How are arbitrators appointed to a case?

Sport Resolutions selects suitable panel members based on the nature of the case, the expertise and experience required, and any applicable independence and conflict-of-interest requirements.

Does being a panel member guarantee a certain number of case appointments?

No. Sport Resolutions seeks to provide panel members with opportunities for appointment wherever possible, but appointments depend on the requirements of each case, including the skills and experience required, availability, independence and potential conflicts of interest. Panel membership does not guarantee appointment to a case or any minimum number of case appointments.

What is the difference between Legal Members and Specialist Members?

Legal Members are legally qualified professionals with the experience required to chair or lead proceedings. Specialist Members bring relevant professional expertise to a case and sit as wing members of panels and tribunals. Specialist Members may also be legally qualified, as well as coming from backgrounds including medicine, safeguarding, policing, psychology, social work and accountancy.

Are hearings held online?

Hearings may take place either online or in person. We use a combination of both formats, depending on the circumstances of the case and the parties involved. Many hearings are conducted online, providing a practical and accessible option for participants based in different countries. In-person hearings are generally held in London, although hearings have occasionally taken place overseas where appropriate.

What languages are available?

Sport Resolutions administers arbitrations and mediations in English, French and German.

When does panel recruitment open?

Applications for the 2027–2030 panel term open on Monday 2 November 2026 and close at 23:59 GMT on Sunday 31 January 2027.

Sport Resolutions Panel: Sports Arbitrators & Mediators

When a case is referred to Sport Resolutions, we appoint suitable panel members whose experience matches the nature and requirements of the matter.

The current panel (2024-2027) in numbers

Nearly 350 panel members
Members from 33 nations
32 languages spoken across the panel
33% female representation

This breadth enables us to draw on legal and specialist expertise across different regions, jurisdictions and professional disciplines.

How panel members are appointed

Panel recruitment takes place every three years. Applicants are assessed by the Panel Appointments and Review Committee (PARC) against the published selection criteria for the relevant panel.

The current panel term runs from 1 April 2024 to 31 March 2027. The next panel term will run from 1 April 2027 to 31 March 2030.

How members are appointed to cases

When a case is referred to Sport Resolutions, suitable arbitrators, mediators or specialists are selected based on the requirements of the matter and their relevant expertise and experience. Factors such as availability, independence and potential conflicts of interest are also taken into account.

Who we work with

Sport Resolutions has worked with and continues to work with 34 International Federations and 13 Regional Anti-Doping Organisations around the world, as well as across most sports in the UK. We provide independent case administration (secretariat services) for national and international federations and administer disciplinary, regulatory and other tribunals on their behalf.

Our panels cover a wide range of sporting matters, including anti-doping, safeguarding (athlete welfare and protection), disciplinary matters, athlete selection and eligibility, employment, discrimination, integrity, and other sports-related disputes.

Membership

The panel includes both Legal Members and Specialist Members, reflecting the different roles and expertise required in sports disputes, hearings, reviews and investigations.

Legal Members are legally qualified professionals with the requisite experience to chair or lead anti-doping, safeguarding, disciplinary, athlete selection, eligibility and other regulatory hearings, reviews and investigations. They may also be appointed to tribunals that have the power to make decisions affecting participation in sport, commercial activities or funding.

Specialist Members are appointed to sit as wing members in anti-doping, safeguarding, disciplinary, athlete selection, eligibility and other regulatory hearings, reviews, investigations and sports tribunals. Specialist Members may themselves be legally qualified, but can also come from a broad range of other professional backgrounds, including accountancy, anti-doping, medicine, safeguarding, policing, social work, psychology, former professional athletes and offender management.

This structure allows Sport Resolutions to appoint panel members according to both the role required in a particular case and the relevant professional expertise.

Panel structure

The Sport Resolutions Panel is structured into International and UK National membership categories, with Legal and Specialist Members within each. These categories reflect how members are appointed to the panel rather than placing strict limits on the cases they may hear.

Sport Resolutions welcomes applications from individuals of all nationalities. Applications should be made to either the UK National Panel or the International Panel, depending on where the applicant is based. UK-based applicants should apply to the UK National Panel, while lawyers and specialists based outside the UK should apply to the International Panel. Members of the National Panel may also be appointed to international matters where their experience and expertise are appropriate.

The Sport Resolutions Panel has two membership categories: International and UK National. Each has Legal Members and Specialist Members, appointed against the international or national selection criteria. The UK National panel also has two sub-panels, the UK National Anti-Doping Panel (NADP) and the UK National Safeguarding Panel (NSP). Appointments are flexible: members are appointed according to the expertise and requirements of each case, and members of the UK National Panel may also be appointed to international matters where appropriate.

Expertise

Across the panel, members have expertise in areas including;

anti-doping;
athlete selection and eligibility;
commercial matters;
discipline and integrity;
employment and discrimination;
Paralympic and disability sport;
professional football (soccer);
vetting and governance;
safeguarding; and
mediation.

Join the panel

Applications for the April 2027 to March 2030 panel term open on Monday 2 November 2026 and close on Sunday 31 January 2027 at 23:59 GMT. Prospective applicants can visit the Join Our Panels page for eligibility, selection criteria and application information.

Panel Code of ConductPDF Document · 176KB

FAQ

Enquiries

How are arbitrators appointed to a case?: Sport Resolutions selects suitable panel members based on the nature of the case, the expertise and experience required, and any applicable independence and conflict-of-interest requirements.
Does being a panel member guarantee a certain number of case appointments?: No. Sport Resolutions seeks to provide panel members with opportunities for appointment wherever possible, but appointments depend on the requirements of each case, including the skills and experience required, availability, independence and potential conflicts of interest. Panel membership does not guarantee appointment to a case or any minimum number of case appointments.
What is the difference between Legal Members and Specialist Members?: Legal Members are legally qualified professionals with the experience required to chair or lead proceedings. Specialist Members bring relevant professional expertise to a case and sit as wing members of panels and tribunals. Specialist Members may also be legally qualified, as well as coming from backgrounds including medicine, safeguarding, policing, psychology, social work and accountancy.
Are hearings held online?: Hearings may take place either online or in person. We use a combination of both formats, depending on the circumstances of the case and the parties involved. Many hearings are conducted online, providing a practical and accessible option for participants based in different countries. In-person hearings are generally held in London, although hearings have occasionally taken place overseas where appropriate.
What languages are available?: Sport Resolutions administers arbitrations and mediations in English, French and German.
When does panel recruitment open?: Applications for the 2027–2030 panel term open on Monday 2 November 2026 and close at 23:59 GMT on Sunday 31 January 2027.

Our Panels

The Sport Resolutions Panel brings together independent sports arbitrators, mediators and specialist experts from across the world.