25/09/2026
With the greatest respect to the Office of the President of the Republic, I feel duty-bound to respectfully clarify an important matter of law arising from this post.
The Mauritius Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu Federation (MBJJF) is not a National Sports Federation as prescribed by section 4 of the Sports Act 2016. Consequently, whatever its activities or achievements may be within its own sphere, neither the MBJJF nor athletes participating through it are legally entitled to officially represent the State of Mauritius or uphold the mauritian flag on behalf of the State at international level in the sport concerned or to present themselves as doing so.
This has also be held in the recent Supreme Court case of The All Mauritius Karate Federation v Bundhoo & Anor [2025 SCJ 495], where the Supreme Court expressly reaffirmed the legal position that:
a. “The importance of designation as a National Sports Federation lies in the fact that only a National Sports Federation can represent the State of Mauritius in competitions at international level” ;
b. “Moreover, the stand of the ministry [of Sports]is that a federation may co-exist with a National Sports Federation, with the overriding consideration that it is only the National Sports Federation that can officially represent Mauritius at the International level.”
Additionally, Section 47 provides:
“47 Offences
(1) Any person who –
(a) contravenes this Act;
(b) wilfully makes a false report, furnishes false information, fails to maintain
accounts or maintains false accounts; or
(c) …
shall commit an offence.
Accordingly, references to MBJJF athletes “carrying the Mauritian flag onto the world stage”, would be contrary to the Sport Act and create a misleading impression as to their rights and legal status under the Sports Act.
The post also contains a number of factual assertions concerning the MBJJF, including as to its history, number of clubs and athletes, geographical presence, anti-doping engagement, officials and activities, which are not matters that would ordinarily fall within the personal knowledge of the President and would necessarily appear to have been communicated to the Presidency by the delegation or other sources. I respectfully submit that particular caution is therefore warranted before such assertions are repeated or endorsed through the official platform of the Presidency, especially where they may contribute to an erroneous impression concerning the organisation's legal status and entitlement to represent Mauritius.
As President of the National Sports Federation responsible for the competitive/sport disciplines of Ju-Jitsu, including Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu (BJJ/Jiu-Jitsu), I am duty-bound to draw this important distinction to the attention of the Presidency, particularly as statements emanating from such a high institution may understandably be regarded by the public as authoritative.
For ease of reference and so that the matter may be independently verified, I attach a copy of the relevant extract of the Sports Act 2016 with the pertinent passages highlighted.
I am confident that the Presidency was not made aware of this matter and acted in good faith on the information presented to it. My purpose in making this clarification is therefore not to detract from the Office of the President, but to ensure that the statutory framework governing Mauritian sport, the authority of our Supreme Court, and the exclusive role conferred by law upon National Sports Federations in the official representation of Mauritius are accurately reflected and respected.
Nuvin Proag
Barrister-at-law
Vice-President, Legal Counsel and Head Anti-Doping Unit, Ju-Jitsu International Federation
President Ju-Jitsu African Union
President Mauritius Ju-Jitsu Federation
