The BEBL clears Kirk Smith Jr. to play

The Commissioner of the Belize Elite Basketball League says that the league is sticking with the decision of the Appeals Tribunal to allow Kirk Smith Jr. to play. At the start of the season, Smith Jr. was said to have signed with both Benny’s Belize Hurricanes and the DIGI Belize City Defenders. The situation was brought before the Commissioner who reviewed the evidence presented and ruled that Smith be suspended for a year. However, the Hurricanes appealed the ruling, and the decision went up for review by the Appeals Tribunal. The tribunal then found that Smith’s contract with the Defenders had not been properly executed and that the league commissioner erred in suspending him. Following that Ruling, an emergency League Meeting was then held in which the team owners expressed the seriousness of the situation and dissatisfaction with the result of the appeal process. The BEBL’s Commissioner says that quote “that notwithstanding whatever views may be held regarding the result of the appeal process, per the Bylaws the decision of the Tribunal must be upheld.” In addition, the league says that it will be considering implementing the recommendations on strengthening the overarching governance framework of the BEBL contained in the Appeal Tribunal Ruling.