Frozen Files: CAS at Milano Cortina Edition 1

Edition 1 - Monday 9 February 2026

The 2026 Olympic Winter Games (2026 OWG) have officially kicked off! The Court of Arbitration for Sport (CAS) has the CAS Ad hoc Division and the CAS Anti-Doping Division onsite in Milan to handle legal disputes and anti-doping matters as they arise throughout the Games. 

The CAS Ad hoc Division resolves legal disputes quickly by using tailored and streamlined rules, with some cases decided in under 24 hours. The CAS Anti-Doping Division, which has been a permanent CAS structure since the 2016 Rio Summer Olympics, will adjudicate all doping-related matters. As of today, seven matters have been filed across the divisions. To keep you in the loop, below are summaries of these CAS Ad hoc Tribunal and CAS Anti-Doping Division matters:

Decisions

Application by Aleksandr Bolshunov - Cross-country skiing 

Cross-country skier Aleksandr Bolshunov (Russia) challenged the International Ski and Snowboard Federation’s Individual Neutral Athlete Eligibility Review Panel’s decision, which was made on 24 December 2025 and declined his application for Individual Neutral Athlete status to participate at the 2026 OWG. The CAS arbitrator noted that the CAS Ad hoc Division was established to only address disputes arising during the 2026 OWG or within 10 days before the Opening Ceremony (i.e. from 27 January 2026 onwards). Whilst the case was filed on 28 January 2026, it was deemed to have arisen on 24 December 2025 (i.e. before jurisdiction of the CAS Ad hoc Division commenced), and therefore was not entertained. (Media Release, Award)

Application by Katie Uhlaender - Skeleton 

Skeleton athlete Katie Uhlaender (USA) brought an application against Bobsleigh Canada Skeleton, coach Joe Cecchini, and the International Bobsled and Skeleton Federation (IBSF). The application requested that (i) CAS determine whether the decision to withdraw four Canadian sliders from the 11 January 2026 IBSF North American Cup Race violated the Olympic Movement Code on the Prevention of the Manipulation of Competitions, and (ii) full ranking points be awarded for the race (which may affect 2026 OWG selections). The CAS arbitrator found that the dispute arose no later than 23 January 2026 (the date on which an IBSF Appeals Tribunal decision determined that it did not have authority to modify the results of the race), and therefore arose outside the jurisdiction of the CAS Ad hoc Division. (Media Release, Award)

Application by the Irish Luge Federation (ILF)

The Irish Luge Federation (ILF) appealed the International Luge Federation’s (FIL) allocation of 2026 OWG qualification places. The ILF argued that the FIL unlawfully deprived the ILF (and specifically Irish athlete Elsa Desmond) of a remaining qualification place and improperly allocated places to Individual Neutral Athletes. The CAS arbitrator decided that the dispute arose no later than 26 January 2026, which was the final athlete entry deadline. This was outside the CAS Ad hoc Division’s jurisdictional commencement of 27 January 2026, so the arbitrator did not entertain the application. (Media Release, Award)

Application by the British Bobsleigh & Skeleton Association

The British Bobsleigh & Skeleton Association (BBSA) appealed a decision made by the International Bobsleigh and Skeleton Federation (IBSF) on 29 January 2026 that the safety helmet for Team GB does not comply with the IBSF Skeleton Rules due to the helmet’s shape. BBSA, which funded the design and manufacture of the Team GB helmet, requested that the CAS Ad hoc Division rule that the helmet is compliant with the rules and proven to be safer than any other helmet being used. The CAS Ad hoc Division Panel found that the BBSA did not discharge its burden to sufficiently establish that the helmet complies with the IBSF rules and dismissed the application. (Media Release, Award)

Application by Angela Romei – Curling 

Curling athlete Angela Romei (Italy) made two applications to the CAS Ad hoc Division against the Italian Ice Sports Federation (FISG) and against the World Curling Federation (WCF). She argued that the selection process for the Italian Women’s Curling Team involved a conflict of interest, favouring a FISG Technical Director’s daughter over a more experienced and qualified athlete. Romei challenged (i) a correspondence from FISG dated 2 February 2026 which explained the team selection process and its refusal to revise the selection, and (ii) WCF’s refusal to investigate FISG’s decision. The Arbitrator found in relation to each application (respectively) (i) that there is not sufficient evidence to demonstrate that the selection was arbitrary or unreasonable and (ii) that it is not the task of international federations (like WCF) to revisit the selection process at national level. Both applications were dismissed. (Media Release)

Matters awaiting determination

Application by Rebecca Passler – Biathlon

Italian Biathlon Athlete Rebecca Passler has made an application against several bodies including NADO Italia Antidoping (NADO Italia) and the World Anti-Doping Agency (WADA), concerning a provisional suspension imposed by NADO Italia on 2 February 2026 following an Adverse Analytical Finding (AAF) for Letrozole, a prohibited substance on the WADA Prohibited List. Ms Passler has requested that CAS annul the suspension due to lack of intent and negligence, and to allow her to compete in the 2026 OWG. The application argues that the AAF is a case of contamination, with no fault of the athlete. A hearing is expected to take place on 10 February 2026. (Media Release)

Additional OWG 2026 News

On 23 January 2026, the Swiss Federal Supreme Court issued four judgments relating to the women’s floor final at the Paris 2024 Olympic Games. The allocation of the bronze medal in that event had become contested. Well-known author on all things sports law Dr. Despina Mavromati wrote a fantastic article about this that we recommend reading. The article can be found here.

The BBC reports that the World Anti-Doping Agency may investigate should evidence emerge that male ski jumpers are injecting their penises with hyaluronic acid in a bid to improve sporting performance. Hyaluronic acid, which is not banned in sport, can be used to increase penis circumference by one or two centimetres. That would increase the surface area of their suits during competition, and according to the FIS (the International Ski and Snowboard Federation), may increase their flight in air. The BBC’s article can be found here.

We will keep you updated each week as the Games continue! Look out for our next update on Monday 16 February 2026 for the latest CAS news from Milano Cortina.