Olympic Games arbitration offices to ensure fairness and timely dispute resolution

Julian Diaz-Rainey, sport disputes specialist at Pinsent Masons, said: “The Olympics runs a tight schedule to allow all competitions to take place over the two-week period, and as a result competitors need a resolution quickly to determine whether they can or can’t compete, or whether a particular result will stand. The CAS temporary tribunals offer just that, with urgent decisions being made within 24 hours.”

The CAS established the first office, the CAS Ad Hoc Division, to handle any legal disputes that arise during the competition. This temporary tribunal has been a fixture at every summer and winter Olympic Games since 1996, as well as other sporting events. The Ad Hoc Division guarantees free access to dispute resolution services, with decisions rendered within 24 hours in urgent cases.

The second office, the CAS Anti-Doping Division, is set up to adjudicate anti-doping-related matters, and was established for the first time during the Rio 2016 Olympic Games. This office handles potential doping cases referred by the International Testing Agency in accordance with the International Olympic Committee anti-doping rules.

The office was used by three Brazilian athletes who were originally banned from participating in this summer’s Games. The applicants – a shot putter, race walker, and a sprinter – appealed against decision taken by the Athletics Integrity Unit concerning their eligibility following rejected applications to exempt them from testing requirements, filed by the Brazilian Confederation of Athletics. The panel of CAS arbitrations upheld all three appeals, with the athletes permitted to participate in their events.

By providing swift and fair resolution of disputes and anti-doping cases, the CAS aims to uphold the principles of justice and integrity in sports.

“This establishment and use of these offices is another example of the effort to ensure the Olympic Games remain a symbol of fair competition and excellence,” said Diaz-Rainey.

Both offices, located within the Paris judicial court, will continue to operate until the end of this summer’s Games on 11 August.