Panel Upholds Lifetime Player Ban

Sept. 1, 2009

The three-member Senior Softball USA Appeals Board has upheld the lifetime suspension of Dick Gosse, a softball player from Minnesota.

Gosse was handed his original suspension orders in 2006 and the Appeals Board unanimously ruled in June that the ban should stand because of the seriousness of the issues and the fact that they could have led to serious harm to other players.

Gosse was suspended for what Senior Softball USA Appeals Board member Michael Boone said were numerous violations of the rules of the sport. He noted that the two most disturbing are the selling of the ASA stickers that could be applied to bats showing they were ASA-approved when they were not approved bats and using an altered bat that was later found to be illegal by a Miken Sports representative.

“The rules are pretty clear about the altered bat situation,” said Boone, SSUSA National Director. “We, as an organization, can not, nor should we ever, accept these type of actions as it has the potential to create both physical harm and potential legal issues.”

Fellow Appeals Board members Jerry Jackson and Joe Yacono issued agreeing opinions.