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date: 25 February 2021

Abstract and Keywords

This article examines the power of professional sports league commissioners to discipline and suspend players for misconduct both on and off the field. It first provides a historical background on disciplinary measures for players in different professional sports leagues, including the National Football League, over the past century. It then considers the source of the commissioner’s power and authority to discipline professional athletes for misconduct as well as the rationale behind it, focusing on the adoption of personal conduct policies at the league level. It also discusses the commissioner’s authority and power to act in the “best interests” of the sport. Finally, it analyzes the limitations on the commissioner’s power and authority, including the collective bargaining agreements and some arbitration and court rulings that involved suspensions of players by league commissioners.

Keywords: league commissioners, discipline, misconduct, professional sports leagues, professional athletes, best interests, National Football League, collective bargaining agreements, arbitration, suspensions

Richard T. Karcher

Richard T. Karcher is Associate Professor in the School of Health Promotion & Human Performance at Eastern Michigan University.

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