Ethics Cases | Sport
Real cases. Real decisions.
Ethics in sport, for practitioners and classrooms.
Each case pairs a sourced, neutral account (summary, timeline, issues, stakeholders) with practical lessons for people running sports organizations and discussion questions for courses.
Browse cases Suggest a caseAthletic departments, leagues, teams, and foundations: a "Practical takeaway" box on every case gives you governance and risk lessons you can use.
Professors and students in sports ethics and sport management: timelines, stakeholder maps, discussion questions, and sources you can cite.
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"Well-Supported by the Philanthropic Sector": The 2019 Special Olympics Funding Fight
In 2019 the Trump administration proposed ending $17.6M in federal funding for Special Olympics school programs. Days later the president reversed course. Who pays?
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A Vote at the Table: Players Join UEFA's Executive Committee
In 2026 FIFPRO Europe's president became the first player representative with a vote on UEFA's Executive Committee. Is one seat in 21 real representation?
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Abu Dhabi 2021: The Safety-Car Call That Decided a World Championship
A race director's late, unusual handling of a safety car let Max Verstappen pass Lewis Hamilton on the final lap. Was it discretion or a rule broken?
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Abuse in the NWSL and the Yates Report
Players' accounts of coach misconduct led to an independent investigation that found systemic abuse across women's professional soccer and failures at every level.
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Accused, Acquitted, Unpaid: Benjamin Mendy's Wages Claim Against Manchester City
Manchester City stopped paying Benjamin Mendy after he was charged. Acquitted, he sued, and a tribunal awarded wages for bail periods but not custody.
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Afghanistan's Women's Footballers: Abuse, Exile and Recognition
Afghan women players exposed sexual abuse by their federation president, then fled the Taliban. FIFA had to decide how to let a banned team play.
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Alabama Baseball's Coach and the Bettor: Inside Information Before a Lineup Card
Alabama's baseball coach told a bettor his starting pitcher was out before telling LSU. A sportsbook clerk's suspicion exposed it.
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Approved, Then Abandoned: The Rays, St. Petersburg and a Stadium Deal Undone
In 2024 the Rays won public approval for a $1.3 billion St. Petersburg ballpark. They walked away in 2025, and new owners struck a Tampa deal in 2026.
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Are College Athletes Employees? Northwestern, Dartmouth and the Right to Unionize
Northwestern football players (2014) and Dartmouth basketball players (2024) each won a regional ruling that they were employees. Neither union ever bargained.
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Athletes at the Table: Has the 2020 Empowering Athletes Act Given Them Real Power?
After the Nassar scandal, Congress gave U.S. Olympic athletes one-third of the votes on governing boards. Athletes still say they lack independence and leverage.
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Augusta National and the Admission of Women Members
The home of the Masters admitted no women members until 2012. A decade of protest raised questions about private clubs, public events and sponsors.
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Australia's Murphy Report: A Phased Ban on Gambling Ads, and the Law That Followed
A 2023 parliamentary inquiry urged a full phase-out of online gambling ads, including in sport. Three years later Australia passed partial limits.
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Azeem Rafiq and Racism at Yorkshire County Cricket Club
A former Yorkshire cricketer's claims of racism led to an inquiry, resignations, a parliamentary hearing and sanctions, and exposed cricket's culture.
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BALCO and the Designer-Steroid Era
A Bay Area supplement lab supplied an undetectable steroid to Olympic and MLB stars, testing anti-doping science, journalism, and the courts.
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Baylor University and the Football Sexual Assault Scandal
An outside review found fundamental failures in how Baylor handled reports of sexual violence, including in football. The coach was fired and the president removed.
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Below the Sternum: England's Lower Tackle Height in Community and Youth Rugby
In 2023 the RFU lowered the legal tackle height for community and age-grade rugby to cut concussion risk, then apologized for how it decided. Does safety change the game?
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Ben Johnson at Seoul 1988 and the "Dirtiest Race in History"
Ben Johnson's 100m gold was stripped for stanozolol within days. Later findings implicated much of the field, and Canada's inquiry examined a whole system.
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Berlin 1936: The Nazi Olympics and the Boycott Debate
Nazi Germany hosted the 1936 Olympics while excluding Jewish athletes. A U.S. boycott campaign failed, and the Games became a propaganda success.
