Sport Resolutions Annual Conference 2025 in association with Winston & Strawn LLP

THE MUST-ATTEND EVENT FOR LAW AND SPORT PROFESSIONALS

Sport Resolutions' 10th Annual Conference, marking a decade of insightful gatherings, will be held on Thursday, 1st May 2025, at the luxurious five-star Leonardo Royal London St Paul's Hotel in London.

As in previous years, the conference will feature a distinguished panel of sports professionals and industry experts, who will engage in discussions and debates on the latest developments and ideas surrounding anti-doping, athlete welfare, good governance, and integrity.

EVENT PRESENTER

The 2025 conference will be moderated by Jacqui Oatley MBE. Jacqui, a highly-respected broadcaster with extensive experience across television, radio, and digital platforms, is known for her pioneering role as the first female commentator on BBC’s Match of the Day in 2007. She currently anchors ITV’s PDC darts coverage and provides expert football commentary for major networks including Sky Sports, TNT Sports, CBS Sports, and FOX Sports.

2025 SESSION TOPICS

The conference will feature five sessions, including three in the morning, followed by a buffet lunch, and two more sessions in the afternoon. A provisional agenda can be found by clicking on the "Agenda" section at the top of this page.

CPD Members will earn 4.5 CPD points for attending our 2025 Annual Conference.

Session topics that have been announced, as well as those that will be announced in due course, will be featured on our website and shared via our newsletter. Some session details are already available in the 'Topics' section on this page, with more information to be added as it becomes available. 

NETWORKING OPPORTUNITIES

Every year, over 250 legal and sport professionals attend our event, providing ample opportunities to network. Breakfast (hot drinks and pastries) will be served during registration, offering attendees an early chance to meet others. Additional networking opportunities will arise during two coffee breaks and the open buffet lunch.

After the conference, a networking drinks reception will provide an opportunity to relax and socialise with like-minded individuals in our sector.

TICKETS

Early Bird tickets are available for purchase starting Friday, 3rd January. To receive a reminder about ticket availability and updates on topics and speakers, please sign up for our newsletter.

Early Bird tickets are priced at £330.00 (excl. VAT) and are available until 23:59 on Wednesday, 19th March 2025.

Standard tickets are priced at £395.00 (excl. VAT). For other ticket types, please visit the ticket section at the top of this page.

Topics

Safeguarding in Sport: Rethinking Legal Approaches and the Case for Global Standards

It is good practice for safeguarding investigations to have a trauma informed approach and be victim-focussed. Difficulties can arise, however, when a matter reaches the hearing stage. Despite the ability of a panel to implement special measures, the adversarial nature of the legal system and a respondent’s right to cross-examine witnesses and complainants can have a re-traumatising effect. It is often said that safeguarding processes are too legalistic.

How should this be managed? Is the solution as simple as implementing an inquisitorial approach or would that impinge on the rights of those against whom complaints have been made?

Could a solution be for international federations to draft safeguarding policies, rules and procedures that must be applied globally on a mandated basis. Do different legal systems, cultural differences or cost present a barrier to such an approach? Is it simply too difficult or do we just need momentum and political will?

This session will explore whether the current safeguarding systems and processes are fit for purpose or whether there needs to be change, radical or otherwise. It will discuss whether international federations could or should do more and explore whether a global unified code is a potential solution to raise and harmonise standards.

Contamination: Unpacking Athlete Responsibility and Misconceptions

Of all the Anti-Doping Rule Violations (ADRVs) reported in the media, it is contamination cases that attract the most attention.

From Chinese swimmers to leading tennis players, there have been claims of inconsistency of approach, leniency and unfair treatment. 

Is the criticism simply a symptom of a lack of understanding or, as is claimed by some, does the outcome of a case depend on the fame or wealth of the player, or indeed the skill and quality of their lawyers?

Is it right, or even fair, for an athlete to be held responsible for the acts or omissions of their entourage, or for accidental contamination from external sources, no matter the care and diligence of the athlete? Do recent cases mean that “no fault” is effectively now not available to athletes? Is the strict liability principle even appropriate for contamination cases? 

In this session we will look at the relevant rules, their application by panels in recent cases, address the fairness of recent criticism and offer opinion on what, if any, changes may be required in the next WADA Code.

Ticket Information

Early Bird Tickets  are priced at £330.00 exc. of VAT and are available until 23:59 on Wednesday, 19 March 2025.

Standard Tickets are priced at £395.00 exc. of VAT.

Students in full-time education have the opportunity to attend the conference for the discounted price of £99.00 exc. of VAT with our Academic Ticket (student ID or email address required).

Our Group Ticket permits three tickets to be purchased for the price of two standard price tickets (which works out as £263.33 exc. of VAT per ticket). Please note that this offer is only applicable to standard ticket prices and all three attendees must be from the same organisation. Further discounts are also available should an organisation wish to purchase more than 3 tickets. To find out more about our group bookings please email us at: resolve@sportresolutions.com 

We also provide a limited number of Athlete Tickets to those on the World Class Programme (WCP), which are available at the price of £145 + VAT. Should you wish to attend the conference please contact SR team at resolve@sportresolutions.com with a copy of your licence and/or document proving your athlete status in order to receive your promotional code for the discounted ticket.