UEFA has launched a tender to be considered as a 'specific organiser' of a sporting competition under Article L 331-5 of France's Code du Sport, which would allow it to sell the right to offer bets to French gambling operators licensed by Law no. 2010-476, passed on 12 May.

If you are a subscriber to World Sports Law Report, click here to access the full article, or click here to sign up for a two-week free trial.

Four golfers will continue to challenge the Asian Tour's ban on other tournaments as a restraint of trade, despite failing to obtain an injunction temporarily lifting a ban imposed on them after they competed in the OneAsia tournament and failed to pay a fine. Terry Pilkadaris, Guido van der Valk and Matthew Griffin had sought an injunction from the Singapore High Court lifting the ban until their case goes to full trial.

If you are a subscriber to World Sports Law Report, click here to access the full article, or click here to sign up for a two-week free trial.

The Union Internationale de Pentathlon Moderne (UIPM) will use laser shooting at the London 2012 Olympic Games despite opposition to the technology from some UIPM member federations. The UIPM failed to secure support from two-thirds of members as required by its rules for laser use to become compulsory at its 6 November Congress.

If you are a subscriber to World Sports Law Report, click here to access the full article, or click here to sign up for a two-week free trial.

With no single party winning the election in May, the creation of a coalition government has meant we live in interesting policy times for sport. Priorities came early - the 2018 FIFA World Cup bid, a successful Olympics and a sporting legacy from the Games.

If you are a subscriber to World Sports Law Report, click here to access the full article, or click here to sign up for a two-week free trial.

FIFA has recently found six officials guilty of breaching its Code of Ethics by accepting bribes during the bidding process for the 2018 and 2022 FIFA World Cup, but found no evidence of collusion between bidding nations. David Winnie, a Solicitor with Thomas Cooper, analyses rules of conduct under FIFA's Code of Ethics, potential sanctions available to FIFA for breaches of the Code and investigates routes for possible legal action by those accused.

If you are a subscriber to World Sports Law Report, click here to access the full article, or click here to sign up for a two-week free trial.

The French social security administration has recently challenged image rights payments made to players, on the basis that they form part of the employment relationship between the player and his club and therefore should be taxable at full rate. Aurélien Hamelle, who recently acted as counsel for one of the defendants in a criminal investigation and trial into payments made to Paris Saint-Germain players, explains the background to why the French Government suspects football of hiding salary payments to players as image rights payments.

If you are a subscriber to World Sports Law Report, click here to access the full article, or click here to sign up for a two-week free trial.

The Spanish Constitution offers protection against use of one's image which may be considered damaging to one's honour. The Spanish Supreme Court recently confirmed that a Nike TV advertisement featuring Ronaldo dribbling easily past seven players did not constitute an illegitimate interference with the image rights of the seven players, as it didn't damage their honour. Ricardo Gentzsch of Schiller Abogados explains the court's reasoning and the protection afforded to image rights by the Spanish Constitution.

If you are a subscriber to World Sports Law Report, click here to access the full article, or click here to sign up for a two-week free trial.

The Government's recent Comprehensive Spending Review will result in significant reductions in the funding of Community Sport. In addition, individuals at all income levels will see a reduction in their disposable income. The Government is encouraging sport to bridge its funding gap by seeking patronage, something which the Arts have excelled at over the years. Richard Baldwin, Chair of the Community Amateur Sports Club Development Forum, explains how tax relief is available to patrons who donate to sport, and also to sport which accepts donations.

If you are a subscriber to World Sports Law Report, click here to access the full article, or click here to sign up for a two-week free trial.

Issues such as the regulation of player agents, clenbuterol doping and compensation for players injured on international duty need urgent resolution, heard delegates at Player Issues: Regulations & Contracts 2010, a World Sports Law Report conference hosted by Hammonds LLP on 14 October.

The quality of speakers and information available was praised by delegates. “There are many journals and conferences around that cover sports law, however you will struggle to find one that goes into the level of detail analysed by World Sports Law Report”, said Omar Yabroudi, Crystal Palace FC. “This event was perfect for my needs.”

Paolo Lombardi highlighted that FIFA’s decision to regulate intermediaries used during player transfers constituted – contrary to media reports – a strengthening of regulations governing use of player agents, as only 30% of international transfers utilise licensed FIFA Agents under the present regime. “If FIFA is prepared to tear down the barriers to entry for player agents, then that indicates that it wants to focus attention on every single transaction instead”, said Lombardi, CEO of sports advisory business SportsTeam and former Head of Disciplinary & Governance at FIFA. “Is FIFA giving up on agents? Perhaps. Is it giving up on protecting football? No. Will this have a positive effect? Only time will tell.”

Roberto Branco Martins, General Manager of the European Association of Football Agents (EAFA), disputed this view, arguing the dangers of an unregulated “wild west” environment. He also pointed out that whilst it is laudable that FIFA prohibit fees for work with minors, they do not limit the length of a player representation contract, meaning that an agent can sign a ten year contract with a young player. He argued that FIFA should engage the EAFA in amending the regulations.

There was also controversy over regulations which state that 3% of a transfer fee may be paid to an agent. “If the intention is to create transparency, then the regulations must also be realistic”, said Martins. “Currently agent commission falls between 5% and 10% of the transfer fee. There are also issues to be resolved with agents retaining the economic rights to players in some countries.”

In a two-part doping session, Mike Morgan of Hammonds LLP pointed out the dangers of athletes accidentally ingesting clenbuterol – a banned substance illicitly used in segments of the farming industry to increase the growth rate of livestock and keep meat lean. Clenbuterol remans present in contaminated meat and can therefore result in a positive test for a Prohibited Substance under the World Anti-Doping Code. Three times Tour de France winner Alberto Contador recently tested positive for clenbuterol, but argues he ingested it through contaminated meat. Morgan also revealed to delegates that the US Olympic Committee had shipped 11,000kg of meat to Beijing for the 2008 Olympics because of concerns over Chinese meat and, amongst other things, the potential risk it posed to athletes subject to doping control tests. He contemplated whether anti-doping authorities might be able to develop an analytical test to distinguish clenbuterol administered directly from clenbuterol ingested inadvertently following the consumption of contaminated meat.

Speaking on compensation for player injuries, Peter Limbert of Hammonds LLP said that it is “only a matter of time” before clubs challenge the lack of compensation available for injuries to players whilst on international duty. He pointed out that Bayern Munich is considering legal action after Captain Mark van Bommel returned injured from international duty and that Arsenal are also keen to pursue compensation for an injury to Robin van Persie.

Compensation for breach of contract was also a hot topic. Adam Lewis QC, of Blackstone Chambers, suggested that Article 17 of FIFA’s Regulations for the Status and Transfer of Players could be challenged as a breach of competition law. “Under FIFA rules, it is acceptable to have system to compensate actual loss for breach of contract without just cause [Article 17 of FIFA's 'Regulations for the Status and Transfer of Players], as long as it tallies with national law”, he said. “Even now, CAS arbitrators would arrive at different conclusions as to what constitutes ‘actual loss’ due to different national regulations on how to calculate this. There is therefore an argument that an award under Article 17 that is deemed to go beyond actual loss could be challenged as a possible breach of competition law.”

