ITF

absence of a provisional suspension outweighs the hardship of the provisional suspension on the Covered Person. i. The Covered Person shall be notified that the PTIO has made an application for a provisional suspension and shall be given the opportunity to make submissions in response to the application. The AHO shall decide the appropriate procedure for determining the provisional suspension application, including whether the application should be determined on the papers or whether to convene a hearing. The Covered Person shall be afforded a fair process, including a reasonable opportunity to present his/her case and supporting evidence. ii. The provisions of Section H.1.c regarding the effect of a sanction of a period of ineligibility shall apply to a Covered Person who is serving a provisional suspension. The provisional suspension shall take effect from the date on which the AHO's decision regarding the application for the provisional suspension is deemed to have been received by to the Covered Person. iii. In the event that the Hearing is not commenced within sixty days from the date on which the Covered Person requested a Hearing, the Covered Person may apply to the AHO for the provisional suspension to be lifted. The provisions of Section G.1.e.(i) and (ii) shall apply to any such application by the Covered Person. f. If, for any reason, the AHO is or becomes unwilling or unable to hear the case, then the AHO may request that the TIB appoint a substitute or successor AHO for such matter in accordance with Section F. 1. g. In the event a Covered Person requests a hearing under Section G.1.c.ii or G.2.c.iii, thereafter, but no more than twenty business days after the date of the Notice or request for Hearing if received, the AHO shall convene a meeting or telephone conference with the PTIO and/or its legal representatives, the Covered Person to whom the Notice was sent and his or her legal representatives (if any), to take jurisdiction formally over the matter and to address any pre-Hearing issues. The nonattendance of the Covered Person or his or her representatives at the meeting, after proper notice of the meeting has been provided, shall not prevent the AHO from proceeding with the 55

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