The crimes of introducing prohibited substances to sports fields and disrupting the competition order (Law No. 6222, art.13)

Sports, like in many parts of the world, is a significant activity in Türkiye, appealing to a large audience and reflecting the unifying power of society. Indeed, sports encompasses positive values such as promoting a healthy lifestyle, fostering friendship, competition, and the spirit of fair play. However, the increase in violence and criminal acts within sports undermines its fundamental purposes, disrupts the safe environment, and disturbs social harmony. Hence, the existence and implementation of effective legal regulations are imperative for the proper conduct of sports activities. In this regard, the Law on Prevention of Violence and Disorder in Sports (Law No. 6222), enacted in 2011, aims to prevent crimes related to the introduction of prohibited substances into sports venues and the disruption of sporting events. The subject matter of this study revolves around the "The crimes of Introducing Prohibited Substances into Sports Fields and Disrupting Competition Order", as defined in Article 13 of the aforementioned Law. In this article, these offenses and the corresponding sanctions are defined under six subsection. Thus, an important mechanism is provided for the detection and punishment of illegal activities. Each subsection contains unique factors regarding the elements of the offense and other aspects of prosecutability. The lack of an sufficient number of academic studies and judicial precedents in this field is due to the relatively new nature of the examined offenses. This situation leads to difficulties in understanding the Law, uncertainties in combating and punishing the offenses, and ultimately, the inability to fully ensure justice. Therefore, this study aims to examine the fundamental concepts related to the offenses, their legal foundations, elements, and other relevant issues in order to highlight the controversial points. In this regard, attention is drawn to possible problems and solution proposals are presented, with the intention of contributing to the relevant field.