Abstract

Modern day sporting is no longer confined to the realm of play, but operate within a complex framework of legal, economic, and institutional governance. They hold a significant spot in a nation’s economy being one of the major hubs for business. Several international bodies have been set up to regulate sports and their legal frameworks. For instance, Court of Arbitration for sports (CAS) is one such body. These courts have judges who have specialized knowledge in sports law more than the general judges present in the courts. Arbitration is one of the forms of an Alternative Dispute Resolution (ADR) mechanism. ADR mechanisms are said to be the most efficient way of resolving disputes out of courts. However, ADRs are a voluntary form of dispute resolution unlike Courts. Hence, they are not affordable to everyone, especially, to the ones who are economically despaired. Legal aid services are available to the ADRs as well, the scope and applicability of which in the practical realm shall be discussed upon in this paper. This paper aims in keenly studying the functioning of ADR in sports laws and the extent of support provided by the legal aid. The paper further aims to delve into the international governing standards. The major questions to be answered in this paper are “Is legal aid truly aiding people in ADRs related to sports,” “Is justice being provided to the aggrieved through these mechanisms” and “Does procedural integrity play an important role while providing justice and upholding the governing standards.” Furthermore, the research places an emphasis on the reforms to be made to enhance inclusivity and fairness by strengthening of legal aid mechanisms, greater transparency in arbitral processes and improved regulatory oversight to safeguard the rights of all participants.

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