At Juris Ferrum Law Firm, we regularly deal with anti-doping cases. These are stories not only about chemistry but also about the rights of the athlete: whether he or she was timely notified, given the opportunity to explain, and whether the prescribed procedures were followed. And very often, these nuances determine the fate of a sporting career.
It is therefore no coincidence that we prepared an article for the Bulletin of the Odesa Bar Association (No. 2/2025) entitled:
“Some Features of Adjudicating Disputes Regarding Violations of Anti-Doping Rules in Ukraine”.
For us, this is particularly significant. Firstly, it is our first publication on sports law in our home Odesa journal. Secondly, the subject matter is extremely topical, as evidenced by the latest sports news.
Authors:
📘 Ganna Gnizdovska – Attorney-at-law, PhD in Law, Managing Partner of Juris Ferrum Law Firm, Deputy Chair of the Anti-Doping Appeal Commission of the National Anti-Doping Center of Ukraine.
📘 Yana Kovalova – Lawyer at Juris Ferrum Law Firm.
Four Key Takeaways from the Article:
1️⃣ The Rules of the Game. Anti-doping disputes are not only about being “caught with pills.” Modern legislation covers a wide range of conduct – from refusal to undergo testing to collaboration with coaches or physicians already under sanctions.
2️⃣ The Role of the NADC. The National Anti-Doping Center (NADC) is Ukraine’s “guardian of fairness.” It conducts testing, maintains the registered testing pool, organizes hearings, and operates in line with WADA standards.
3️⃣ How Cases Are Heard. The process unfolds step by step: notification of the athlete ➡️ provisional suspension ➡️ hearing before the Disciplinary Commission ➡️ decision. It resembles judicial proceedings, but with a sporting specificity.
4️⃣ The Right to Appeal. Decisions can be appealed – first before the NADC Appeal Commission, and then, if necessary, before the Court of Arbitration for Sport (CAS) in Lausanne. Here, legal counsel is indispensable, as the lawyer develops the defense strategy and ensures that the athlete’s rights are protected.
We firmly believe that Ukraine’s anti-doping system is already harmonized with international standards. However, without professional legal support, an athlete risks being left one-on-one against the machinery of regulations.
This is precisely why we explored this topic – to demonstrate that behind the loud headlines “athlete disqualified” lies a complex legal story.
👉 Read the full text in the Bulletin of the Odesa Bar Association – it may well change your perception of what anti-doping disputes truly entail.