FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
February 14, 2004

ISF CONCLUDES REVIEW OF USE OF ELECTRONIC
EQUIPMENT AT MEN’S WORLD CHAMPIONSHIP

The International Softball Federation (ISF) announced today “there was no basis or evidence to show that New Zealand used illegal communication equipment to gain an advantage during the gold medal game against Canada at the recently-concluded ISF Men’s World Championship in Christchurch, New Zealand.” ISF President Don Porter made the statement from the world headquarters of softball’s governing body. The Canadian chief of delegation Harvey Stevenson had lodged the complaint.

“We have reviewed all information that has been made available to us, including reports from the chief and assistant chief umpires, as well as members of the ISF Technical Commission that were at the competition,” Porter said, “and have not found any evidence of the use of prohibited communication equipment either during the gold medal game, or any other game during this world championship.”

The ISF President added, “Many of the teams in major competitions are using videotaping equipment, which is a coaching tool and is allowed by ISF rules. However, the ISF rules out a team using any communication or electronic equipment to detect signals and relay them to the batters, coaches, or others in order to gain an unfair advantage over their opponents.”

Mr. Porter pointed to the tournament on the whole, saying, “The world championship in Christchurch was an outstanding and successful event, and we do not wish to have any unsubstantiated statements that would take away from the fine athletic accomplishments of both the New Zealand team as well as the 14 other countries that were represented at the event.”

New Zealand won their third straight ISF Men’s World Championship when they defeated Canada, 9-5, on Sunday. Australia took the bronze medal.

For more information, please contact ISF Director of Communications Bruce Wawrzyniak at brucew@internationalsoftball.com or (813) 864-0100, ext. 229.