Athletics Track Blue

Case Collection

This collection of cases reflects disputes from the world of sports with human rights at stake. It is a work in progress, capturing past and recent cases that have been dealt with by the listed mechanisms. The aim of this depository is to support representatives of affected persons, lawyers, civil society, and others working on sport and human rights cases to find relevant precedents and other information on sport and human rights cases that have been addressed. We update this collection regularly and welcome input on specific cases to [email protected].

CAS

The Court of Arbitration for Sport (CAS) is a private body that solves sport-related disputes based on arbitration and renders legally binding awards based on the Code of Sports-related Arbitration and rules and regulations of national and international sports bodies.

Sports Bodies Mechanisms

Sport Body Mechanisms refer to procedures adopted and administered by sports bodies, such as Ethics or Disciplinary Committees, which apply relevant regulations, such as Ethics or Disciplinary Codes, but also other complaint mechanisms that sports bodies administer, such as FIFA's complaint mechanism for human rights defenders and media representatives.

Regional Human Rights Courts

Regional Human Rights Courts are legal institutions that apply regional human rights instruments, such as the European Convention on Human Rights, and holds states responsible for braching their obligations under the relevant instruments. 

OECD National Contact Points

OECD National Contact Points are institutions established by governments to apply and promote the OECD Guidelines for Multinational Enterprises, through handling cases (referred to as “specific instances”) as a non-judicial grievance mechanism. To date, 50 governments have an NCP.

National Courts

National Courts are government institutions that can rule on legal disputes between parties in civil, criminal, and administrative matters. Sports-related disputes with human rights elements do end up before national courts, in civil and criminal procedures, and all levels.