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Bethpage Black: Hosting Duties and Crowd Abuse at the 2025 Ryder Cup
At the 2025 Ryder Cup, home fans abused Rory McIlroy and his wife, and the official MC joined a chant. What does a host owe visiting players, and when must it act?
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Beyond Heckling: Fan Abuse and the NBA's Fan Code of Conduct
Popcorn, spit and a thrown bottle marked the NBA's return to full arenas in 2021. Where does fandom end and harassment begin, and who must police the line?
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Biogenesis, Alex Rodriguez, and How Far a League Should Go to Investigate
A Miami anti-aging clinic supplied PEDs to MLB players. The league bought documents and cut a deal with its owner, then suspended Alex Rodriguez for a full season.
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Blue Girl: Sahar Khodayari, Iran's Stadium Ban and FIFA's Leverage
A fan arrested for trying to watch her team died after setting herself on fire. How hard should FIFA press a member that bars women from stadiums?
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Bob Knight, Zero Tolerance and the Firing at Indiana
Indiana fired Hall of Fame coach Bob Knight in 2000 after a zero-tolerance policy and a pattern of conduct complaints, dividing a campus.
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Border War: Kansas, Missouri and the Bidding for the Chiefs and Royals
After Jackson County voters rejected a stadium tax, Kansas and Missouri raced to offer billions in subsidies. Was the bidding war good public policy?
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Brett Favre and the Mississippi Welfare Funds Scandal
Mississippi welfare (TANF) money went to projects including a volleyball facility Brett Favre championed. He faces a civil suit but has not been criminally charged.
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Britain's Gambling Reform and the Sport Sponsorship Question
The UK's 2023 gambling white paper left sport sponsorship to a voluntary code rather than a ban. Is self-regulation enough when sport depends on betting money?
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Building a League to Last: The PWHL's Launch and Rapid Expansion
The PWHL replaced a rival league, set salary floors and doubled to 12 teams in three seasons. Is its single-owner, fast-growth model sustainable and fair to players?
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Calciopoli: Juventus, Referee Designators, and Italian Football's 2006 Scandal
Wiretaps showed club executives influencing who refereed their matches. Juventus was relegated and stripped of two titles, weeks after Italy won the World Cup.
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Canada Soccer's Drone Spying at Paris 2024: Who Pays for Staff Cheating?
Canada's staff flew drones over New Zealand's training at Paris 2024. FIFA docked the players six points. Who should bear the cost when coaches cheat?
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Capping the Middlemen: FIFA's Football Agent Regulations in Court
FIFA's 2022 agent rules capped fees and banned most dual representation. Agents sued across Europe, and the rules were suspended while the EU's top court weighed in.
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Carbon Monoxide Rebreathing: A Legal Test, a Possible Edge and a Health Ban
Top cycling teams used carbon monoxide rebreathing to measure blood. Research suggested repeated use could boost endurance. The UCI banned it on health grounds.
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Career or Family? Maternity Protections in FIFA Football and WTA Tennis
FIFA set minimum maternity rules in 2021 and a Lyon star won the first claim. In 2025 the WTA added paid leave for tennis players, funded by Saudi Arabia's PIF.
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Carlsen, Niemann and the Sinquefield Cup: Accusing a Rival of Cheating
In 2022 Magnus Carlsen quit the Sinquefield Cup after losing to Hans Niemann and implied he cheated. FIDE later fined Carlsen €10,000. How should suspicions be raised?
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Caster Semenya and Testosterone Eligibility Rules
A two-time Olympic 800m champion challenged World Athletics testosterone limits for athletes with DSDs at CAS, in Swiss courts, and at Europe's human rights court.
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Champions Still Waiting: Nigeria's Super Falcons and Their Unpaid Bonuses
Africa's most successful women's team has staged sit-ins and threatened boycotts over unpaid bonuses since 2004. What does a federation owe players it pays late?
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Chaos at the Stade de France: Blaming Fans for the 2022 Champions League Final
Fans were tear-gassed and crushed outside the 2022 Champions League final, then blamed by officials. Inquiries later put responsibility on UEFA and French authorities.
