Mar 14, 2022 2 min read

Russian Olympic Committee launch CAS appeal against Youth Olympic exclusion

The Russian Olympic Committee ('ROC') has filed an appeal over the decision to prevent Russian athletes from competing in March's Winter European Youth Olympic Festival, in another Russian appeal to the Court of Arbitration for Sport ('CAS') against a sanction excluding Russian athletes over the ongoing invasion of Ukraine.

The appeal challenges explicitly the 2 March 2022 decision by the Executive Committee of the European Olympic Committees ('EOC'). The EOC said they "with reluctance" had no choice but to ban athletes and officials from Russia and Belarus. The EOC referenced the increasingly seminal IOC recommendation to "not invite or allow the participation of Russian and Belarusian athletes and officials in international competitions," when announcing their decision.

The ROC wants the challenged decision of the EOC set aside by CAS and an order that all "athletes and officials affiliated to the ROC be entitled to take part in all competitions organised by the EOC, including the 2022 Winter European Youth Olympic Festival and the 2022 Summer European Youth Olympic Festival, under the same conditions as athletes and officials affiliated to other national Olympic committees."

This appeal follows one already filed to CAS by Russia's Football Union against the FIFA and UEFA decision to ban their teams from international competition. All appeals are set to be run on arguments the decisions essentially discriminate against athletes from Russia.

The CAS Court Office has initiated an arbitration procedure in accordance with the CAS Arbitration Rules. The parties are currently exchanging written submissions, and the panel of arbitrators is being constituted.

According to the CAS statement, the ROC has not filed a request for provisional measures such as a stay on proceedings.

The Winter European Youth Olympic Festival, the equivalent of the regional Youth Olympics for Europe, is due to commence from 20 to 25 March 2022.

CAS Media Release (11 March 2022)

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