INTERNATIONAL AERIAL COMBAT SPORT FEDERATION

WITHDRAWAL OF SANCTION PROCEDURE

IACSF-PROC-003 | Version 1.0 | Effective Season 2026

Document No.	IACSF-PROC-003
Effective Date	January 1, 2026
Approved By	IACSF Board of Directors
Administered By	IACSF Commissioner
Related Documents	IACSF Bylaws (Art. XI, XX); IACSF-STD-002 (Safety, Insurance & Venue Standards); IACSF-FORM-SANC-001 (Sanctioning Application)

This procedure establishes the grounds, process, notice requirements, consequential actions, and appeal rights applicable whenever the IACSF withdraws, suspends, or places conditions on a previously granted event sanction. All parties — the IACSF Commissioner, the Organizing Entity, participants, and affected Member Teams — are bound by this procedure.

NOTE. Withdrawal of sanction is a serious administrative action that may have financial and operational consequences for the Organizing Entity. This procedure is designed to ensure fair process while preserving the IACSF's overriding duty to protect the safety and integrity of the sport.

SECTION 1 — DEFINITIONS

For the purposes of this procedure:

Sanction	The written authorization issued by the IACSF Commissioner permitting an Organizing Entity to conduct a specific event as an IACSF-sanctioned competition.
Withdrawal of Sanction	The permanent revocation of a granted sanction, effective as of the date specified in the Notice of Withdrawal.
Suspension of Sanction	A temporary hold on a granted sanction pending resolution of identified deficiencies. The event may not proceed during a suspension.
Conditional Sanction	A sanction that remains in force subject to specified conditions that must be met by a stated deadline.
Organizing Entity	The club, organization, or individual to whom the sanction was issued.
Commissioner	The IACSF Commissioner or designated representative.
Material Breach	A failure to comply with sanction conditions, IACSF standards, or applicable law that poses a risk to safety, participant welfare, or the integrity of the sport.
Voluntary Withdrawal	A request by the Organizing Entity to cancel a sanctioned event and surrender its sanction.

SECTION 2 — GROUNDS FOR WITHDRAWAL OR SUSPENSION

2.1 Safety Grounds (Immediate Action Authorized)

The Commissioner may suspend or withdraw sanction immediately, without prior notice, upon finding any of the following:

• Lapse, cancellation, or material deficiency in required insurance coverage;

• Loss of required airspace authorization (FAA COA, LOA, or equivalent);

• Identification of an imminent and unmitigable safety hazard at the venue;

• Failure to designate or retain a qualified Event Safety Officer;

• A serious accident, fatality, or regulatory action arising from the event that renders continued operation unsafe;

• Discovery of material misrepresentation in the Sanctioning Application.

WARNING. Immediate suspension under Section 2.1 does not require advance notice. The Commissioner must issue a written Notice of Suspension within twenty-four (24) hours of taking action.

2.2 Compliance Grounds (Notice and Cure Period Apply)

The Commissioner may initiate withdrawal proceedings upon finding any of the following, subject to the notice and cure process in Section 3:

• Failure to submit required pre-event documentation (safety plan, insurance certificate, venue authorization) by the specified deadline;

• Material deviation from the approved Event Safety Plan without IACSF approval;

• Non-payment of sanctioning fees after written demand;

• Failure to comply with a Conditional Sanction requirement by the stated deadline;

• Repeated minor non-compliance findings across two or more consecutive events by the same Organizing Entity;

• Loss of venue authorization other than airspace (e.g., venue operator withdrawal of consent);

• Failure to submit a required post-event safety report from a prior event.

2.3 Integrity Grounds

The Commissioner may initiate withdrawal proceedings upon a finding, or referral from the Judicial and Disciplinary Committee, of:

• Fraud, misrepresentation, or falsification of any document submitted to the IACSF;

• Manipulation or attempted manipulation of competition results;

• Conduct by the Organizing Entity or its principals that brings the IACSF or the sport into disrepute;

• Violation of the IACSF Anti-Doping Code by the Organizing Entity in its capacity as event administrator.

2.4 Voluntary Withdrawal by Organizing Entity

An Organizing Entity may voluntarily surrender its sanction at any time by providing written notice to the Commissioner. Upon receipt, the Commissioner shall issue a Confirmation of Voluntary Withdrawal. Voluntary withdrawal does not relieve the Organizing Entity of obligations to participants, creditors, or the IACSF that arose prior to the withdrawal date. The IACSF will publish notification of the cancellation to affected participants within five (5) business days.

SECTION 3 — WITHDRAWAL PROCEDURE

3.1 Process Overview

Except where immediate action is authorized under Section 2.1, the Commissioner must follow the procedure below before a sanction is withdrawn. The procedure is designed to provide the Organizing Entity a fair opportunity to cure deficiencies where feasible.

STEP 1	Identification of Ground Commissioner or Safety and Compliance Committee identifies a potential ground for withdrawal. Commissioner documents the factual basis in the Sanction Review File.

STEP 2	Preliminary Review Commissioner reviews the file and determines whether the ground is credible and material. If not, matter is closed with a note. If credible, proceed to Step 3.

STEP 3	Notice of Intent to Withdraw Commissioner issues written Notice of Intent to Withdraw (NITW) to the Organizing Entity. The NITW must state: the specific ground(s); the factual basis; the cure period (if applicable); and the deadline for response.

STEP 4	Cure Period / Organizing Entity Response For compliance grounds (Section 2.2): Organizing Entity has ten (10) business days to cure the deficiency or provide a written response. For integrity grounds (Section 2.3): response period is fifteen (15) business days; no automatic cure right.

