OLYMPIC GAMES PARIS 2024 ATHLETICS
THE APPEALS FILED BY LIVIA AVANCINI, MAX BATISTA AND HYGOR BEZERRA (BRAZIL) ARE UPHELD AND THE CAS AD HOC DIVISION RULES THAT THE THREE ATHLETES ARE ENTITLED TO PARTICIPATE
IN THE PARIS 2024 OLYMPIC GAMES
Paris, 26 July 2024 - Decisions have been issued today by the CAS Ad hoc Division for the Paris 2024 Olympic Games in the following matters:
CAS OG 24/05 Livia Avancini v. World Athletics & Athletics Integrity Unit
CAS OG 24/06 Max Batista v. World Athletics & Athletics Integrity Unit
CAS OG 24/07 Hygor Bezerra v. World Athletics & Athletics Integrity Unit
Brazilian shot putter Livia Avancini, Brazilian race walker Max Batista and Brazilian sprinter Hygor Bezerra (the Applicants) have 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.
For further information related to the CAS activity and procedures in general, please contact either Matthieu Reeb, CAS Director General, or Katy Hogg, Communications Officer. Palais de Beaulieu, avenue Bergières 10, 1004 Lausanne, Switzerland.
