Cape Town - The chairwoman of the disciplinary inquiry into the conduct of Professor Tim Noakes has ruled that the professor is entitled to be given the reasons he is facing the inquiry.
The sports scientist's legal counsel had on Monday asked the committee of the Health Professions Council of SA to provide the reasons why a preliminary committee decided to institute a hearing against Noakes.
Chairwoman Joan Adams ruled on Tuesday morning that Noakes had a constitutional right to the information and that it should be provided by 4pm on Friday February 12. She said this was a unanimous decision of the committee.
She said the failure to provide the reasons to this point was a blatant defiance of constitution and the preliminary committee's own mandate.
She said she could see no reason why Noakes should be prejudiced by having to take this request to the High Court as had been suggested by lawyer for the pro forma complainant Ajay Bhoopchand.
She noted that it was unclear if the HPSCA and its registrar would comply with her order but said it would be a travesty of justice if they did not do so.
Noakes is facing the hearing after - in 2014 - he advised Pippa Leenstra on Twitter to wean her newborn baby on to a low carbohydrate, high fat (LCHF) diet.
IOL