the illegal operations and
any proceeds.
In late April 2007, Vick denied his involvement and told The Atlanta Journal-
Constitution "I'm never at the house...I left the house with my family...They just
haven't been doing the right thing... It's unfortunate I have to take the heat behind
it. If I'm not there, I don't know what's going on.
Vick appeared in court on July 26, 2007, and pleaded not guilty, the same date that
the Atlanta Falcons began training camp. Later, Vick filed a plea agreement, and
admitted his guilt. Vick was suspended without pay "indefinitely" by the National
Football League on August 24. On August 13, 2009, Vick signed a one-year contract
with the Philadelphia Eagles. He was placed on the exempt/commissioner's
permission list on September 5, 2009. On September 15, 2009, Vick was activated to
the 53-man roster.

3. Adrian Peterson
Adrian Peterson was indicted by a Montgomery County, Texas, grand jury on
charges of reckless or negligent injury to a child on September 12, 2014. He was
subsequently deactivated for one game by the Vikings. Photos posted on TMZ.com
revealed his 4-year-old son's legs with slash-like wounds. The prosecution in the
case alleges that Peterson used a tree branch to beat his young son repeatedly on
his back, buttocks, genitals, ankles, and legs. In early November the Vikings' running
back had entered a no contest plea. Adrian Peterson was also ordered to serve 80
hours’ worth of community service while also being placed on probation. However,
later on in November 2014 the NFL suspended Peterson for the rest of the season
without pay. On December 12, 2014, the NFL apparently had denied his appeal.
Conclusion
When athletes violate the rules of their sports federation, they can face a variety of
consequences. These may include sanctions from the federation itself, as well as
legal action in court. However, the exact penalties imposed will vary depending on
the specific case and the laws of the country in which the athlete resides. In general,
it is best for athletes to abide by the rules of their sports federation to avoid any
negative consequences.

References
Associated Press. Goodell strengthens NFL player conduct policy USA Today, April
10, 2007.
Bell, Jarrett. Conduct unbecoming: NFL sets new standard with suspensions USA
Today, April 11, 2007.
CB Jones suspended for 2007 season, WR Henry banned eight games Yahoo Sports
Ticker, April 10, 2007.
Wilner, Barry. (Associated Press) Goodell gets tough, protects NFL brand Boston
Globe, April 10, 2007.
NFL Suspends Pacman Jones, Bengals' Henry NFL.com, April 10, 2007.
Pacman Jones drops appeal, Sports Illustrated, June 12, 2007.
Pacman faces felony charges in shooting that paralyzed man ESPN.com, June 20,
2007.
"'Pacman' can join Cowboys for workouts". ESPN.com. Associated Press. June 2,
2008. Retrieved June 15, 2008.
Bengals cut Henry, say they'll no longer tolerate his conduct ESPN.com, April 3,
2008.
Tank Johnson Pleads Guilty, Avoids More Jail Time Archived May 13, 2007, at the
Wayback Machine CBS2 Chicago.
Bears' Tank Johnson to Be Released Sunday Archived September 27, 2007, at the
Wayback Machine CBS2 Chicago.
NFL announces Tank Johnson suspension Archived June 6, 2007, at the Wayback
Machine ChicagoBears.com June 4, 2007.
Tank Johnson stopped by police in Phoenix suburb Yahoo! Sports, June 22, 2007
Bears decide to move on, waive Tank Johnson ESPN.com, June 25, 2007.
Greg Moore (May 30, 2007). "If Vick Is Involved, How Many Others Are With Him?".
BlackAthlete Sports Network. Archived from the original on June 3, 2007.
Retrieved July 7, 2007.
"Prosecutor says dog fighting investigation at Vick's property 'moving forward'".
ESPN. Associated Press. May 25, 2007. Retrieved May 28, 2007.
Bill Geroux (July 3, 2007). "Dogfighting: The Vick case". inRich. Archived from the
original on September 27, 2007. Retrieved July 5, 2007.
"UPDATE - Vick claims no knowledge of situation on his property". WAVY-TV. March
28, 2007. Retrieved July 7, 2007.
"Falcons' Vick indicted by grand jury in dogfighting probe". ESPN. July 17, 2007.
Retrieved July 7, 2007.
"Michael Vick Indicted by Grand Jury". CBS News. July 17, 2007.
The Smoking Gun (July 17, 2007). "Sources: Vick and three others indicted in feds
dogfighting investigation". The Smoking Gun. Retrieved July 17, 2007.
Weir, Tom. Michael Vick indicted, arraignment date set USA Today, July 18, 2007.
NFL suspends Vick indefinitely AOL.com, August 24, 2007.