Whether The Court Of Arbitration For Sport An Independent Arbitral Tribunal?
- IJLLR Journal
- Apr 13
- 1 min read
Muskan Sangwan, Queen Mary University of London
ABSTRACT
In 1981, IOC President Juan Antonio Samaranch envisioned a dedicated arbitration court to tackle the rising tide of complex, cross-border sports disputes with speed, flexibility, and affordability. This led to the 1983 creation of the Court of Arbitration for Sport (CAS), now hailed as the "world's supreme court for sport," operating under Swiss law to resolve everything from Olympic battles and doping cases to football feuds and commercial contracts outside national courts. Over the decades, CAS has weathered challenges to its independence—like a 1994 Swiss ruling tying it too closely to the IOC—prompting key reforms: the launch of the independent International Council of Arbitration for Sport (ICAS) for oversight, arbitrator appointment changes in 2011, and 2019 updates splitting it into specialized divisions with options for public hearings. Today's 2021 CAS Code solidifies its role as a trusted, efficient arbiter for athletes, federations, and sports organizations worldwide.