 David Douglas, Chairman of the World Professional Billiards and Snooker Association (WPBSA) Disciplinary Committee, also cleared up the confusion over the release of information to the respondents connected to its allegations that John Higgins had agreed to throw frames. “This was a purely practical consideration by the News of the World in order to keep control of the information while the case was ongoing”, said Douglas, a former investigating officer for the Metropolitan Police and hostage negotiator. Douglas provided delegates with a fascinating insider's account of the integrity tribunal, highly praising Sports Resolutions UK and tribunal chair, Ian Mill QC, who resolved the issue of disclosure of information that allowed the News of the World to hand over its information to the lawyers representing John Higgins and Pat Mooney.

Player Issues: Regulations & Contracts is an annual event organised by World Sports Law Report and hosted by Hammonds LLP.

World Sports Law Report offers free monthly sports law updates via email. Signing up takes seconds and can be done by clicking here.

For more information about World Sports Law Report and WSLR-organised events, please contact Ngaio Claris on +44(0) 207 012 1382.

It is "common sense" for the World Anti-Doping Agency (WADA) to set a threshold for Clenbuterol following cyclist Alberto Contador's 'adverse analytical finding' for the prohibited substance, according to Douwe de Boer, a Dutch doping scientist hired by Contador to study his 21 July test.

To read the full article, sign up for a two-week free trial to World Sports Law Report by clicking here.

Three of London's Olympic boroughs are investigating legal action against the London Organising Committee for the Olympic Games (LOCOG) after it dropped plans to end the London 2012 Marathon in East London, favouring a central London finish.

To read the full article, sign up for a two-week free trial to World Sports Law Report by clicking here.

The England and Wales Cricket Board (ECB) have agreed a mechanism for central England contracts with the Professional Cricketers Association (PCA) that allows adjustments for unexpected income and future Indian Premier League (IPL) seasons.

To read the full article, sign up for a two-week free trial to World Sports Law Report by clicking here.

Horseracing bodies and gambling industry representatives have recently clashed over the future of the Horseracing Levy, which imposes a tax on bookmakers in order to fund the UK horseracing industry. Andrew Lyman, Head of Public Affairs at bookmaker William Hill Plc, comments on why a clash of ideologies between bookmakers and the racing industry over the future of the Levy has recently come to a head.

To read the full article, sign up for a two-week free trial to World Sports Law Report by clicking here.

In September 2009, endurance horse rider Christian Yeoman was banned from competing and fined when a routine urine sample of her horse revealed traces of a banned substance. A year later, her legal team at Burges Salmon LLP secured her an extremely rare ruling of 'No Fault and No Negligence' at her tribunal, clearing her name and removing all sanctions and fines, after proving the rider had done everything she possibly could to avoid coming into contact with the substance, which was ingested through contaminated feed. Jeremy Dickerson, James Pheasant and Georgina Shaw from Burges Salmon LLP explain the details and significance that this case could have not only for equestrian athletes, but for other athletes in similar circumstances, such as Alberto Contador.

To read the full article, sign up for a two-week free trial to World Sports Law Report by clicking here.

Sports stars are increasingly becoming aware that a so-called 'super-injunction' can not only be used in the UK to prevent damaging revelations concerning their privacy being published by the press, but also to prevent publication of the fact that such an injunction exists. Rodger Burnett and Adam Smith, of Baker & McKenzie's dispute resolution team, explain the process involved in obtaining a super-injunction. They examine the Trafigura case - which proves that a super-injunction does not always work in preventing damaging revelations - and the John Terry case, explaining the reasons that a super-injunction was refused.

To read the full article, sign up for a two-week free trial to World Sports Law Report by clicking here.

The 'exclusive' broadcast model favoured by the English Premier League is currently facing a number of challenges from regulators, who are concerned about the restrictions it places on competition. In this second instalment of a two-part article, Tom Evens, Daniel Geey, Katrien Lefever and Ben Van Rompuy explain how court cases involving the use of decoders to view foreign broadcasts of English Premier League football could open the football broadcasting market to Europe-wide competition. They explain how this could ruin the territory-based sport broadcast sales model, and explain how the Dutch Eredivisie's approach could offer a viable alternative.

To read the full article, sign up for a two-week free trial to World Sports Law Report by clicking here.

Portsmouth's financial difficulties last season held some important lessons for football clubs entering a Corporate Voluntary Arrangement (CVA) with creditors in order to avoid insolvency. Trevor Watkins, Head of Sport at Clarke Willmott and recognised for his role in leading AFC Bournemouth out of receivership, analyses how the Portsmouth situation evolved, Her Majesty's Revenue & Customs (HMRC) opposition to the club's CVA and to the preferential treatment the 'football creditors' rule offers to creditors within football over ordinary creditors. He also explains why some CVAs are acceptable to HMRC while others are not, and explains why the Portsmouth saga may not yet be over.

To read the full article, sign up for a two-week free trial to World Sports Law Report by clicking here.

The three Pakistani cricketers charged with corruption offences under Article 2 of the International Cricket Council's (ICC) Anti-Corruption Code could also face charges under Section 42 of the Gambling Act 2005, according to gambling lawyers. Under Section 42(1)(b) of the Gambling Act, a person commits an offence if he 'does anything for the purpose of enabling or assisting anoher person to cheat at gambling'.

To access the full article, sign up for a free trial to World Sports Law Report by clicking here. World Sports Law Report is also organising Player Issues: Regulations & Contracts, a conference taking place at the London offices of Hammonds on 14 October. For more information, click here.

The World Anti-Doping Agency (WADA) has warned that careful wording should be used in the advertising of supplements, after an OmegaFlex press release appeared to state that its product had WADA's 'seal of approval' and is 'safer for athletes to use'.

To access the full article, sign up for a free trial to World Sports Law Report by clicking here. World Sports Law Report is also organising Player Issues: Regulations & Contracts, a conference taking place at the London offices of Hammonds on 14 October. For more information, click here.

World Snooker is to review its rules on betting and corruption after it was forced to drop match-fixing charges against John Higgins' agent, Pat Mooney, due to the definitions used. World Snooker was persuaded that it would not be able to prove the charges due to the definitions of the words 'Tour', 'Tournament' and 'Match' that appear in rules 3.1.2.2 and 3.1.4.1, which relate to acceptance of bribes in return for fixing a match and fraudulent conduct.

To access the full article, sign up for a free trial to World Sports Law Report by clicking here. World Sports Law Report is also organising Player Issues: Regulations & Contracts, a conference taking place at the London offices of Hammonds on 14 October. For more information, click here.

