Why the Competition Commission of India found the Amateur Baseball Federation of India in abuse of dominant position
Published on: 4 August 2022, 02:15 pm
CCI issued a cease-and-desist notice against the ABFI, finding that it, being the apex body for baseball activities, had abused its position by requesting State Baseball Associations not to entertain unrecognised bodies and not allow players to participate in any of the tournaments organised by such bodies.
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ON June 3, the Competition Commission of India ('CCI') delivered its decision in a dispute arising out of a complaint that the Confederation of Professional Baseball Softball Clubs ('CPBSC') filed against the Amateur Baseball Federation of India ('ABFI'). CCI issued a cease-and-desist notice against the ABFI, finding it to be in violation of Section 4 of the Competition Act, 2002; it found that the ABFI, being the apex body for baseball activities, had abused its position by requesting State Baseball Associations not to entertain unrecognised bodies (CPBSC being one such body) and not allow players to participate in any of the tournaments organised by such bodies.
The following is the background to the dispute as well as a breakdown of the CCI's decision.
What are the facts of the case?
CPBSC is a not-for-profit working with the sole objective of promotion and development of the sport of baseball and softball in India. ABFI is a registered society and has been recognised as the national sports federation for the sport of baseball, and has all the responsibilities that come with such a burden.