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.
--The session will be moderated by TV presenter Jacqui Oatley MBE, and the speakers for this session will be announced in due course.--
The Must-Attend Event for Sports & Law Professionals
Our 10th Annual Conference in association with Winston & Strawn LLP, scheduled for Thursday, 1st May 2025, will take place at the five-star Leonardo Royal London St Paul's Hotel. The milestone event will celebrate a decade of bringing together top legal and sports professionals to discuss the most pressing issues in the industry.
As always, the conference will feature an exceptional line-up of speakers and panellists, including leading experts in anti-doping, athlete welfare, good governance, and integrity. We are also excited to announce that TV presenter Jacqui Oatley MBE will be moderating the conference, bringing her expertise and dynamic presence to the event. Attendees will have the chance to engage in dynamic discussions, learn from thought leaders, and gain valuable insights into the latest trends shaping the future of sports law.
In addition to the informative sessions, the conference will provide ample networking opportunities, with over 250 professionals from the legal and sports sectors expected to attend. From a dedicated breakfast to networking coffee breaks and a post-conference drinks reception, there will be plenty of chances to connect and share ideas with like-minded peers.
A provisional agenda is available on our event page, and we will gradually announce detailed session topics and speaker profiles in the coming months.
TICKETS
We are pleased to keep ticket prices the same as last year, despite rising costs and high inflation.
Early Bird Tickets are priced at £330.00 (ex. 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