The 'exclusive' broadcast model favoured by the English Premier League is currently facing a number of challenges from regulators, who are concerned about the restrictions it places on competition. In this first instalment of a two-part article, Tom Evens, Daniel Geey, Katrien Lefever and Ben Van Rompuy explain the current challenges facing the Premier League and how the Dutch Eredivisie's decision to wholesale its own channel to could offer an alternative that placates regulators.

To access the full article, sign up for a free trial to World Sports Law Report by clicking here. World Sports Law Report is also organising Player Issues: Regulations & Contracts, a conference taking place at the London offices of Hammonds on 14 October. For more information, click here.

The Court of Arbitration for Sport recently reversed a 2008 International Olympic Committee decision to order team-mates of Marion Jones to return medals won at the Sydney 2000 Olympic Games, after Jones admitted using a prohibited substance in 2007. Matt Totman and Mariana Rybynok, of Baker & McKenzie LLP, explain the reasoning of the CAS in deciding that team-mates of Jones could not be disqualified due to the wording of the 2000 Olympic Charter, despite an amended 2008 Charter allowing such disqualification. They also examine the implications that this ruling has for sporting bodies.

To access the full article, sign up for a free trial to World Sports Law Report by clicking here. World Sports Law Report is also organising Player Issues: Regulations & Contracts, a conference taking place at the London offices of Hammonds on 14 October. For more information, click here.

Four football referees have won their case against the mandatory retirement age of 48 imposed by the Professional Game Match Officials Limited in the UK. Kenny Scott, a Solicitor with Shepherd and Wedderburn LLP, examines the reasons why an employment tribunal agreed that a mandatory retirement age of 48 constituted age discrimination, although referees did not fall within the definition of 'employees' required for an unfair dismissal claim.

To access the full article, sign up for a free trial to World Sports Law Report by clicking here. World Sports Law Report is also organising Player Issues: Regulations & Contracts, a conference taking place at the London offices of Hammonds on 14 October. For more information, click here.

The 2010 FIFA World Cup highlighted the increasing trend of footballers choosing to play for countries other than those in which they were born. Ryan S. Hilbert and Ricardo Gentzsch compare the nationality rules of FIFA and UEFA with those of the IOC, in the light of Court of Arbitration for Sport rulings which state that the possibility of changing nationality must remain open to athletes. They also suggest possible changes to football's regulations that may assist it with its aim of preserving the strength of national teams.

To access the full article, sign up for a free trial to World Sports Law Report by clicking here. World Sports Law Report is also organising Player Issues: Regulations & Contracts, a conference taking place at the London offices of Hammonds on 14 October. For more information, click here.

The England and Wales High Court recently ruled that an eight-year agreement between Proactive Sports Management and Wayne Rooney - signed when the player was just 16 - is unenforceable as a restraint of trade. Chris Sweeney and George Castro of Teacher Stern LLP examine the reasoning behind this ruling and the implications it has for player representation contracts.

To access the full article, sign up for a free trial to World Sports Law Report by clicking here. World Sports Law Report is also organising Player Issues: Regulations & Contracts, a conference taking place at the London offices of Hammonds on 14 October. For more information, click here.

The sports industry and bookmakers are cooperating more than ever before in their efforts to eradicate corruption and provide a fair return to sport, it emerged at Sport, Gambling & Sponsorship, a World Sports Law Report Briefing on 14 September. However, although united in this common aim, issues such as who should be responsible for convicting betting cheats and what constitutes a fair return to sport from gambling still need to be tackled.

Nick Tofiluk, Director of Regulation at the Gambling Commission, told delegates that although 108 cases of suspicious betting were reported to the Commission between 1 September 2007 and 31 March 2010, 60 have been closed due either adequate action being taken by a sports governing body or lack of evidence to secure a conviction. Just one conviction has been secured to date in relation to greyhound racing, and eight cases remain active, including two involving snooker. Tofiluk said that criminal investigations against sport are often discontinued because sports governing bodies can deal with the issue. “Criminal investigations are costly, lengthly and it is often difficult to predict the outcome”, he said. “In many cases, the standard of evidence does not reach the standard required to secure a criminal conviction”.

Nic Coward, Chief Executive of the British Horseracing Authority, underlined the importance of the levy in providing a financial return to horseracing from betting, and said that the concept should be extended to all sport. He expressed dismay that many of the major players in the industry – such as William Hill – had decided to locate their online operations offshore, depriving the horseracing industry of potential levy revenues. “We need to break out of this ludicrous and destructive cycle that we are in”, said Coward, referring to the situation whereby bookmakers located in Great Britain must contribute to the horseracing levy, while those receiving a licence through the ‘whitelist’ of approved foreign jurisdictions escape the levy. “Our focus is on securing a fair return for horseracing, but we would also like to see a fair return to all sports”. Under the Betting, Gaming and Lotteries Act 1963 (as amended), the Horserace Levy Betting Board collects monetary contributions from bookmakers and the Tote via a levy, which it then distributes for the improvement of horseracing.

Coward pressed the point that a holistic approach is needed to any review of the current levy system encompassing all sports. He advocated “the creation of a modern market in which betting operators wanting to offer a bet must enter into enforceable contracts for the right to do so”. France’s Code du Sport, which allows sporting event organisers control over the ‘right to offer bets’, was held up as an example of how this can work. It even has European Commission approval, as confirmed by another speaker, Gianluca Monte, a Policy Advisor to the European Commission’s Sports Unit.

Many thanks to all of our speakers, delegates and to gambling regulatory experts Berwin Leighton Paisner LLP, who hosted today’s event in an amazingly equipped conference room at their London offices and were instrumental in securing speakers.

For the full programme and speaker list, click here. If you are interested in receiving a copy of the presentations, please email me.

Andy Brown

Since 1998, the National Collegiate Athletics Association has used the Bowl Championship Series (BCS) System to decide which ten teams will compete in a playoff system to determine the college football champion in the US. The BCS uses polls and computer selection methods to determine team rankings and to determine which 10 teams from each of the six BCS conferences and five other college football conferences will compete to become champion.

College football is very popular in the US – in 2008, the average attendance for NCAA Division I FBS football was 46,971, and ABC’s coverage of the Alabama’s 37-21 defeat of Texas in the BCS Championship Game attracted a TV rating of 17.2, or 19.7 million households. This illustrates that college football is very lucrative in the US and is vital to the funding of education.

However, the BCS system is not without its critics. In this article, Sports Management Degrees points out ten flaws with the BCS system as opposed to a regular playoff system.

Andy Brown

Four golfers have filed a lawsuit with the Singapore Supreme Court against the Asian Tour's ban on players taking part in other tournaments.

To access the full article, click here. If you are not a World Sports Law Report subscriber but would like to activate a two-week free trial, click here.

