Initial defence
We respond to disciplinary charges on behalf of athletes, coaches and clubs — preparing written submissions, gathering evidence and representing clients at hearings.
Disciplinary Appeals in Professional Sport
Licensed lawyers at AMBY Legal represent athletes, coaches and clubs in disciplinary proceedings and appeals — challenging bans, sanctions and decisions of sports governing bodies before federation bodies and the Court of Arbitration for Sport.
Our clients
Disciplinary Proceedings in Professional Sport
A disciplinary sanction can end a career, destroy a season, or permanently damage an athlete’s reputation. Bans are imposed quickly — sometimes on the basis of incomplete evidence or procedural shortcuts. Appeals are time-limited and procedurally demanding. An athlete or club facing a disciplinary decision needs legal representation immediately — not after the appeal deadline has passed.
Disciplinary proceedings in professional sport cover a wide range of conduct: doping violations, match-fixing, violent conduct, corruption, licensing failures, financial misconduct and many others. Each type of case has its own regulatory framework, its own burden of proof, and its own procedural rules. Knowing those rules — and knowing the jurisprudence of CAS and the relevant federation bodies — is essential for mounting an effective defence or appeal.
AMBY Legal represents athletes, coaches and clubs at every stage of disciplinary proceedings — from the initial response to the charges through to CAS appeal.
Types of Disciplinary Cases We Handle
Doping and anti-doping violations: Anti-doping rule violations are the most complex and highest-stakes disciplinary cases in sport. They are governed by the World Anti-Doping Code, implemented by WADA and national anti-doping organisations, and subject to appeal to CAS. Violations include the presence of a prohibited substance, use of a prohibited method, whereabouts failures, tampering with doping control, and several others. Sanctions range from a warning to a four-year ban. We represent athletes in doping cases from the initial notification through to CAS appeal — challenging the analytical findings, the chain of custody, the procedural integrity of the process, and the proportionality of the sanction.
Match-fixing and integrity violations: FIFA, UEFA and other governing bodies have extensive integrity regulations. Allegations of match-fixing, spot-fixing or failing to report approach are serious — sanctions include lengthy bans and lifetime prohibitions. We represent athletes and officials facing integrity allegations, challenging both the findings and the proportionality of the sanction.
Violent conduct and on-field misconduct: Red cards, suspensions for violent conduct, accumulation of yellow cards — these are standard disciplinary matters in most team sports. We challenge decisions where the referee’s assessment was incorrect, where the sanction is disproportionate, or where the correct procedure was not followed.
Financial misconduct and corruption: Allegations of bribery, corruption, undisclosed payments or conflicts of interest are handled by ethics and integrity committees at federation level, with appeals to CAS. We represent athletes, officials and clubs facing these allegations.
Licensing and registration violations: Clubs face disciplinary proceedings for breaches of licensing requirements — financial fair play violations, failure to pay creditors, non-compliance with youth development requirements. We represent clubs in these proceedings and in appeals against decisions of licensing bodies.
Doping in non-Olympic sports: Anti-doping enforcement varies significantly across sports. Some federations apply the full WADA Code; others operate under different frameworks. We assess the applicable rules for each sport and represent clients accordingly.
Whereabouts failures: Under the WADA framework, athletes in registered testing pools must provide accurate whereabouts information. Three missed tests or filing failures within a twelve-month period constitutes an anti-doping rule violation. We represent athletes challenging whereabouts failures — including disputes about whether a failure was properly recorded or whether force majeure applies.
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Our Services
CAS appeals
We prepare and file CAS appeals against disciplinary decisions — within the 21-day deadline, with full written submissions and representation at the CAS hearing.
Doping defence
We represent athletes in anti-doping proceedings from initial notification through to CAS appeal — including challenges to the analytical process, no-fault arguments and contamination cases.
Integrity and corruption cases
We represent athletes and officials facing match-fixing, corruption and ethics allegations before federation bodies and CAS.
Sanction reduction
Where a violation is established, we develop and present proportionality arguments to reduce the sanction to the minimum appropriate level.
Licensing and financial fair play
We represent clubs in licensing proceedings and appeals — financial fair play, creditor payment obligations, youth development requirements.
Provisional measures
Where a ban has been imposed pending appeal, we apply for provisional measures to allow the athlete to compete while the appeal is heard.
Provisional Measures
A disciplinary ban takes effect immediately in most cases — the athlete is suspended from competition while any appeal is pending. CAS can grant provisional measures allowing the athlete to compete pending the appeal, but the threshold is demanding: the athlete must show a prima facie case, demonstrate that irreparable harm would result from the suspension, and establish that the balance of interests favours provisional relief.
We prepare applications for provisional measures in cases where the criteria are met — identifying the strongest arguments and presenting them in the compressed timeframe that CAS requires.
Why Clients choose us
Multi-sport expertise
We handle disciplinary cases across football, ice hockey, basketball and other professional sports — each under the applicable regulatory framework.
CAS jurisprudence
We know the established CAS case law in disciplinary matters and build arguments that engage with it directly.
Speed
Disciplinary appeals have strict deadlines — 21 days at CAS. We respond immediately.
Doping expertise
We work with scientific and medical experts in doping cases where the analytical evidence needs to be challenged.
Remote handling
We manage disciplinary proceedings remotely by power of attorney. Athletes do not need to travel to Belarus or Lausanne.
FAQ
What is the deadline for appealing a disciplinary decision to CAS?
The standard deadline is 21 days from notification of the decision being appealed. This deadline is strict — CAS almost never grants extensions. If you have received a disciplinary decision, contact us immediately. Do not wait.
Can an athlete compete while a disciplinary appeal is pending?
Not automatically — a suspension takes effect immediately in most cases. However, CAS can grant provisional measures allowing the athlete to compete pending the appeal. The threshold for provisional measures is demanding but achievable in appropriate cases. We assess whether the criteria are met and prepare the application without delay.
Can a sanction be reduced even if the violation is admitted?
Yes — in many cases. The applicable regulations typically provide for reduced sanctions where the athlete bears no significant fault or negligence, where there are substantial mitigating circumstances, or where contamination of a supplement is established. CAS has extensive jurisprudence on sanction reduction. We assess the available arguments in every case.
What is the standard sanction for a first doping violation?
Under the WADA Code, the standard sanction for a first anti-doping rule violation involving a specified substance is a two-year ban. For non-specified substances, the standard is four years. These can be reduced to zero in cases of no fault, and to between one and two years for reduced fault. The specific outcome depends on the substance, the circumstances and the evidence available.
Can a club appeal a financial fair play decision?
Yes — most financial fair play and licensing decisions can be appealed to CAS. The grounds and procedure depend on the specific federation and the nature of the decision. We assess the available grounds and prepare the appeal.
What happens if the disciplinary body did not follow the correct procedure?
Procedural irregularities — failure to give proper notice, denial of the right to be heard, bias in the composition of the panel — can be grounds for overturning a decision on appeal. CAS takes procedural fairness seriously. We identify and develop procedural arguments where the process was not followed correctly.