Batista, Livia, others win CAS appeals

Admin I Friday, July 26, 2024

 

PARIS – The Court of Arbitration for Sports,CAS has issued its decision in Brazilian Shot putter,  Livia Avancini v. World Athletics & Athletics Integrity Unit, Max Batista v. World Athletics & Athletics Integrity Unit and Brazilian Sprinter, Hygor Bezerra v. World Athletics & Athletics Integrity Unit.

The applicants filed appeals against decisions taken by the Athletics Integrity Unit concerning eligibility criteria for Brazilian athletics athletes.

The Athletics Integrity Unit (“AIU”) Board rejected the application for an exemption from the Testing Requirements for the 2024 Olympic Games, filed by the Brazilian Confederation of Athletics (“CBAt”) for the three athletes.

As a result, the athletes were not allowed to participate in the Paris Olympic Games, due to CBAt alleged failure to comply with the additional eligibility obligations imposed by AIU under the 2024 World Athletics Anti-Doping Rules.

The Applicant athletes requested that the AIU decision be overturned, allowing them to compete in the 2024 Olympic Games.

The Panel of arbitrators composed of Dr Annabelle Bennett AC SC (AUS), President, Dr Hamid Gharavi (FRA/IRI) and Prof. Roberto Moreno (PAR) upheld the three appeals and ruled that the decisions rendered by the AIU Board on 23 July 2024 shall be set aside, considering that “truly exceptional circumstances”, as provided for under Rule 15.5.1(c) of the World Athletics’ Anti-Doping Rules, apply to each Applicant, so that the Applicants are entitled to participate in the Paris 2024 Olympic Games.

Only the operative part of the award was notified; the full award with grounds will be published at a later date.