The Olympic Games: Swift justice through the CAS Ad Hoc Division

How the Court of Arbitration for Sport delivers 24-hour dispute resolution at the Winter Games

Introduction

The 2026 Winter Olympic Games in Italy are in full swing, showcasing athletic excellence on the world stage. At the time of writing, British hopes remain high despite some agonisingly close finishes, with Kirsty Muir, Mia Brookes, Jen Dodds and Bruce Mouat all delivering thrilling performances that placed them just outside the medals.

Great Britain's best medal prospects lie ahead in the Skeleton event. In pursuit of the hundredths of a second that separate silver from gold, the British Bobsleigh and Skeleton Association ("BBSA") unveiled a revolutionary helmet design for its pilots. The new helmets were engineered in accordance with IBSF rules scheduled to take effect for the 2026/27 season.

However, the International Bobsleigh and Skeleton Federation ("IBSF") ruled that these helmets could not be used during the Games, creating an immediate dispute that required urgent resolution.

This raises a critical question: how are disputes at the Olympics - an event lasting barely two weeks - resolved quickly enough to ensure fair competition? The answer lies in a specialised tribunal designed specifically for this purpose.

The CAS Ad Hoc Division: Justice at Olympic speed
 

When athletes compete at the Winter Olympic Games, disputes requiring immediate resolution are inevitable. The Court of Arbitration for Sport ("CAS") addresses this challenge through its Ad Hoc Division ("AHD"), a temporary tribunal established specifically for each Olympic Games to provide rapid, binding dispute resolution during the competition period.

Purpose and jurisdiction

The AHD functions as a specialised arbitration body designed to resolve disputes arising during or in direct connection with the Olympic Games. Its primary purpose is to deliver binding decisions within 24 hours, ensuring that controversies don't overshadow competition or unfairly impact athletes' once-in-a-lifetime opportunities.

The AHD has jurisdiction over disputes directly connected to the Games, including:

• Eligibility and qualification issues – challenges to an athlete's right to compete
• Selection disputes – disagreements over team selection decisions
• Disciplinary sanctions – appeals against penalties imposed during the Games
• Results and ranking controversies – disputes over competition outcomes
• Doping-related matters – anti-doping rule violations (in coordination with other bodies)
• Equipment disputes – such as the BBSA helmet controversy

How the Ad Hoc Division operates

Timing and location

The AHD operates from approximately one week before the Opening Ceremony until the conclusion of the Games. It establishes offices at the Olympic venue, making it physically accessible to all parties involved, a crucial factor when time is measured in hours rather than days.

Composition and expertise

The Division comprises experienced arbitrators selected by CAS specifically for their expertise in sports law and their availability during the Games period. These arbitrators work in panels, typically of three members, to hear and decide cases. Their deep understanding of both legal principles and the unique pressures of Olympic competition ensures informed, contextually appropriate decisions.

Speed and efficiency

What distinguishes the AHD from traditional arbitration is its remarkable efficiency. Whilst conventional arbitration proceedings can take months or even years, the AHD operates on an entirely different timescale:

• Hearings and decisions within 24 hours of receiving an application
• Reasoned awards provided shortly after the oral decision
• Streamlined procedures that maintain fairness whilst eliminating unnecessary delays
  This speed is not merely convenient, it is essential. An athlete who is wrongly disqualified from a heat has no meaningful remedy if the final takes place before their appeal is heard.

Key features of the Ad Hoc Division

Accessibility

The service is provided free of charge to athletes and other eligible parties, removing financial barriers to justice. This ensures that even athletes from less wealthy nations or smaller sporting federations and governing bodies, such as the BBSA, can seek redress without prohibitive costs. In the high-stakes environment of the Olympics, access to justice should not depend on financial resources.

Finality

Decisions of the AHD are final and binding, with extremely limited grounds for appeal. This finality is essential during the Games when time is of the essence. Parties can be confident that the AHD's decision will be respected and enforced, providing certainty in an environment where every moment counts.

Flexibility

The AHD can grant various forms of relief, including interim measures, and can adapt its procedures to meet the urgent nature of Olympic disputes whilst maintaining procedural fairness. This flexibility allows the Division to respond appropriately to the unique circumstances of each case, whether it involves technical equipment regulations or complex eligibility questions.

Why the Ad Hoc Division matters

For Winter Olympians, the AHD represents a crucial safety net. Whether it's a speed skater contesting a disqualification, or a cross-country skier challenging an anti-doping ruling, the AHD ensures that disputes can be resolved fairly and swiftly without disrupting the Games.

The Division's existence reflects the Olympic movement's commitment to fair play and due process. It recognises that in the high-stakes environment of the Games, where years of preparation culminate in moments of competition, athletes deserve access to impartial justice that operates at the same speed as the competition itself.

The BBSA Helmet Dispute: A case study

The BBSA's challenge to the IBSF's helmet decision exemplifies the AHD in action. The association faced a time-critical situation: their athletes needed clarity on equipment regulations before competition began. Traditional legal proceedings would have been far too slow.

The AHD provided a forum where the BBSA could present its case - that the helmets complied with forthcoming IBSF regulations - and receive a swift, binding decision. Although the challenge was ultimately rejected and the British team reverted to their previous helmets (which had brought considerable success in prior seasons), the process ensured that the dispute was resolved fairly, transparently, and quickly enough to allow athletes to prepare appropriately.

This case illustrates both the value and the limitations of the AHD. Whilst it cannot guarantee the outcome parties hope for, it guarantees a fair hearing and a timely decision, essential elements of justice in the unique context of the Olympic Games.

Conclusion
 

As the 2026 Winter Olympics continue, the CAS AHD operates quietly in the background, ready to resolve disputes that could otherwise derail competition or deny athletes their rightful opportunities. Its combination of expertise, speed, accessibility, and finality makes it an indispensable component of modern Olympic governance.

For sports lawyers, athletes, and sporting organisations, understanding the AHD's role is essential. It represents a model of how specialised dispute resolution can be adapted to meet the unique demands of time-sensitive, high-stakes environments, a lesson with applications far beyond the Olympic arena.

As for Great Britain's medal hopes in the Skeleton event, the nation watches with great anticipation!

For advice on sports law matters, arbitration, or dispute resolution, please contact Kingsley Napley's Sports Law team.

About the author

Tim is a highly regarded litigator with a strong reputation in the sports and media sectors, advising clients on complex, high-value and high-stakes disputes.