Jan 20, 2022 2 min read

CAS Ad Hoc, Anti-Doping Offices to open in Beijing for Winter Games

The Court of Arbitration for Sport ('CAS'), commencing 25 January, will open the two temporary offices in central Beijing as part of their jurisdiction to expeditiously determine disputes arising out of and in connection with the Olympic Games.

Both offices divisions will open and accept applications from 25 January as CAS has jurisdiction to determine matters arising from the games ten days before the Opening Ceremony until the final day of competition on 20 February 2022.

In a media release, CAS said they intend, through the two offices, to "provide rapid, high-quality dispute resolution services immediately before and during the Olympic Winter Games."

CAS in Beijing

The Ad Hoc Division Arbitration Rules of the Olympic Games provide jurisdiction to deal with general disputes arising from the Games where an applicant has exhausted all applicable internal remedies within the rules of their sport.

Under its Arbitration Rules, the Anti-Doping Division has authority as a first-instance doping tribunal to decide disputes and impose sanctions in place of the International Olympic Committee and any applicable International Federation.

Both divisions are generally required to determine disputes and communicate decisions within 24 hours of receiving an application.

The Ad Hoc division, operating since the 1996 games, has an established history of expedited dispute resolution consistent with the manic nature of the Olympic competition schedule. The Anti-Doping Division first operated at the 2016 Rio Olympic Games and will feature for the second time at a Winter Olympics after Pyeongchang in 2018.

At last August's Tokyo Summer Olympic Games, the Ad Hoc Division, in particular, was frequently utilised in a combination of qualification, selection and 'field of play' disputes.

Former United States Olympian and Vice-President of the International Council for Arbitration for Sport Mr Michael Lenard OLY serves as president of the Ad Hoc Division. For the Anti-Doping Division, Mr Ivo Eusebio of Switzerland is president. A range of experienced international arbitrators are available to determine applications across both divisions.

A number of the arbitrators and the hearings themselves will operate via video conference in line with COVID-19 safety measures. Hearings were conducted in this way, generally successfully, at the Tokyo Games.

CAS also announced a Pro Bono legal service will operate for athletes seeking legal assistance for CAS matters arising in Beijing. The Pro Bono service will be provided by the Beijing Bar association and Beijing Arbitration Commission.

Media Release CAS (18 January 2022)