The recent CAS award in the Table Tennis Federation of Russia v European Table Tennis Union is a timely reminder for sports federations and event organisers managing neutral athlete status.

CAS upheld restrictions on national symbols, flags and anthems, but set aside the blanket exclusion of Russian and Belarusian players, officials and Russian clubs. A key issue was the absence of sufficient evidence that a full exclusion was a necessary, reasonable and proportionate option available.

For sports bodies, the message is clear: eligibility and neutral status decisions must be supported by robust due diligence, clear criteria, documented reasoning and proportionate risk assessment.

Harod Associates has supported sports organisations with over 1,100 independent due diligence checks in relation to neutral athlete status and athlete and official integrity screening as part of our managed service.

✉️ Get in touch to understand how we can support your organisation's next eligibility review or governance process.

https://www.harodassociates.com/contactus