International Dispute Resolution: Sports Disputes & Arbitration

This seminar will introduce students to the resolution of sports disputes, particularly through arbitration and as it relates to national and international-level Canadian athletes. The course will be comprised of five modules that address different topics. Module 1 will review the basics of international sports disputes and arbitration more generally, which serves as the bedrock for the resolution of most sports-related disputes. Module 2 will consist of an in-depth review of the global anti-doping system with a particular emphasis on the rules and case law applicable to the hearing of a doping case. The instructors will pull from firsthand experience representing various athletes, coaches and sports federations (eg Tyson Fury, Johan Bruyneel, the International Paralympic Committee and the World Anti-Doping Agency) in teaching this portion of the seminar.  Module 3 will address other common sports-related disputes such as carding, team selection, governance and safe sport issues. Module 4 will touch on human rights and discrimination in sport and include a discussion of important cases the instructors have worked (eg Caster Semenya’s challenge to World Athletics testosterone rules, the representation of the Canadian Women’s Soccer Team, and other athletes discriminated against based on transgenderism or gender). Module 5 will touch on the resolution of sports related disputes within professional sports. By the end of the seminar, students should be comfortable in navigate the procedures for sports-related disputes and assessing the typical substantive issues that require adjudication in sport.