Government enacts historic regulation to oversee baseball in the Dominican Republic
The Executive Branch has marked a turning point in the Dominican baseball industry with the enactment of Decree 601-26. This regulation establishes, for the first time, a comprehensive regulatory framework designed to organize, bring transparency to, and protect all stakeholders involved in this sport, from the professional level to recreational play and development academies.
The measure, promoted by the administration of President Luis Abinader, seeks for national baseball to have solid institutional mechanisms that guarantee legal certainty and the well-being of athletes, coaches, scouts, and organizations linked to the system.
The National Baseball Commissioner assumes oversight
The Office of the National Baseball Commissioner, an agency attached to the Ministry of Sports and Recreation, will be the entity in charge of ensuring compliance with these regulations. Its structure will be divided into two key areas:
- Technical Direction: Focused on the supervision of infrastructure, academies, training, safety standards, and the fight against doping.
- Baseball Regulation Direction: Responsible for the administrative side, including the registration and oversight of all actors in the ecosystem.
National Baseball System Registry
One of the pillars of this decree is the creation of the National Baseball System Registry. This official tool will allow for the certification and tracking of every participant, including players, leagues, agents, and representatives. According to the mandate, this database is fundamental for obtaining official and transparent information regarding the conduct and legality of those involved in the industry.
The central objective of Decree 601-26 is to raise levels of security and transparency, ensuring that Dominican baseball develops under clear rules that protect, above all, the future and integrity of our prospects.
Alofoke Deportes
Priority: Protection of minors and prospects
The regulation places special emphasis on children, adolescents, and young prospects. Academies are now required to guarantee optimal conditions for habitability, food, nutrition, and dignified treatment. Furthermore, strict measures are established to prevent:
- Situations of abuse, exploitation, or harassment.
- Overtraining practices that affect physical health.
- School dropout, ensuring that academic training is a priority.
- Deceptive recruitment practices.
Integrity and scope of recreational baseball
The regulations do not exclude recreational baseball. Leagues and organizations in this sector must comply with registration, coach certification, and safety requirements. A novel point is the requirement for a civil liability policy for teams, thus protecting participants against potential incidents.
Likewise, policies against match-fixing, conflicts of interest, and the use of prohibited substances have been integrated in order to safeguard the credibility of Dominican baseball before the international community. The Commissioner’s Office will have the authority to conduct inspections and apply corrective measures, always with strict respect for due process.
