World Archery appoints Court of Arbitration for Sport to adjudicate future anti-doping violations

World Archery and the Court of Arbitration for Sport have agreed that future alleged anti-doping rule violations will be adjudicated, and any sanctions issued, by the organisation’s new Anti-Doping Division.

The international federation had previously appointed its own independent three-person panel, which had recently consisted of two arbitrators from the Court. Responsibility for appointing that panel now falls to the new Anti-Doping Division. World Archery has agreed to abide by any decision or sanction recommended by that panel.

Archery does not have regular cases of anti-doping rule violations. In 2018, three adverse analytical findings were reported at an international level, of which two led to resolution without sanctions and one of which is still pending.

The Court of Arbitration for Sport was established in 1984 to settle disputes related to sport. It is headquartered in Lausanne and has regional offices in New York City, Sydney, Kuala Lumpur, Cairo, and Shanghai, and temporarily in host cities for the duration of each Olympic Games.

World Archery is the international federation for the Olympic and Paralympic sport of archery. Founded in 1931, it is responsible for regulating and promoting the sport worldwide, and organising international events including the Archery World Cup and World Archery Championships

World Archery secretary general Tom Dielen said: “The new Anti-Doping Division of the Court of Arbitration for Sport simplifies a key component in the fight for clean sport across international federations. I’d also like to thank the arbitrators who have served on our anti-doping panels in the past as we delegate that responsibility to CAS going forward.”

International Counsel for Arbitration in Sport president John Coates said: “The CAS ADD is honoured to have been entrusted with handling the first-instance adjudication of alleged anti-doping rule violations, including any sanctions, arising under World Archery’s Anti-Doping Rules. This separation of powers between World Archery and the decision-making body for alleged doping infractions is critical to a fair hearing. World Archery is to be congratulated for recognising this.”