Date: March 24, 2025

Introduction

This week has seen significant legal and policy developments across collegiate, professional, and Olympic sports. These events hold substantial implications for professionals involved in sports mediation, arbitration, and negotiation.

Collegiate Sports

Preliminary Approval of NCAA’s $2.8 Billion Settlement

A U.S. judge has granted preliminary approval to a $2.8 billion settlement by the National Collegiate Athletic Association (NCAA) to compensate student-athletes for the use of their names, images, and likenesses (NIL). This landmark settlement addresses claims that NCAA rules prohibiting athlete payments violated antitrust laws. Law firms Winston & Strawn and Hagens Berman Sobol Shapiro, which negotiated the settlement, have requested over $515 million in legal fees, citing the transformative impact of the agreement and the substantial risk undertaken by their firms. A final approval hearing is scheduled for April 2025. ​Reuters

Professional Sports

Arbitration Practices in Professional Sports Under Scrutiny

A recent comparative analysis of arbitration practices in professional sports has highlighted significant variations in fairness, transparency, and outcomes across different leagues. While arbitration is valued for its efficiency and confidentiality, the study underscores the need for standardized practices to ensure equitable resolutions in sports disputes. ​Penn State Law Review

Olympic Sports

Jordan Chiles Appeals Olympic Medal Decision to Swiss Supreme Court

U.S. gymnast Jordan Chiles has appealed to Switzerland’s supreme court to overturn a Court of Arbitration for Sport (CAS) ruling that revoked her 2024 Olympic bronze medal in the floor exercise. The appeal argues that CAS hearings violated her right to be heard by not considering video evidence proving her appeal was submitted within the allowed time. Additionally, concerns have been raised about a potential conflict of interest, as the CAS panel president had prior associations with Romania, the country benefiting from the medal reassignment. ​The Guardian

Emerging Trends and Policy Changes

Proposed Reforms to the U.S. Center for SafeSport

A bipartisan bill, the Safer Sports for Athletes Act, has been introduced by members of Congress to improve the U.S. Center for SafeSport, which addresses sex-abuse cases in Olympic sports and grassroots programs. The bill proposes a 180-day limit on resolving abuse cases, enhanced communication between the center and survivors, and a potential increase in funding to $10 million annually for training and education purposes. Critics argue that the agency has struggled with efficiency and effectiveness, particularly with prolonged case resolutions. ​AP News