Her Majesty's Revenue & Customs (HMRC) will pursue its challenge to Football Association Premier League's rules requiring clubs to pay football creditors in full in the event of administration, despite losing a High Court case ([2010] EWHC 2013 (Ch)) against Portsmouth's Company Voluntary Agreement (CVA). The case is due to be heard in November.

To access the full article, click here. If you are not a World Sports Law Report subscriber but would like to activate a two-week free trial, click here.

A number of expert speakers will address delegates attending Sport, Gambling & Sponsorship 2010, a World Sports Law Report event that will be hosted at the London offices of Berwin Leighton Paisner LLP on 14 September.

To access the full article, click here. If you are not a World Sports Law Report subscriber but would like to activate a two-week free trial, click here.

On 6 July, the World Anti-Doping Agency (WADA) and the International Federation of Pharmaceutical Manufacturers and Associations (IFPMA) signed a Joint Declaration of Cooperation in the Fight against Doping in Sport. This agreement aims to facilitate voluntary cooperation between WADA and IFPMA member companies, to identify medicinal compounds with doping potential, minimise misuse of medicines still in development, improve the flow of relevant information and facilitate development of detection methods in the context of the fight against doping in sport.

To access the full article, click here. If you are not a World Sports Law Report subscriber but would like to activate a two-week free trial, click here.

The 2010 FIFA World Cup will be remembered in the Netherlands not only for the country's excellent performance, but also for FIFA's attempted prosecution of women wearing orange miniskirts bearing Bavaria Beer's logo. Kris Lines and Jon Heshka, sports law Professors, examine the effectiveness of FIFA's methods of protecting itself from ambush marketing, how FIFA's rights protection is written into legislation and how this applied in South Africa.

To access the full article, click here. If you are not a World Sports Law Report subscriber but would like to activate a two-week free trial, click here.

Sport is increasingly coming into conflict with legislation, but argues that it has the autonomy to set its own rules outside of national and international law. Simon Thorp and Adam Leadercramer, of Onside Law, examine the effectiveness of self-regulation and the increasing distillation of the concept that sport can self-regulate, as well as reviews that have taken place into the effectiveness of this self-regulation and the changes in sports governance that this has effected.

To access the full article, click here. If you are not a World Sports Law Report subscriber but would like to activate a two-week free trial, click here.

The Court of Arbitration for Sport (CAS) has ruled that although Stephen Appiah breached his contract with Turkish football club Fenerbahçe without just cause, he is not liable to pay the club compensation. Peter Limbert, an Associate with Hammonds, explains the background to the case and its significance.

To access the full article, click here. If you are not a World Sports Law Report subscriber but would like to activate a two-week free trial, click here.

International sport is increasingly realising that the UK's tax regime makes it a very unattractive place, as recent comments by Usain Bolt and the International Cricket Council illustrate. Richard Baldwin, a tax consultant who advised London's bid for the 2012 Olympics, explains why this is the case and explains how the government could make a few changes to sort out the situation.

To access the full article, click here. If you are not a World Sports Law Report subscriber but would like to activate a two-week free trial, click here.

Unfortunately, there have recently been a number of instances where sporting event organisers have had to eject spectators due to their behaviour. Kelly Hudson and Rod Findlay, of McDaniel & Co. Solicitors, explain the circumstances behind these recent incidents and the support offered by UK legislation to those seeking to eject spectators.

To access the full article, click here. If you are not a World Sports Law Report subscriber but would like to activate a two-week free trial, click here.

Paris Saint-Germain (PSG) and Nike France have been found guilty of falsifying and hiding payments to players within image rights contracts by the 11ème Chambre du Tribunal Correctionnel de Paris on 30 June, but not guilty of falsifying contracts. Nike and PSG will decide whether to appeal the ruling by mid-July, as they insist that the payments examined were penalty clauses for breach of contract by PSG players.

To read the full article, click here to sign up for a free trial to World Sports Law Report.

FIFA will work with other team sports federations and the International Olympic Committee (IOC) in order to find a solution to what it views as a common problem - that the international transfer market is damaging national teams. FIFA denied media reports that it has abandoned its proposal to require the starting 11 of any football club to contain six players eligible for the national team in which that club is based ('6+5'), claiming that other international federations are looking for a similar solution.

To read the full article, click here to sign up for a free trial to World Sports Law Report.

The International Olympic Committee (IOC) is establishing a working group to formulate a 'unified strategy' to tackle corruption caused by sports betting. "The IOC considers betting as one of the biggest threats to the integrity of sport after doping", said an IOC spokesperson. "Some federations have already put together structures to address the problem. It will now be up to the working group to propose a unified strategy."

To read the full article, click here to sign up for a free trial to World Sports Law Report.

The federation of European professional player associations has entered into a ground breaking campaign with the betting industry to educate professional sportsmen and women about the issues surrounding sporting integrity and betting.

To read the full article, click here to sign up for a free trial to World Sports Law Report.

In a unanimous opinion, the US Supreme Court decided that the National Football League should not be considered immune from antitrust scrutiny when licensing team logos, names and other trademarks. Ryan Rodenberg, an Assistant Professor at Florida State University and Pamela Lester, President of Lester Sports and Entertainment and former President of the Sports Lawyers Association, examine the case and its implications for merchandising conducted by single entity leagues in the US. Rodenberg and Lester both previously worked in the legal department of sports marketing company Octagon, at its Washington DC headquarters.

The City of Vancouver made a number of regulatory changes in order to ease its hosting of the Vancouver 2010 Olympic and Paralympic Games. In the first instalment of this two-part article, published in the June edition of World Sports Law Report, Paul Henderson, City of Vancouver Director of Olympic and Paralympic Operations, outlined the main regulatory provisions made. In this second instalment, he explains how the regulatory provisions were enforced. This article accompanied a presentation at Ithaca College's 'Conference on Law, Policy and the Olympic Movement' on 13-14 May.

To read the full article, click here to sign up for a free trial to World Sports Law Report.

The recent damaging stories about John Terry, John Higgins and Lord Triesman have brought into the spotlight potential issues with press standards, in particular relating to privacy, methods used by the press to obtain stories and the effectiveness of the press self-regulatory system. These stories highlight that it is difficult to prevent a damaging story breaking and once the story is out, damage control is a difficult exercise. Matt Totman and Cecile Thote, of Baker & McKenzie LLP, examine these issues and the House of Commons Culture, Media and Sport Committee report on Press standards, privacy and libel, published in February 2010.

To read the full article, click here to sign up for a free trial to World Sports Law Report.

A group of female ski jumpers took legal action against the Vancouver Organizing Committee for the 2010 Olympic and Paralympic Winter Games, alleging that its failure to include a women's ski jumping event amounted to a breach of the Canadian Charter of Rights and Freedoms. Seema Patel, a Lecturer in Sports Law and Management with Nottingham Trent University, examines the International Olympic Committee's criteria for inclusion in the Olympics, the exceptions that exist for traditional Olympic events and the current status of the appeal.

