Section 20 of The National Sports Governance Act, 2025
The Tribunal shall not have jurisdiction to adjudicate the following matters, namely:---
- (a)any dispute, or conflict arising during the Olympic Games, Paralympic Games, Commonwealth Games, Asian Games, or any other similar events organised by any International Federations;
- (b)any dispute falling within the exclusive jurisdiction of---
- (i)the internal disputes resolution committee of a National Sports Body; or
- (ii)any other tribunal or court; or
- (iii)any International Federation; or
- (iv)the Court of Arbitration for Sports established in Lausanne, Switzerland;
- (c)doping related disputes, where Disciplinary Panels constituted under the National Anti-Doping Act, 2022 (15 of 2022) have exclusive jurisdiction;
- (d)any matter in respect of which the International Charters and Statutes require the parties to submit to specific mechanism or forum for adjudication.
Summary
- The Tribunal cannot decide disputes that happen during major international events like the Olympic Games, Paralympic Games, Commonwealth Games, or Asian Games.
- The Tribunal cannot handle cases that belong exclusively to a sports body's internal dispute committee.
- The Tribunal cannot hear cases that belong exclusively to another court, another tribunal, or an International Federation.
- The Tribunal cannot take doping cases, because those are strictly handled by Disciplinary Panels under the National Anti-Doping Act of 2022.
- The Tribunal cannot decide cases that international sports rules say must go to the Court of Arbitration for Sports in Switzerland or another specific forum.
Practical examples
FAQ
1. Can I take a dispute from the Commonwealth Games to the Tribunal?
No, the Tribunal does not have jurisdiction over disputes arising during the Commonwealth Games.
2. What happens if my sports federation has an internal dispute committee?
If the dispute falls under the exclusive jurisdiction of that internal committee, the Tribunal cannot hear it.
3. Can the Tribunal decide if an athlete used banned performance drugs?
No, doping disputes are strictly handled by Disciplinary Panels under a separate anti-doping law.
Test yourself
Q1.Under Section 20 of The National Sports Governance Act, 2025, which of the following disputes is the National Sports Tribunal prohibited from adjudicating?
Q2.Under Section 20 of The National Sports Governance Act, 2025, where must a doping related dispute be resolved?
Q3.Under Section 20 of The National Sports Governance Act, 2025, what limits the Tribunal from hearing a case that is normally handled by the Court of Arbitration for Sports?
Q4.Under Section 20 of The National Sports Governance Act, 2025, what role does an International Federation play in the Tribunal's jurisdiction?