4.1.2016

Pia Ek Elected to the Finnish Sports Arbitration Board for a Third Term

Counsel Pia Ek from Castrén & Snellman has been elected to the Finnish Sports Arbitration Board for the 2016–2019 term. Pia will start her four-year term at the beginning of January 2016. It will be her third.

The Finnish Sports Arbitration Board was founded in 1991 to meet the need for an independent body that would ensure just treatment for everyone in the field of sports. It serves as an appeal body for the sports industry: athletes and other persons and entities can appeal the decisions of sports associations to the board. The topics the board deals with include disciplinary sanctions imposed by sports leagues, selection of athletes to elite competitions, anti-doping decisions and dismissal from sports associations.

The Finnish Sports Arbitration Board has authority in practically all sports. Growing awareness has led to an increased role for the board. In 2012–2014, it processed approximately 25 cases a year; in 2015, the number of cases processed was around 50. In other words, the number of cases has doubled.