To read the full article, click here to sign up for a free trial to World Sports Law Report.

A sub-commission of the Commission for Education in the Spanish Congress has recently approved a report urging the Government to enact a new Spanish Sports Act, which will allow stricter financial regulation of sport. Ricardo Gentzsch, an Abogado with Schiller Abogados, examines the reasons why a new Act is needed and the provisions it intends to introduce.

To read the full article, click here to sign up for a free trial to World Sports Law Report.

Luca Ferrari, a member of World Sports Law Report’s editorial board, has been appointed Chairman of Italy’s Serie B football competition, following its split from Serie A. “I am the legal advisor to the Serie B and my role as President is a temporary one to allow proper selection of candidates that will serve the league”, said Ferrari, has headed of CBA Studio Legale e Tributario’s sports and media practice since 1997.

Following the split, Italy’s Serie A and Serie B will have new internet sites (see previous links) to replace the Lega Calcio internet site. Serie A will be branded Serie A TIM following sponsorship by Telecom Italia Mobile and Serie B will be branded Serie Bwin, following sponsorship by betting company Bwin until 30 June 2012.

Andy Brown

Events in today’s World Cup games have only strengthened my belief that technology should be used to review decisions in football. Yesterday, I suggested that two appeals should be allowed per half and only yellow and red cards should be subject to appeal. I was wrong. All decisions should be subject to video appeal, but only two appeals per half should be allowed. Frank Lampard’s disallowed goal and the failure to signal Tevez offside both had a massive impact on the Germany v England and Argentina v Mexico games. Mexico found themselves in a ridiculous situation, as a replay on the big screen at the stadium proved that the referee was wrong, but he refused to change his mind about allowing the goal, despite everyone in the stadium (and at home) knowing that the decision was the wrong one.

FIFA’s Laws of the Game, 2010/11 read: ‘The decisions of the referee regarding facts connected with play, including whether or not a goal is scored and the result of the match, are final. The referee may only change a decision on realising that it is incorrect or, at his discretion, on the advice of an assistant referee or the fourth official, provided that he has not restarted play or terminated the match.’

While the referee in the Argentina v Mexico game could have changed his mind following the replay on the big screen, he perhaps felt pressured by FIFA’s refusal to allow video review of decisions. In the Germany v England game, there was no big screen replaying events (as far as I know). The referee was therefore unaware that his decision was the wrong one, so FIFA’s Laws of the Game would not have helped. FIFA needs to allow video review of such decisions now, or - as we saw in the Argentina v Mexico match - tempers can become easily frayed. As I have said before, allowing the captain to call for two video reviews per half would not disrupt the game and would allow injustices to be righted. Again, comments are welcome on this!

Andy Brown

Both rugby codes, cricket and tennis have recently adopted use of video technology to review decisions made by umpires in order to make sport fairer, yet football continues to resist. I can understand the argument that to allow review of referee decisions would interrupt the flow of the game, and FIFA President Sepp Blatter’s views on the subject are well documented. I agree that to allow review of all referee decisions would ruin the game, however decisions such as sending off Chile’s Estrada for an alleged foul on Spain’s Torres have got me thinking that something must be done. It appeared to me that Torres had either tripped or dived, as there was minimal contact. You can judge for yourself by watching the BBC highlights video here. Chile’s coach commented that the sending off changed the dynamics of the game. I agree and do not think that the incident merited a dismissal.

Given that red cards can result in such a change within a game (and given the amounts of money that are sometimes at stake), perhaps FIFA could consider adopting a system similar to the one used in cricket, where decisions can be appealed to a video referee. Cricket allows three referrals per innings and perhaps football could introduce two appeals per half.

I hope that eagle-eyed readers have spotted the obvious problem with this. If all decisions can be appealed, a team could save its appeals until the opportune moment in order to disrupt the flow of their opponents when coming forward, by disputing offside calls, etc. That is why this privilege should be reserved for yellow and red cards. When these are issued, the game has stopped anyway and so the argument that such a review system disrupts the flow of the game doesn’t apply. An added advantage is that it would allow referees to sanction players that do dive in order to get an opponent booked. Imagine the difference it would have made to the Spain versus Chile game if the referee had judged Torres to have dived. I cannot see any problem with this sensible use of technology to reduce injustices within the game. Please feel free to comment!

Andy Brown

The Football Association Premier League has said that it will "robustly defend" a challenge to its Football Creditors rule, which requires debts within football to be settled in full in the event of insolvency. Her Majesty's Revenue & Customs (HMRC) filed a writ with the High Court of England and Wales on 18 May. The Premier League must respond by 17 June.

To access the full article, sign up for a free trial to World Sports Law Report by clicking here.

The Financial Fair Play Regulations approved by UEFA's Executive Committee on 27 May will give Europe's football clubs three years to reduce annual losses to under €5 million, unless they have a wealthy benefactor. Clubs with benefactors will be allowed to exceed this limit, but only for a limited time.

To access the full article, sign up for a free trial to World Sports Law Report by clicking here.

The medical team responsible for examining gender verification tests conducted on South African athlete Caster Semenya has failed to deliver a full report to the International Association of Athletics Federations (IAAF), forcing the cancellation of a Ministry of Sport & Recreation press conference to discuss her return to competition.

To access the full article, sign up for a free trial to World Sports Law Report by clicking here.

The recent case of Football Dataco v Stan James provided hope for UK sporting bodies keen to protect and commercialise their data, as the High Court found that database copyright exists under the Database Directive for English and Scottish football fixture lists. Nick Fitzpatrick and John Cloke, of DLA Piper UK LLP, examine the history of copyright protection for sporting data and the implications of this latest ruling, exploring whether organisers of sporting events still need better protection from those that profit by 'piggy-backing' on the investment made in sporting data and sporting events as a whole.

To access the full article, sign up for a free trial to World Sports Law Report by clicking here.

Investors often employ financial advisers when looking to acquire sporting clubs. Advisers commonly bargain for a 'success fee' should the takeover be successful. Sohrab Daneshku, an Associate with Lewis Silkin LLP, examines a recent case where the 'success fee' was disputed, Seymour Pierce Limited v Grandtop International Holdings Limited.

To access the full article, sign up for a free trial to World Sports Law Report by clicking here.

The City of Vancouver made a number of regulatory changes in order to ease its hosting of the Vancouver 2010 Olympic and Paralympic Games. In the first instalment of a two-part article, Paul Henderson, City of Vancouver Director of Olympic and Paralympic Operations, outlines the main regulatory provisions made. This article accompanied a presentation at Ithaca College's 'Conference on Law, Policy and the Olympic Movement' on 13-14 May.

To access the full article, sign up for a free trial to World Sports Law Report by clicking here.