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Chelsea's Self-Reported Abramovich-Era Payments
Chelsea's new owners self-reported secret payments to agents from the Abramovich era. Regulators fined the club but spared it a points deduction. Was that fair?
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Children Under the Code: Protected Persons and Anti-Doping Education
The 2021 World Anti-Doping Code created 'Protected Persons' with lighter sanctions and privacy, plus mandatory education. Do these rules protect young athletes enough?
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Christian Eriksen's Collapse and the Decision to Restart
Denmark's Christian Eriksen suffered cardiac arrest at Euro 2020. Within two hours, his traumatized teammates were back on the field to finish the match.
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Clase and Ortiz: The Guardians Pitch-Rigging Indictment
Two Cleveland pitchers were charged with rigging individual pitches for bettors. MLB capped pitch-level wagers a day later. The trial was set for November 2026.
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Clean Streets for the World Cup? Morocco, Stray Dogs and FIFA's Responsibility
Animal-welfare groups say Moroccan towns are killing stray dogs ahead of the 2030 World Cup. Morocco denies a cull. What does a governing body owe beyond the pitch?
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Closing the Gate: Liga MX, Promotion and Relegation, and Antitrust
Mexico suspended promotion and relegation in 2020 for six seasons, then kept the top flight closed. Second-tier clubs, lawmakers and regulators are pushing back.
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Club, Country or Free Agent? Cricket's Franchise Leagues and International Duty
Star cricketers are giving up national contracts for T20 franchise leagues, and boards control their release through no-objection certificates.
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Colin Kaepernick: Anthem Protest and Collusion Grievance
An NFL quarterback's anthem protest against police brutality and racial injustice, his unsigned free agency, and the confidential settlement of his collusion grievance.
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College Athletes, Player Prop Bets, and Harassment by Bettors
Bets on individual college players' statistics expose amateurs to manipulation and abuse. The NCAA has urged states to ban them. Should they?
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Corruption Charges in the Abu Dhabi T10 League
The ICC charged eight people tied to one franchise, including owners and coaches, over disrupted attempts to fix 2021 T10 matches. Can franchise cricket be policed?
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Counting Junior-College Years: Diego Pavia and the Eligibility Lawsuits
A Vanderbilt quarterback's antitrust suit over NCAA rules counting junior-college seasons set off a wave of eligibility lawsuits and helped push a rewrite of the rules.
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Counting to Three: Infantino and FIFA's Presidential Term Limit
FIFA limits presidents to three terms. A 2022 ruling said Infantino's first three years did not count, opening a path to 15 years. Can a term limit be reinterpreted?
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Courts and the Brazilian Football Confederation Presidency
A Brazilian court removed the national football federation's president in 2025 over a disputed agreement. When should courts step into sport's self-governance?
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Crashgate: Renault's Deliberate Crash at the 2008 Singapore Grand Prix
A Renault driver crashed on purpose to trigger a safety car that helped his teammate win. A cover-up allegation reopened the case in court 15 years later.
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Crossed Arms: FIFA's Global Stand Against Racism and Its First Big Test
FIFA made a crossed-arms gesture and three-step procedure mandatory in 2024. Benfica v Real Madrid in 2026 tested whether protocols change behavior.
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CSGO Lotto: YouTubers, Skin Gambling and the FTC's First Influencer Case
Two gaming YouTubers promoted a skin-gambling site without disclosing they owned it. The FTC's 2017 settlement became its first case against individual influencers.
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Curt Flood and Baseball's Reserve Clause
An All-Star outfielder refused a trade, writing that he was not "a piece of property." He lost at the Supreme Court, but helped bring about free agency.
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Cutting Olympic Sports to Pay Players: Stephen F. Austin and Title IX
Citing deficits and revenue sharing, Stephen F. Austin cut four sports in 2025. Women athletes sued under Title IX. Who pays for paying players?
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Damar Hamlin's Cardiac Arrest and the Cancelled Game
A Bills safety's heart stopped on live TV in 2023. The NFL's handling of whether to resume the game, and then how to cancel it, raised hard questions.
