Politics, Tennis & the Ukraine War - Suspension of membership appealed (Belarus Tennis Federation v ITF)
This article analyses an award dated 9 February 2024[1] in CAS 2022/A/8914 Belarus Tennis Federation v International Tennis Federation[2] (“Award”) which was a challenge to a decision of the International Tennis Federation (“ITF”) to suspend a national federation’s membership of the ITF. The decision, yet again, emphasises the broad discretion afforded to well-reasoned decisions from sports bodies whilst holding that membership suspension did not violate the Olympic principles of neutrality and autonomy in the absence of evidence that the international governing body had acted under political pressure.
The decision is available here.
The article looks at:
- Background
- The appeal
- The BTF’s submissions
- The ITF’s submissions
- The Panel’s determinations
- Comments
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Written by
Pippa Manby
Pippa is a barrister at 4 New Square Chambers and has a broad commercial practice, encompassing general commercial disputes, professional liability and disciplinary matters, sports and costs work. Her practice encompasses disputes proceeding both by way of litigation and arbitration. She also sits as an arbitrator in sports disputes.
William Birch
Will is a commercial junior at 4 New Square, with a broad practice in line with 4 New Square’s specialisms. Will’s main areas of interest are professional liability and general commercial litigation, civil fraud, insurance, regulatory & disciplinary, and sports. He has already had exposure to appearing alone both in the High Court and at full trial in the County Court.