STEP 5	Commissioner Decision Commissioner reviews the response and any cure evidence. Commissioner issues one of: (a) Notice of Withdrawal; (b) Notice of Conditional Continuation; or (c) Notice of Closure (deficiency resolved). Decision must be in writing with reasons.

STEP 6	Publication and Notice to Participants Upon Withdrawal becoming effective: Commissioner publishes notification to IACSF members and registered participants within five (5) business days. Sanction record is updated in the IACSF registry.

3.2 Notice of Intent to Withdraw — Content Requirements

A valid Notice of Intent to Withdraw must include:

• The full name and sanction number of the affected event;

• The identity of the Organizing Entity;

• The specific provision(s) of the IACSF Bylaws, standards, or sanction conditions alleged to have been violated;

• A plain-language description of the factual basis;

• Whether immediate suspension is also being imposed and the effective time;

• The applicable cure period or the reason no cure period applies;

• The deadline and address for the Organizing Entity's written response;

• A statement of the right to appeal under Section 4.

3.3 Cure Period Timeline

Compliance Ground (§2.2)	10 business days from receipt of NITW to cure or respond
Integrity Ground (§2.3)	15 business days to respond; no automatic cure right
Safety Ground — Immediate (§2.1)	No cure period; suspension effective immediately; written notice within 24 hours
Commissioner Decision Deadline	10 business days after expiry of response period
Publication after Final Withdrawal	5 business days after effective date of withdrawal

SECTION 4 — APPEALS

4.1 Right of Appeal

An Organizing Entity that receives a Notice of Withdrawal (but not a Notice of Suspension pending cure) may appeal the Commissioner's decision to the IACSF Appeals Committee within fifteen (15) calendar days of the date the Notice of Withdrawal is issued. The filing of an appeal does not automatically stay the withdrawal.

4.2 Stay of Withdrawal Pending Appeal

The Organizing Entity may request a stay of the withdrawal concurrent with filing the appeal. The Appeals Committee Chair may grant a stay if the Organizing Entity demonstrates: (a) a substantial question of fact or law; (b) that the event can proceed safely during the appeal; and (c) that irreparable harm would result from denial of the stay. A stay decision must be issued within five (5) business days of the stay request.

4.3 Appeal Procedure

• The appeal must be filed in writing to the IACSF Appeals Committee via the Commissioner's office;

• The appeal must state: the specific decision being appealed, the grounds for appeal, the relief requested, and any supporting documentation;

• The Commissioner must provide the appeal record (NITW, Organizing Entity response, and decision) to the Appeals Committee within five (5) business days of the appeal filing;

• The Appeals Committee shall issue a written decision within thirty (30) calendar days of receiving the complete record;

• The Appeals Committee decision is final and binding within the Federation.

NOTE. Appeals Committee decisions on sanction withdrawal matters shall be published in summary form to IACSF members to ensure transparency and consistency.

4.4 Grounds for Appeal

An appeal may be brought on any of the following grounds:

• The Commissioner erred in finding the stated ground for withdrawal;

• The procedure in Section 3 was not followed, and the procedural error materially prejudiced the Organizing Entity;

• The withdrawal is disproportionate to the severity of the non-compliance;

• New evidence has come to light that was not available at the time of the Commissioner's decision.

SECTION 5 — CONSEQUENCES OF WITHDRAWAL

5.1 Effect on Event

• A withdrawn event may not use the IACSF name, marks, or sanction number in any promotion or communication;

• Any results from competition conducted prior to withdrawal are subject to review by the Commissioner and may be voided;

• The Organizing Entity must promptly notify all registered participants and affected Member Teams of the withdrawal;

• The IACSF is not liable for any financial losses incurred by the Organizing Entity, participants, or third parties as a result of a withdrawal.

5.2 Effect on the Organizing Entity

First Withdrawal (Compliance)	Organizing Entity may apply for sanctioning of future events. Prior withdrawal is noted in the IACSF record and considered in future applications.
First Withdrawal (Safety/Integrity)	Organizing Entity may be required to complete a remediation plan and obtain Commissioner approval before applying for future sanctioning.
Second Withdrawal within 3 Years	Organizing Entity is ineligible to apply for event sanctioning for a period of one (1) to three (3) years, as determined by the Commissioner in consultation with the Safety and Compliance Committee.
Voluntary Withdrawal	No penalty. Organizing Entity retains full eligibility for future sanctioning.
Withdrawal for Fraud or Misrepresentation	Referral to Judicial and Disciplinary Committee for further sanctions, which may include permanent ineligibility.

5.3 Reinstatement

An Organizing Entity subject to a sanction withdrawal may petition the Commissioner for reinstatement of eligibility after the applicable ineligibility period has expired. The petition must include a written explanation of the steps taken to address the underlying deficiencies and any supporting documentation. The Commissioner may require a pre-sanctioning venue inspection or remediation audit before restoring full eligibility.

SECTION 6 — RECORDS AND REPORTING

6.1 Sanction Review File

The Commissioner shall maintain a Sanction Review File for each withdrawal proceeding. The file must contain: the factual basis documentation, all notices issued, any response from the Organizing Entity, the Commissioner's decision with reasons, and any appeal outcome. Files are retained for a minimum of seven (7) years.

6.2 Annual Report

The Commissioner shall include in the annual report to the Board a summary of all sanction withdrawals and suspensions during the prior year, including the grounds and outcomes of any appeals. Identifying information regarding the Organizing Entity shall be included unless an ongoing legal proceeding makes disclosure inappropriate.

END OF DOCUMENT — IACSF-PROC-003

Questions regarding this procedure should be directed to the IACSF Commissioner's office.