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Dan Snyder, the Commanders and Workplace Misconduct
Investigations found a toxic workplace at Washington's NFL team. The NFL fined the team, a later probe sustained findings, and the owner sold for $6.05 billion.
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Danny Almonte and the 2001 Little League Age Scandal
A Bronx Little League star was found to be 14, two years over the limit. His team forfeited its wins, and the adults responsible were banned.
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Daryl Morey's Hong Kong Tweet and the NBA in China
A Houston Rockets executive tweeted support for Hong Kong protesters in 2019. China cut ties, and the NBA faced criticism for its response.
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Deflategate: Ball Pressure, Science and the Commissioner's Power
The NFL suspended Tom Brady for four games over underinflated footballs. The case turned on contested physics and how much power a commissioner should hold.
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Derek Boogaard, Hockey's Enforcers and CTE
NHL enforcer Derek Boogaard died at 28 and was found to have CTE. His death and others sparked debate over fighting, painkillers and the league's duty of care.
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Deshaun Watson and the NFL's New Disciplinary Process
A neutral officer found Deshaun Watson broke the NFL conduct policy but gave six games, citing fair notice. The NFL appealed and settled for 11. Who should decide?
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Diarra v FIFA: Contract Stability or a No-Poach Rule?
In 2024 the EU Court of Justice found that FIFA transfer rules penalising players who quit contracts restricted free movement and competition. What followed?
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Docked for Spending: Everton, Forest and the Premier League's Profit Rules
In 2023–24 Everton and Nottingham Forest lost points for breaching Premier League profit and sustainability rules. Did the rules protect competition or incumbents?
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Donald Sterling: Racist Remarks and the Forced Clippers Sale
After a recording of the Clippers owner's racist remarks surfaced, the NBA banned him for life, fined him $2.5 million, and pushed through a $2 billion sale.
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Dutee Chand v. IAAF: Natural Testosterone and the Burden of Proof
An Indian sprinter was barred from women's races for naturally high testosterone. In 2015, CAS suspended the rules and told the IAAF to prove its case.
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Earmarked but Not Guaranteed: FIFA's Women's World Cup Player Payments
FIFA promised every 2023 Women's World Cup player at least $30,000, then said the money would flow through federations. Who should make sure pay reaches athletes?
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East Germany's State Plan 14.25: Doping Minors for Medals
East Germany secretly gave steroids to thousands of athletes, many of them minors. The case asks who is responsible, and what is owed to victims and to the record books.
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Engagement or Endorsement? The WTA Finals in Riyadh
The WTA took its season finale to Saudi Arabia for record prize money despite protests from its founders' generation, then left a year early. Was engagement worth it?
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England's Independent Football Regulator: Fans, Owners and the State
After club collapses and the Super League attempt, the UK created a statutory football regulator in 2025. Does it protect clubs or overregulate a successful league?
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Equal Match Fees, Unequal Contracts: India's Women Cricketers and Pay Equity
In 2022 India's cricket board gave women the same match fees as men. Annual contracts stayed far apart, even after India's women won the 2025 World Cup.
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Erriyon Knighton and the Contaminated-Meat Defense
A US sprinter blamed a trenbolone positive on contaminated oxtail. A US arbitrator cleared him; CAS banned him for four years. Who should bear the risk of meat?
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Euro 2020: Online Racist Abuse of England's Penalty Takers
After England lost the Euro 2020 final, three Black players who missed penalties were racially abused online, prompting debate over platforms and law.
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Face Off at the Garden: MSG's Facial Recognition Ban on Opposing Lawyers
Madison Square Garden's owner used facial recognition to bar lawyers from firms suing it, even a mother at a Rockettes show. Can a venue exclude fans over litigation?
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Federal Drug Rules for Racehorses: HISA's Medication Program on Trial
In 2023 a private, federally created authority took over drug testing in US Thoroughbred racing. Its uniform rules were soon challenged in court.
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Femke Van den Driessche and the Hidden Motor
In 2016, officials found a motor hidden in a Belgian rider's bike at the cyclo-cross world championships. She received a six-year ban, cycling's first such case.
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Field of Fees: Private Equity, Youth Hockey Rinks and a Congressional Hearing
A 2026 House hearing heard that private equity roll-ups raise youth sports costs and push out community nonprofits. Investors say capital keeps facilities open.
