For the first time in history, CAS has recognized the ban on Russian athletes’ participation in international competitions as discriminatory

In a landmark decision, the Court of Arbitration for Sport (CAS) upheld the appeal of the Table Tennis Federation of Russia (TTFR) against the European Table Tennis Union (ETTU), recognizing for the first time that the exclusion of Russian athletes was discriminatory.

The case concerned ETTU’s 2022 decision to exclude Russian and Belarusian athletes and officials from all competitions in response to the armed conflict in Ukraine. CAS ruled that this decision violated the principles of political neutrality and non-discrimination as enshrined in both the ETTU Constitution and the Olympic Charter.

Crucially, CAS found the measure to be disproportionate, as less restrictive alternatives—such as participation under a neutral flag—had not been considered. At the same time, the ban on the use of national symbols was upheld as lawful, since it did not prevent athletes from participating but merely aimed to reduce political tensions.

This was the first ruling of its kind in which the tribunal sided with Russian athletes. However, CAS emphasized that its conclusions apply only within the context of table tennis and do not automatically extend to other sports, such as football. Nevertheless, we believe that the principles of non-discrimination are cross-disciplinary, and the conclusions of this decision could serve as a starting point for reconsidering the policies on Russian athletes’ participation in international competitions.

SILA International Lawyers represented the interests of the Table Tennis Federation of Russia (TTFR).