BSkyB and Ofcom have reached an agreement that postpones the UK communications regulator's requirement that BSkyB supply its Sky Sports 1 and 2 channels to competitors at a reduced price. Stephen Hornsby, Head of Sports Group at Davenport Lyons, explains that although Ofcom's return to its interventionist approach doesn't sit comfortably with competition law, BSkyB's appeal is unlikely to succeed due to case law history in this area. He also examines the impact that the failure of its appeal could have on sports TV rights.

To access the full article, sign up for a free trial to World Sports Law Report by clicking here.

World snooker's highest ranked player, John Higgins, recently said that he agreed to lose frames in future snooker events with undercover reporters as he suspected them to be part of the mafia, and therefore a danger to him. Kelly Hudson and Rod Findlay, of McDaniel & Co. Solicitors, examine whether this defence for his actions could reduce sanctions against him.

To access the full article, sign up for a free trial to World Sports Law Report by clicking here.

Although no official FIFA release has been issued, FIFA abandoned its '6+5' proposal to require club teams to field at least six players eligible for the national team of the country in which the club is based at its recent Congress, reports the BBC. FIFA has consistently insisted that due to the incorporation of the European Commission's White Paper on Sport into the Treaty on the Functioning of the European Union, sport can set regulations that might conflict with freedoms enshrined in the Treaty in order to preserve the 'special characteristics' of sport. Does its abandonment of '6+5' constitute an admission that this is not the case?

According to the BBC article, FIFA is now considering 'other eligibility' options. It would be interesting to know how - or if - these options differ from those already in place. For example, UEFA's Homegrown Players rules require clubs qualifying for its Champions League and Europa League to include eight 'homegrown' players in a squad of 25 from the 2008/9 season. 'Homegrown' players constitute 'those who, regardless of their nationality, have been trained by their club or by another club in the same national association for at least three years between the age of 15 and 21'. This requirement should not be a struggle for most European clubs. World Sports Law Report will be investigating if FIFA decides to 'push the envelope' and go above and beyond this requirement.

Andy Brown

FIFA has recently announced that there is ‘no indication that there is any basis to the allegations reported by Lord Triesman’ of corruption in the 2010 World Cup and in the bidding process to host the 2018 and 2022 World Cups. It came to this conclusion after speaking to the Football Association, Lord Triesman, the Russian FA, the Spanish FA and ‘various sources’, which it would not reveal.

It would be interesting to know who those ‘various sources’ were. Let us imagine, for a minute, that the allegations were true and evidence existed that Spain was attempting to bribe referees at the 2010 World Cup and that if Spain were to drop out of the bidding race to host the 2018/2022 World Cup, then Russia might help bribe referees in exchange for votes.

The Spanish and Russian FAs are hardly going to implicate themselves on receipt of a letter from FIFA asking them if they are corrupt. I also understand Triesman’s defence that his comments were made in private about speculation in the media. However, let’s consider his actual comments. According to the original article in the Daily Mail, he said: ‘There’s some evidence that the Spanish football authorities are trying to identify the referees...and pay them.’

FIFA is supposed to be the guardian of world football. It should investigate claims that evidence exists of corruption properly - i.e. by doing more than just asking those accused of corruption if they are indeed corrupt. A proper investigation is needed.

Andy Brown

The FIFA Ethics Committee is to investigate comments made by former English Football Association (FA) Chairman Lord Triesman, which allege corruption in the 2010 World Cup and in bidding to host the 2018 and 2022 World Cups.

To read the full article, sign up for a free trial to World Sports Law Report by clicking here.

The Indian Olympic Association (IOA) has rejected a government plan to limit the tenure of sport administrators, after the International Olympic Committee (IOC) sent it a warning letter.

To read the full article, sign up for a free trial to World Sports Law Report by clicking here.

Spain's professional football clubs have urged the Government to pass legislation specifying that audiovisual rights to professional football should be sold centrally, after the Liga BBVA (first division) voted to split from the Liga Adelante (second division).

To read the full article, sign up for a free trial to World Sports Law Report by clicking here.

The lack of compensation for players injured whilst on international duty will be a key concern for many clubs during the upcoming 2010 FIFA World Cup. Peter Limbert, an Associate Solicitor with Hammonds LLP's Sports Group in London, explains the difficulties that clubs face against the background of FIFA's applicable Regulations and examines whether those Regulations may be open to challenge.

To read the full article, sign up for a free trial to World Sports Law Report by clicking here.

Recent incidents, such as the death of luger Nodar Kumaritashvili during training at the Vancouver 2010 Winter Olympics, have again raised the difficult question of who is liable when an athlete dies. Helen Grimberg, a Partner in the Leisure Team at Berrymans Lace Mawer LLP, examines whether consent to the inherent risks involved in sport participation can validly protect against liability when a party other than the athlete is at fault for an athlete's death - a pertinent question given the proximity of the London 2012 Olympics.

To read the full article, sign up for a free trial to World Sports Law Report by clicking here.

In Italy, football Managers do not traditionally have the final say over player signings, unlike in England. However, the rights of Italian football Managers are protected by a Collective Labour Agreement between the football authorities and the Italian football coaches association. Luca Ferrari, of CBA Studio Legale e Tributario, explains how this agreement operates and the obligations it bestows on both clubs and their Managers.

To read the full article, sign up for a free trial to World Sports Law Report by clicking here.

The Fédération Equestre Internationale has taken a number of steps to combat equine doping since six horses tested positive at the Beijing 2008 Olympics, including establishing new anti-doping regulations that distinguish between banned substances and controlled medication substances that can be used out of competition, establishing a more comprehensive list of prohibited substances for horses and establishing its first integrity unit which can investigate suspected anti-doping rule violations. Anna Blakeley, a Solicitor with Bird & Bird's Sports Group, examines these changes.

To read the full article, sign up for a free trial to World Sports Law Report by clicking here.

A recent judgment allowed football players to transfer from a bankrupt professional club to an amateur club outside of the transfer window, against the wishes of the Dutch football association (KNVB). Mads Frost, a Lawyer with Lett Law Firm, examines to what extent FIFA's Regulations allow national associations to govern when a player can move clubs, the KNVB's regulations on transfers, and the reasoning of the Court in deciding that the KNVB's regulations cannot be in conflict with principles enshrined in national law.

To read the full article, sign up for a free trial to World Sports Law Report by clicking here.

Sporting organisations will be able to better commercialise fixture lists and protect them from unauthorised reproduction, after the England and Wales High Court ruled that fixture lists are subject to database copyright under the Database Directive (96/9/EC).

To view the full article, sign up for a free trial to World Sports Law Report here.

World Sports Law Report (WSLR) is organising Sport, Gambling & Sponsorship 2010, a Briefing examining legal, integrity and other issues created by the increasingly complex relationship between sport and gambling. It will be held at the London offices of Berwin Leighton Paisner LLP on 14 September.

To view the full article, sign up for a free trial to World Sports Law Report here.

