Court of Arbitration for Sport (CAS) — Procedure FAQ

The Court of Arbitration for Sport is an independent institution that resolves sports-related disputes through arbitration, based in Lausanne, Switzerland. It is not a government court, but its awards are recognised and enforced in Switzerland and, through international arbitration treaties, in many other countries.

The Ordinary Division hears disputes referred directly to CAS by agreement of the parties, generally as a first-instance forum. The Appeals Division hears appeals against decisions already made by a federation, association, or sports body — which is where nearly every case in our library sits.

Either a sole arbitrator or a panel of three, drawn from CAS’s closed list of arbitrators, who are experienced in sports law and, often, international arbitration generally.

Generally 21 days from when the challenged decision is formally notified, unless the specific federation’s own rules set a different deadline — this is one of the first things to check in any potential appeal.

CAS charges a filing fee and, depending on the case, the parties may also bear arbitrator fees and costs, governed by CAS’s own cost scale. Cost exposure is a genuine strategic factor to weigh before appealing.

Generally yes — a CAS appeal is typically a full rehearing on the merits, not a narrow review of the original decision, which is different from how many national court appeals work.

Arbitrators are drawn from a closed list maintained by CAS, generally requiring recognised legal training and specific expertise in sports law or international arbitration — parties do not simply nominate anyone they choose.

Yes — CAS has a formal challenge procedure for situations where an arbitrator’s independence or impartiality is genuinely in question, though the bar for a successful challenge is high.

Yes — the panel that decides the merits of a case also rules on costs and any contribution to the winning party’s legal fees, as part of the same final award.

Generally yes on a CAS appeal, since it is typically a full rehearing on the merits rather than a narrow review — though a panel retains discretion over what it will admit, particularly evidence available earlier but not produced without good reason.

They can be, but many CAS hearings — including several cases in our own library — are conducted remotely, particularly where an in-person hearing isn’t proportionate to the matter.

Ordinary arbitration proceedings are generally confidential unless the parties agree otherwise; appeals against disciplinary decisions are more often published, which is why so many of the cases in our library have accessible facts and reasoning.

Costs are usually apportioned between the parties based on the outcome, and a losing party is often ordered to contribute to the winning party’s legal fees — though CAS panels retain real discretion over exactly how costs are split.

Not formally required, but given the complexity of the procedure and the stakes typically involved, appearing without legal representation is a significant practical disadvantage.

Most commonly English or French, CAS’s two working languages, though the specific language for a given case depends on the parties’ agreement and the underlying dispute.

Any dispute genuinely connected to sport, whether disciplinary (arising from a sanction imposed by a sports body) or contractual in nature. Athletes, clubs, federations, event organisers, sponsors, and broadcasters can all bring a claim or appeal, provided they have a real legal interest in the outcome.

Four, in total: an Ordinary Arbitration Procedure (disputes referred by agreement, often a first-instance matter); an Appeals Arbitration Procedure (an appeal against a decision already made by a federation or sports body — where most of the cases in our library sit); a procedure before the CAS Anti-Doping Division, where CAS itself acts as first-instance decision-maker on doping matters under authority delegated by the IOC and WADA signatories; and CAS Mediation, a non-binding process excluded for serious matters like doping or match-fixing.

Yes, on a one-off basis, but only if every party involved agrees in writing to submit the dispute to CAS after it has already arisen.

An Ordinary Arbitration case begins with a request for arbitration sent to the CAS Court Office. An Appeals case begins with a statement of appeal, and can only be filed once the internal remedies within the relevant sports organisation have been exhausted. Mediation begins with a written request, ideally after both sides have already agreed to try it.

No — a party can appear alone or bring someone of their own choosing, but given the procedural complexity most parties in practice do choose legal representation.

For an Ordinary procedure, each side picks an arbitrator from CAS’s official list, and those two then agree on a third to chair the panel. For an Appeals procedure, the process is similar but the panel’s president is ultimately appointed by the President of the CAS Appeals Arbitration Division if the parties don’t agree. Parties can also agree to a sole arbitrator instead of a three-person panel.

By applying to ICAS (the International Council of Arbitration for Sport) and being appointed to the official CAS list for a renewable four-year term — appointees are expected to be genuinely independent, are bound by strict confidentiality, and take part in ongoing CAS training.

In Ordinary procedures, the parties can choose which country’s law governs the substance of their dispute; if they don’t, Swiss law applies by default. In Appeals procedures, the arbitrators primarily apply the regulations of the sports body whose decision is being challenged, and secondarily the law of the country where that body is based.

An Ordinary Arbitration typically runs 12 to 18 months. An Appeals case is faster on average — around 6 to 9 months — and CAS’s own rules require the award to be issued within four months of the hearing or evidentiary process closing. Genuinely urgent matters, such as needing a ruling before a competition starts, can be expedited further.

English, French, or Spanish as standard, with interpretation into another language possible if the panel and CAS agree to it.

Yes, all CAS procedures are confidential while in progress, though CAS reserves the right to comment publicly on high-profile matters of genuine public interest once a decision has actually been issued.

It depends on the type of procedure. Ordinary Arbitration awards are confidential by default unless the parties agree otherwise or ICAS finds an overriding public interest. Appeals awards, by contrast, are published by default unless a party specifically requests confidentiality or redaction — which is exactly why so many of the cases in our own library have real, accessible facts and reasoning to draw from.

Yes — requesting an online hearing rather than an in-person one, using one of CAS’s alternative hearing centres, or agreeing to a sole arbitrator instead of a three-person panel can all meaningfully lower the cost of a case.

Yes — ICAS provides legal aid covering arbitration and hearing costs, filing fees, and even pro bono legal assistance in appropriate cases, administered through the ICAS Athletes Commission.

Only very narrowly, to the Swiss Federal Tribunal, and only on specific procedural grounds — an improperly constituted panel, CAS wrongly accepting or declining jurisdiction, a panel ruling on something it wasn’t asked to decide, a breach of the right to be heard, or an award incompatible with Swiss public policy. Only around 6% of CAS decisions are challenged at the Swiss Federal Tribunal each year, and a challenge is never a chance to re-argue the sporting facts.

Yes — parties who accept a federation’s rules (which nearly all professional athletes and clubs do) are bound by CAS’s jurisdiction and its award.

Only in narrow, exceptional circumstances — typically where genuinely new, decisive evidence emerges that could not have been discovered earlier despite reasonable diligence.

Because Switzerland is party to international arbitration treaties, a CAS award is generally enforceable in most countries in a similar way to any other international arbitral award, separate from any sporting sanctions a federation might also impose for non-compliance.