Andy has been writing about the governance of sport for over 15 years. Prior to working on the Sports Integrity Initiative, he was the editor of World Sports Law Report for eight years. He has also worked for the Press Association and has written for numerous trade magazines. He has also created, chaired and spoken at numerous conferences on the business of sport, and produced the Sports Law Show for iSportConnect TV.
All posts by Andy Brown
The 900 delegates at the World Anti-Doping Agency’s (WADA) annual Symposium in Lausanne heard that new International Standards are being formulated; new Articles introduced into the World Anti-Doping Code; governance reforms are being introduced; and athletes are gaining a greater – albeit limited – say in the organisation that...
The Council of the International Association of Athletics Federations (IAAF) yesterday approved ‘in principle’ a number of changes which it believes will make race walking more attractive to the media and the public, despite opposition from athletes. The 50km race walk will remain in place for both men and...
The International Association of Athletics Federations (IAAF) today maintained the suspension of the Russian Athletics Federation (RusAF), as its Taskforce advised that two conditions required for its reinstatement have not been met. Those are that RusAF has not met the costs of its suspension, and the IAAF has yet...
• Luca Mazzoni, goalkeeper with Serie B club Livorno, has been provisionally suspended after returning an adverse analytical finding (AAF) for benzoylecgonine, a metabolite of cocaine, after Lecce’s 3-2 victory over Livorno on 17 February. The provisional suspension was announced by Italy’s national anti-doping organisation (NADO Italia). • The...
The Estonian Ski Association (ESL) has said that all those proven to be involved in blood doping, or in covering up blood doping, will face a life ban from working in Estonian skiing. The ESL make the announcement after a third Estonian cross country skier, Algo Kärp, told Öhtuleht...
The International Olympic Committee (IOC) has committed to relaxing Rule 40 of the Olympic Charter in Germany, which restricts participants in the Olympic Games from advertising, following a ruling from the country’s Federal Cartel Office (Bundeskartellamt). “Our decision grants German athletes more leeway when it comes to marketing themselves...
The Sports Dispute Resolution Centre of Canada (SDRCC) has rejected an appeal from the Canadian Centre for Ethics in Sport (CCES) against a ruling that required it to cover C$1,000 (€661.50) in witness costs, paid by a University athlete in order to obtain a reduced doping sanction. If followed...
• The Russian Athletics Federation (RusAF) has announced that the International Association of Athletics Federations (IAAF) has refused to grant Authorised Neutral Athlete (ANA) status to 13 athletes, as they have not been part of a Registered Testing Pool (RTP) for the required period. Under Rule 22.1A of the...
Swiss cyclist Nicole Hanselmann finished in 74th place despite initially leading the Omloop Het Nieuwsblad 2019, after organisers were forced to halt the women’s race due to Hanselmann catching the men, who had started ten minutes earlier. ‘Today was the first spring classic in Belgium’, wrote Hanselmann on Instagram...
Two Austrian cyclists have been implicated in doping investigations that last week resulted in the arrest of five athletes and four members of an alleged doping network in Austria and Germany. It is understood that Stefan Denifl confessed to doping after being questioned by police late last week; and...
Two more rugby union players have been sanctioned as a result of investigations into former customers of the Clenbuterol NZ internet site, taking the total to 31 athletes sanctioned, 25 of which are rugby players (23 Union, two League). Separately, the Sports Tribunal of New Zealand (STNZ) announced that...
Seven Italian athletes were banned for a doping offence in February, one was issued with a reprimand, and six were provisionally suspended, according to announcements issued by Italy’s national anti-doping agency (NADO Italia). In addition, two athletes not affiliated to a national sporting association were sanctioned during the month....
Five athletes and four alleged members of a criminal network have been arrested after coordinated police raids in Austria and Germany conducted at the Nordic Skiing World Championships, which are currently taking place in Seefeld, Austria. Those arrested include five athletes, three of which were named at a press...
The Russian Biathlon Union (CBP) has confirmed that Margarita Vasilyeva is facing being sanctioned for an anti-doping rule violation (ADRV), after failing to be at her specified location for testing three times in one year. Under the World Anti-Doping Agency’s (WADA) Anti-Doping Administration and Management System (ADAMS), athletes who...
Sebastian Coe, President of the International Association of Athletics Federations (IAAF), has defended the introduction of its Eligibility Regulations for the Female Classification (Athletes with Differences of Sex Development), which were challenged by the Caster Semenya at the Court of Arbitration for Sport (CAS) last week. “It is the...