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FIFA Corruption: The 2015 U.S. Indictments
U.S. prosecutors charged FIFA officials and sports-marketing executives with racketeering and bribery. The case led to Sepp Blatter's fall and governance reforms.
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FIFA's President and Switzerland's Prosecutor: The Undocumented Meetings
Switzerland's attorney general met FIFA's president off the record during football corruption probes. He resigned; a criminal case was closed. What went wrong?
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Fixture Congestion and the Legal Fight Over Football's Calendar
Players and leagues took FIFA to court and the European Commission over a crowded calendar, then the players' union settled for a seat at the table. Was it worth it?
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Florida State, Clemson and the ACC Grant-of-Rights Fight
Florida State and Clemson sued the ACC over a grant of rights they said trapped them in a lagging TV deal. The 2025 settlement cut exit fees. Who won?
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Flying Commercial: The WNBA's Charter Flight Ban and Its Reversal
For years the WNBA banned charter flights to keep rich teams from gaining an edge. A forfeit, a record fine and an airport confrontation led to change in 2024.
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Forty-Eight Hours: The FIA, Susie Wolff and a Conflict-of-Interest Inquiry
The FIA announced a compliance inquiry based on one magazine report, without contacting those involved. Two days later it was over. What does fair process require?
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France's Hijab Ban in Sport
France's football federation bars players from wearing the hijab in competition. Courts upheld the ban, and it extended to French athletes at Paris 2024.
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Frat Boy Culture on Trial: Activision Blizzard, Its Regulators and Its Esports Leagues
California's 2021 suit against Activision Blizzard drove sponsors from the Overwatch League and led to three regulatory settlements. Who answers for workplace culture?
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Fred Kerley's Whereabouts Ban: Missed Tests Without a Positive
A world 100m champion was banned for two years for three whereabouts failures, without any positive test. Are whereabouts rules a fair price for clean sport?
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From Redskins to Commanders: Washington's Team Name
For decades, Native American advocates called Washington's NFL team name a slur. After sponsor pressure in 2020, the team dropped it and became the Commanders.
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Fully Guaranteed: The NFL, Deshaun Watson's Contract and the Collusion Grievance
After the Browns fully guaranteed Deshaun Watson's $230 million deal, the NFL urged clubs to rein in guarantees. Was that collusion, or just advice?
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Gates Overrun: The 2024 Copa América Final at Hard Rock Stadium
Thousands of ticketless fans stormed a Miami stadium before the 2024 Copa América final, delaying kickoff by 82 minutes. Who was responsible for crowd safety?
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Gold for Gold: World Athletics and Olympic Prize Money
In 2024 World Athletics became the first federation to pay Olympic champions, $50,000 each in Paris. Other federations said it broke Olympic solidarity.
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Governing College Sports by Executive Order
Executive orders in 2025 and 2026 tried to set rules on paying, transferring and classifying college athletes, raising the question of who should govern college sport.
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Grand Slam Track: A Start-Up League That Couldn't Pay Its Athletes
Michael Johnson's Grand Slam Track promised record pay, then went bankrupt owing athletes about $7m. What do start-up leagues owe athletes they recruit?
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Grass or Turf: The NFL Players' Fight Over Playing Surfaces
The NFL players' union says artificial turf causes more injuries and wants grass in every stadium. The league cites data showing similar injury rates on both.
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Greener Games? Carbon-Neutral and 'Climate Positive' Claims at the Olympics
The IOC promised 'climate positive' Games from 2030 and Paris 2024 pledged to halve its footprint. Were offsets and shifting slogans greenwashing?
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Haiti's Football Federation, Abuse Allegations and a Life Ban Overturned
FIFA banned Haiti federation chief Yves Jean-Bart for life over abuse allegations; CAS annulled the ban in 2023. Can sport protect witnesses and due process?
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Hansie Cronje and Cricket's Match-Fixing Crisis
South Africa's revered captain admitted taking money from bookmakers and offering it to teammates, leading to a lifetime ban and a judicial inquiry.
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Heading in Youth Soccer: Restricting a Skill to Protect the Brain
Studies linked professional soccer to higher dementia risk. U.S. Soccer and England's FA restricted heading for children. How far should limits go?
