What I don't get is why for decades I and others have been able to withdraw from CFC+FIDE rated Ottawa weekend swiss sectional events, with no questions asked by an organizer/TD regarding what excuse I might have. I (and others) have often simply withdrawn from such a swiss event because we were having a lousy tournament. Fwiw, I've never been hassled by the CFC (or FIDE) about it, such as by an email.
No, it seems clear to me that scores of Canadian chess players, including myself, are being implicitly called unethical by FIDE in this regard.
FIDE. Who are these body cavities?