A recent ruling involving Western Law professor Richard McLaren opens the door to dozens of previously banned athletes to be eligible for the 2012 Summer Olympic Games in London, England.
McLaren is president of the Court of Arbitration (CAS), an international arbitration body set up to settle disputes related to sport. The three-member CAS panel overturned an International Olympic Committee rule banning athletes suspended for six or more months for an anti-doping rule violation from participating at the Olympics.
The decision, released last week, made international media headlines.
The panel ruled against the International Olympic Committee’s (IOC) ‘Osaka Rule’ and concluded the IOC rule was more of a disciplinary sanction than condition of eligibility to compete in the Olympic Games.
The Court of Arbitration for Sport is based in Lausanne, Switzerland, and temporary courts are built in current Olympic host cities.