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High School NIL: Should Teenagers Sign Endorsement Deals?
After college NIL began in 2021, most state associations allowed high school athletes to earn endorsement money, with limits on school branding.
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Hillsborough: The Disaster, the Cover-Up and the Inquests
A 1989 crush killed 97 Liverpool fans. Police blamed supporters, but inquests in 2016 found they were unlawfully killed and fans were not to blame.
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Holding Up a Mirror: The ICEC Report on Discrimination in English Cricket
A 2023 independent commission found racism, sexism and class discrimination 'widespread and deep-rooted' in English cricket. The ECB apologized. Did reform follow?
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Houston Astros Sign-Stealing Scandal
How the 2017 Astros used a center-field camera feed to decode and relay opposing signs, and how MLB investigated and disciplined the club.
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iBUYPOWER and CS:GO Match-Fixing: Valve's "Permanent" Bans
A top North American Counter-Strike team threw a 2014 match tied to skin bets. Valve issued permanent bans, then let players return after 10 years.
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Iga Świątek and the Contaminated Melatonin: Strict Liability, Secrecy and Consistency
The world No. 1 tested positive for trimetazidine from contaminated melatonin. Her one-month ban, kept private until it ended, drew charges of double standards.
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Ili and Mirer v. NCAA: Enforcing NIL Limits Against State Law
Two California football players sued the NCAA, Power Four conferences and College Sports Commission, saying post-House NIL enforcement breaks state and antitrust law.
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In or Out? The IOC's New Method for Choosing Olympic Sports
From Brisbane 2032 the IOC will judge each discipline on appeal, cost and athlete representation. For federations living on Olympic money, how fair is the process?
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India's Wrestlers Protest: Harassment Allegations Against a Federation Chief
Olympic medalists protested for months over harassment allegations against India's wrestling chief, who denied them. What do sport bodies owe complainants?
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Integrity Fees and Official Data Mandates: Who Profits From the Numbers?
After legalization, the NBA and MLB asked states for an 'integrity fee,' then for laws requiring sportsbooks to buy league data. Integrity protection or private tax?
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Iowa Football Tampering and the Vacated-Records Penalty
Iowa admitted its coaches contacted a player before he entered the transfer portal, but fought the penalty of vacating wins. Is erasing records still fair?
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Iowa State Wrestling and the Training-Center Recruiter
A coach at an Olympic-style training center recruited two transfers to Iowa State, one before he entered the portal. The NCAA treated him as a booster.
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Is SafeSport Bound by the Constitution? The Fourth Circuit Says No
Three equestrian professionals argued that SafeSport, created by Congress, must give constitutional due process. In 2026 a federal appeals court disagreed.
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Is the Court of Arbitration for Sport Independent Enough?
Athletes must take most disputes to CAS, a tribunal funded by sport. European courts have upheld it but demanded public hearings and more scrutiny. Is that enough?
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It's All About the Suit: Polyurethane Swimsuits and FINA's 2010 Ban
Records fell by the dozen in 2008 and 2009 as polyurethane suits spread. FINA approved the suits, then banned them, and let every record stand. Fair or not?
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Ivan Toney's Betting Ban and Football's Gambling Contradiction
An England striker admitted 232 breaches of FA betting rules, including bets on his team to lose. How should addiction and football's gambling ties affect the sanction?
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Jackie Robinson West: A Little League Title Stripped for Adults' Rule-Breaking
Chicago's Jackie Robinson West won the 2014 US Little League title, then lost it over a falsified boundary map. Who should pay for adults' cheating?
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Jannik Sinner, Clostebol, and the Three-Month Settlement
The world No. 1 tested positive for a steroid through his physio's cut-finger spray. A tribunal cleared him; WADA appealed, then settled for a three-month ban.
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Jeremy Bloom v. NCAA: Endorsements, Eligibility, and the Pre-NIL Era
A world-champion moguls skier lost his Colorado football eligibility after taking ski endorsements, years before NCAA name, image, and likeness (NIL) reform.
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Jim Thorpe's Medals: Amateur Rules, a Missed Deadline and a 110-Year Correction
Jim Thorpe won two 1912 Olympic golds and was stripped of them for playing minor-league baseball. Only in 2022 was he restored as sole champion. What is owed?
