The employment status and rights of funded athletes in the UK

As sport has developed into big business, the world of the enthusiastic amateur has largely disappeared and high performance athletes are encouraged to be "professional" regardless of whether they are in fact earning a decent living from their sport. The introduction of lottery funding has meant that many more athletes are training full time (or at least for substantial periods of time on a consistent basis) in the hope of securing, for the most part, medals at the Olympics.

With the stakes higher, sports bodies are taking an uncompromising approach to funded athletes’ performance, which at times has led to allegations of bullying or unfair treatment of athletes. This in turn has led to athletes speaking out and exploring what rights they have and how they can enforce them.

Accordingly, this article examines the employment status and rights of funded athletes. Specifically, it looks at:

• Background – the Jess Varnish case and the concept of "funded athlete"

• The employment status of athletes at present

• The protection and rights that funded athletes have

• The implications if funded athletes are found to be "employees" or "workers"

• Will being classed as employees or workers will provide protection for athletes?

• The alternatives available to athletes (the pros and cons of arbitration)