Duty of Care in Sport: Making the case for a Sports Ombudsman in the UK

The first of the seven priority recommendations to be found in Baroness Tanni Grey-Thompson’s Duty of Care Review of UK Sport (2017) proposed the establishment of a Sports Ombudsman. The suggestion for such an office had been made by the authors at the consultation phase of the Review.

This article sketches out how, in ensuring that national sports governing bodies discharge their duty of care, this Ombudsman might work, the scope of its jurisdiction and the enforcement of its recommendations.

Various models are suggested with the emphasis on an accessible, athlete-centred and fully accountable approach to dispute resolution in UK sport. Of particular interest will be the suggested “maladministration” model, which, if ever acted upon, would give a Sports Ombudsman extensive powers of oversight and redress over UK sport and which might, if successful, provide the model for an independent, athlete-accountable, international sports ombudsman’s office.

Specifically, the piece looks at:

• The Duty of Care Review and the recommendation for a Sports Ombusdman;

• The role of Ombudsman elsewhere;

• How might a UK Sports Ombudsman Work?

  • Advocacy and advice - the United States Olympic Committee’s approach

  • An enhanced Independent (Football) Ombudsman

  • The maladministration model

  • The investigatory model

• The need for a preventative remit and accessibility