Attention: ITP Sport and Douglas Clarke:
In early 2022 the Kootenay East Soccer Association (KESA) board received complaints about conduct of a coach, Douglas Clarke. Upon investigation and review by the Board, the Board voted to issue a sanction against the coach based on the balance of probabilities from information obtained during the investigation. Although consulting and following the KESA bylaws that were reviewed and approved by BC Soccer, and working within our authority, as concluded following a review by BC Soccer, KESA failed to follow the principles of natural justice in the process of completing its investigation by failing to provide the coach with an opportunity to hear and respond to the complaints. KESA acknowledged this early on and have rewritten a more concise disciplinary policy, which can be found on the KESA Website. This does not change the outcome of this case under review but has prompted KESA to make the process clearer for future incidents that arise.