BSkyB and Ofcom put an interim agreement to the Competition Appeals Tribunal (CAT) on 29 April, which - if approved - would postpone Ofcom's requirement that BSkyB must supply Sky Sports 1 and 2 to other retailers at a reduced price. Following its investigation into the pay-TV market, UK communications regulator Ofcom required BSkyB to offer its sports content to other retailers at a 'wholesale must offer' (WMO) price set by Ofcom. BSkyB is preparing an appeal to the CAT against Ofcom's 31 March decision.

To view the full article, sign up for a free trial to World Sports Law Report here.

As image rights payments are typically taxed more favourably than salary payments, many countries have begun to investigate whether football clubs are disguising salary as image rights payments. Matthew Wentworth, a Barrister with Olswang LLP, examines the tax burden on professional footballers, what the UK and other countries are doing to tackle this issue and safeguards that clubs should consider adopting to avoid future problems.

To view the full article, sign up for a free trial to World Sports Law Report here.

The Italian Olympic Committee (CONI) decided to implement a €100,000 fine for any athlete reporting a positive drug test at the 2010 Vancouver Winter Olympics. Stella Riberti, a Trainee Solicitor at CBA Studio Legale e Tributario, examines the reasons behind CONI's sanction and how it gels with Italian doping regulations, which do not require intention on the part of the athlete and Italy's criminal law against doping, which does require intention. She also explores possible windows for challenging the size of the sanction under the World Anti-Doping Code.

To view the full article, sign up for a free trial to World Sports Law Report here.

The European Court of Justice (ECJ) recently ruled that football clubs can seek compensation for training young players, as long as that compensation is directly related to the club's cost in training that player. April Carr, an Associate in the EU & Competition team at Olswang LLP, examines the reasoning of the ECJ in Olympique Lyonnais SASP v Olivier Bernard and Newcastle United FC, and explains why the Fédération Française de Football's Charter breached the Treaty on the Functioning of the European Union.

To view the full article, sign up for a free trial to World Sports Law Report here.

Lord Moynihan, Chairman of the British Olympic Association, has announced plans to introduce a bill into the House of Lords to give police greater powers to search athletes' rooms at London 2012. Jim Sturman QC, a Barrister at 2 Bedford Row and David Patience (currently a Pupil Barrister in the same set of chambers) consider whether the creation of such powers would be a feasible, desirable or necessary addition to UK criminal law.

To view the full article, sign up for a free trial to World Sports Law Report here.

The Department for Culture Media and Sport recently published a Response to its Consultation on Ticketing and Ticket Touting, concluding that it would encourage self-regulation rather than making all unauthorised re-selling a criminal offence. Kitty Turner and Rebecca Fry, of Farrer & Co. LLP, explore the Response and examine measures that event organisers can take both to prevent ticket touting, and prosecute ticket touts.

To view the full article, sign up for a free trial to World Sports Law Report here.

Italy has become the first country to fine athletes for doping. The Comitato Olimpico Nazionale Italiano (CONI) made all 109 athletes and officials wishing to participate at the Vancouver 2010 Winter Olympics sign an agreement to pay €100,000 if they report a positive drug test.

To read the full article, sign up for a free trial to World Sports Law Report.

German 1.Bundesliga club Hannover 96 is challenging paragraph 8.2 of the Deutsche Fußball Liga (DFL) Statutes, which prevents outside investors from taking a majority stake in a 1 or 2 Bundesliga club, in the Permanent Court of Arbitration.

To read the full article, sign up for a free trial to World Sports Law Report.

Her Majesty's Revenue & Customs (HMRC) is in discussion with the FA Premier League (FAPL) about whether clubs are paying salary through image rights companies set up by players, as image rights are taxed at a lower rate than income. It is understood that HMRC suspects that such deals are being used to attract foreign players put off by UK tax rates.

To read the full article, sign up for a free trial to World Sports Law Report.

European football's regulator, UEFA, has recently announced Financial Fair Play proposals, designed to prevent clubs spending more than they earn. Rod Findlay, a Partner with McDaniel & Co. Solicitors and the former in-house lawyer at England's Rugby Football League, examines UEFA's current financial regulations and its new proposals and compares them with financial regulation systems used by other sports. He discusses the limits of financial regulation proposals and questions whether or not they will achieve their aims.

To read the full article, sign up for a free trial to World Sports Law Report.

In 2009, The International Olympic Committee and the World Anti-Doping Agency provided financial assistance to SportAccord to develop doping support services to assist SportAccord's members, international sporting federations. Françoise Dagouret, Manager of SportAccord's Doping-Free Sport Unit, details its work to date.

To read the full article, sign up for a free trial to World Sports Law Report.

The Spanish government has recently limited an exemption allowing foreign workers to pay a lower level of income tax to those earning under €600,000 per annum. Bartolomé Sánchez, an Associate with Cuatrecasas, Gonçalves Pereira, examines difficulties with the new regime, and explains how it will create issues for sport and professional athletes, especially footballers.

To read the full article, sign up for a free trial to World Sports Law Report.

The Coalition of Athletes for Inclusion in Sport has recently provided the International Olympic Committee with an alternative to its Gender Policy. Kristen Worley, Co-Founder of the Coalition, explains why an alternative is needed as well as its proposed alternative.

To read the full article, sign up for a free trial to World Sports Law Report.

The Amateur Boxing Association of England (ABAE) recently reversed its decision to exempt Sikh boxers from the rule requiring amateur boxers to be clean shaven for competitions. Religious groups contend that the arguments put forward by the ABAE are not valid, asserting that the decision discriminates against boxers who have beards because of religious beliefs. Sean Cottrell, Co-Editor of Lawinsport.com and a former amateur boxer, examines whether the decision to require boxers to be clean shaven for safety reasons constitutes a restriction on freedom of religion.

To read the full article, sign up for a free trial to World Sports Law Report.

  We asked members of World Sports Law Report's editorial board to highlight what they think will be the main sports law issues during 2010. In this article, they set out their responses.

To read the full article, sign up for a free trial to World Sports Law Report.

Reform is needed if anti-doping authorities are to effectively tackle doping, said anti-doping experts at Tackling Doping in Sport on 24 February, organised by World Sports Law Report and hosted by sports lawyers Hammonds LLP. “Athletes are receiving six month bans for doping offences because sporting federations are afraid that Article 45 [of the IOC Charter] could be challenged”, said Travis Tygart, Chief Executive of the US Anti-Doping Agency. “We’ve got to get mad and return the playing field to clean athletes. We should be aggressive, but also be fair.”

Article 45 of the International Olympic Committee (IOC) Charter prevents athletes convicted of a doping offence from participating in the next edition of the Olympic Games. Antonio Rigozzi, a Partner with Lévy Kaufmann-Kohler, highlighted that legal challenges to the Article are “inevitable, and will most likely be successful”.

