Court of Arbitration for Sport

About Court of Arbitration for Sport:

• It was created in 1984 and is placed under the administrative and financial authority of the International Council of Arbitration for Sport (ICAS).
• It is an institution independent of any sports organization which provides for services in order to facilitate the settlement of sports-related disputes through arbitration or mediation by means of procedural rules adapted to the specific needs of the sports world.
• Functions
  • It has the task of resolving legal disputes in the field of sport through arbitration.
  • It does this by pronouncing arbitral awards that have the same enforceability as judgements of ordinary courts.
  • It can also help parties solve their disputes on an amicable basis through mediation, when this procedure is allowed. 
  • It sets up non-permanent tribunals, which it does for the Olympic Games, the Commonwealth Games or other similar major events.
  • To take into account the circumstances of such events, special procedural rules are established on each occasion.

What kinds of disputes can be submitted to the CAS?

• Any disputes directly or indirectly linked to sport may be submitted to the CAS.
• These may be disputes of a commercial nature (e.g. a sponsorship contract), or of a disciplinary nature following a decision by a sports organisation (e.g. a doping case).

Who can refer a case to the CAS?

• Any individual or legal entity with capacity to act may have recourse to the services of the CAS.
• These include athletes, clubs, sports federations, organisers of sports events, sponsors or television companies.