“The Hardy case at the Court of Arbitration for Sport [CAS] will be an important test”, continued Tygart, referring to the 12 March hearing of the World Anti-Doping Agency’s (WADA) appeal for an extension of American swimmer Jessica Hardy’s one-year ban for testing positive for a banned anabolic agent. WADA is seeking that Hardy should be banned for two years and declared ineligible for the London 2012 Olympics.

Reform of the WADA’s Athletes Commission was also seen as essential. “It exists purely to provide soundbites to the Executive Board of WADA”, said Ian Smith, Legal Director of the Professional Cricketers’ Association. “It has no power and it is useless – it is not elected”. UK Anti-Doping (UKAD) said that efforts were being made to reform athlete commissions at a national level first.

Andy Parkinson, Chief Executive of UKAD, said that more needed to be done to break down the “wall of silence” put up by the clean athlete community when questioned about who is using drugs. “Sophisticated networks are out there geared towards cheating in sport”, said Parkinson, who has been talking to Crimestoppers about how they deal with anonymous tip-offs. “Our focus is now on intelligence. Since 14 December, 75% of doping charges have been as a result of indirect intelligence.” However, he warned about the dangers of laying down anti-doping legislation – an option currently being considered by the UK government. “There needs to be a significant discussion about the impact. I would suggest that we perhaps don’t need a legislative regime that would impact 60 million people without first considering those who will have to enforce it.”

Pat McQuaid, President of the Union Cycliste Internationale (UCI), presented his view that the number of admissions to doping since 2007 represented a turnaround for elite cycling’s “deeply entrenched culture of cheating”.

Mike Earl, Doping Control Programme Manager for the Football Association (FA), highlighted the difficulties that differences between out-of-competition testing and in-competition testing could create, in a talk about social drugs. Currently, WADA’s prohibited list prevents the taking of cannabis, ecstasy and cocaine in competition, but does not prevent it out of competition. “Surely it is better to say ‘you just can’t take this stuff’?”, he said.

Delegates said that they were impressed with the high concentration of key decision makers at the event, which included seven international sporting federations (such as the IRB, ITF, FEI…), 12 national sporting associations (FA, RFU, BOA, BHA…) and governmental organisations such as the Irish Sports Council, Malta Sports Council and more.

 Andy Brown

Anti-doping experts from around the globe will address Tackling Doping in Sport, a unique event organised by World Sports Law Report and Hammonds, taking place on 24 February at Hammonds’ London offices. Key speakers include Pat McQuaid, President of the Union Cycliste Internationale; Travis Tygart, Chief Executive of the US Anti-Doping Agency; Andy Parkinson, Chief Executive of UK Anti-Doping; Françoise Dagouret, Manager of the Doping Free Sport Unit for SportAccord; Mike Earl, Doping Control Programme Manager for England’s Football Association; Simon Bowden, Anti-Doping Officer for England’s Rugby Football Union and more, listed here.

The conference is designed to address recent developments in the fight against doping, such as the use of athlete biological passports and whether blood profiling alone can be used to convict an athlete of doping, such as in the case of Claudia Pechstein. The conference will also discuss the use of intelligence in the fight against doping, such as the recent alliance between Canadian border police and the International Olympic Committee for the Vancouver 2010 Winter Olympics.

Doping and privacy will also be another major topic, especially the World Anti-Doping Agency’s regulations which equate three failures to report your whereabouts with a doping violation.

London’s 2012 anti-doping strategy will be debated, as will whether a distinction needs to be made within anti-doping regulations between performance-enhancing and recreational drugs. For a full programme, click here.

As might be expected, delegate spaces for such a detailed programme are selling out fast. For more information on attending, contact Erika Joyce on +44 (0)20 7012 1383.

Lord Moynihan will shortly introduce a Bill into Parliament that, if passed, will criminalise the supply of performance-enhancing drugs to sport. It will also allow police to obtain a warrant from a court to search London 2012 athlete rooms if they believe doping is taking place.

To read the full article in the January edition of World Sports Law Report, click here.

The UK government's plan to require all overseas-based gambling operators to be licensed by the Gambling Commission could affect sports sponsorship and advertising, as it will require European gambling advertisers to obtain a licence and contribute towards regulatory costs.

To read the full article in the January edition of World Sports Law Report, click here.

The Fédération Internationale de l'Automobile (FIA) will appeal against the Paris Tribunal de Grande Instance's (TGI) decision to annul the FIA's life ban on Renault Formula One (F1) team principal Flavio Briatore. 'The President of the FIA has consulted the FIA Senate and the FIA's lawyers about the decision of the [TGI] of Paris of 5 January', read an 11 January statement. 'It was unanimously agreed that an appeal would be prepared'.

To read the full article in the January edition of World Sports Law Report, click here.

Sport is often said to be the most beautiful pastime in the world and betting on events adds an even greater thrill to the sporting experience. The majority of those who place bets do so because of their enjoyment of sport and simply wish to chance their luck. However, there is a minority who misappropriate sport and this has hugely damaging consequences.

To read the full article in the January edition of World Sports Law Report, click here.

A number of ex-athletes have recently made claims about how they flouted their sport's regulations while they were competing. Simon Grove and Joseph Parks, of IPS Law LLP, examine the ability of sporting bodies to sanction ex-athletes and explore how the ability of national associations and international federations to sanction ex-athletes can often differ.

To read the full article in the January edition of World Sports Law Report, click here.

The Court of Arbitration for Sport recently overturned a two-year ban imposed on the trainer of an athlete for being negligent in his coaching duties due to lack of evidence of involvement in any doping violation, after the athlete was found to have committed a doping violation. Adam Finlay, a Solicitor with McCann FitzGerald Solicitors, examines how the World Anti-Doping Code applies to athlete support personnel and discusses the ambiguity over the degree of fault necessary on the part of athlete support personnel to constitute a doping violation.

To read the full article in the January edition of World Sports Law Report, click here.

To read the full article in the January edition of World Sports Law Report, click here.

The Court of Arbitration for Sport (CAS) will introduce new procedural rules and a new Code of Sports-related Arbitration from 1 January 2010. Ian Blackshaw, a member of the CAS, explains the changes introduced by the new rules.

To read the full article in the January edition of World Sports Law Report, click here.

The High Court recently ruled that Etihad had waived its contractual right to terminate its sponsorship of the Force India Formula One team, due to continued ignorance of breaches of the agreement. Patrick Rennie, a Trainee Solicitor with Bird & Bird LLP, examines the reasons behind the decision and the lessons it holds for contracting parties.

To read the full article in the January edition of World Sports Law Report, click here.

Harlequins has been fined and its coach, Dean Richards, suspended for feigning a blood injury in order to allow a specialist drop-kicker to return to the field of play during the final few minutes of a Heineken Cup rugby union quarter-final. Stuart Cutting, Head of the sports law unit at Wright Hassall Solicitors, examines the action taken by rugby union authorities, the implications for the game and for wider sport.

To read the full article in the January edition of World Sports Law Report, click here.