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Johnson v. NCAA: Can College Athletes Be Employees?
A federal appeals court ruled in 2024 that amateurism doesn't stop college athletes from claiming minimum wage as employees. What makes play into work?
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Jontay Porter: An NBA Player's Lifetime Ban for Betting Manipulation
A Toronto Raptors player left games early to make prop bets pay and bet on NBA games himself. He became the first player banned for life in decades.
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Jordan McNair's Death and Maryland Football's Culture
A 19-year-old Maryland lineman died of heatstroke after a team workout. Reports found medical failures, and the university's handling of the coach became a crisis.
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Kamila Valieva at Beijing 2022: A 15-Year-Old, a Positive Test, and the Adults Around Her
A 15-year-old skater's positive test surfaced mid-Olympics. CAS let her compete, then banned her for four years in 2024, reshuffling the team medals.
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Kenya's Doping Crisis: Category A and the Economics of Road Running
Kenya, in World Athletics' highest-risk doping category, pledged US$25 million to anti-doping. Can testing fix a crisis driven by prize money and poverty?
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Ketones in the Peloton: Legal Supplements and the Grey Zone
Ketone drinks are legal and widely used in pro cycling. The UCI says there's no compelling evidence they work and recommends against them. Should a grey zone be banned?
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Kibiwott Kandie: A Refused Test, a Fake Document and a Seven-Year Ban
A former half marathon world record-holder walked out of a doping test, then submitted a forged document to explain it. The AIU banned him for seven years.
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Kirsty Coventry and the 2025 IOC Presidential Election
Kirsty Coventry became the IOC's first female and first African president in a closed, tightly restricted election. What should accountable sport leadership look like?
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Lakefront, Suburb or State Line? The Chicago Bears' Stadium Search
The Bears' lakefront dome asked taxpayers for $2.4B and failed. Arlington Heights and Indiana followed, testing who should pay to keep a team.
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Lamine Diack and the IAAF's Doping-for-Cash Cover-Up
The head of world athletics and his associates extorted Russian athletes to hide positive tests. A Paris court convicted him of corruption in 2020.
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Lance Armstrong and the U.S. Postal Service Team Doping Conspiracy
USADA's 2012 case against Lance Armstrong: a lifetime ban, seven Tour de France titles stripped, and a long-running, organized doping cover-up.
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Larry Nassar, USA Gymnastics, and Systemic Safeguarding Failure
How a team doctor abused athletes for years while reports to USA Gymnastics, Michigan State, the U.S. Olympic Committee, and the FBI failed to stop him.
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Las 15: Spain's Women Players Stand Down From the National Team
In 2022, 15 Spain players asked not to be selected, citing their health. The federation demanded an apology. Spain won the 2023 World Cup without most of them.
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Lia Thomas and the Rules for Transgender Swimmers
In 2022, Lia Thomas became the first openly transgender NCAA Division I champion. World Aquatics, the NCAA and her university then changed course.
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Limit the Winners, Court the Losers? Sportsbook Bet Limits and VIP Programs
Massachusetts regulators confirmed that sportsbooks cut limits for sharp bettors and raise them for VIPs. Lawsuits say VIP hosts fed addictions.
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LIV Golf, Saudi Money and the Split in Men's Golf
Saudi Arabia's wealth fund spent more than $5 billion on LIV Golf, splitting men's golf. In 2026 it withdrew support and LIV filed for bankruptcy.
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LIV Golf's Bankruptcy and the Player-Owned Restart
After Saudi Arabia's wealth fund pulled its backing, LIV Golf filed for Chapter 11 and proposed a player-owned league. What does a state-funded league owe its players?
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Live on Instagram: Ja Morant's Gun Videos and the NBA's Reach Off the Court
The NBA suspended Ja Morant eight games, then 25, for displaying guns on livestreams, though no crime was charged. How far should a league police off-court conduct?
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Lucas Paquetá: Spot-Fixing Charges, Betting Data and the Burden of Proof
The FA charged West Ham's Lucas Paquetá with getting booked on purpose for bettors. After two years, a commission found the charges not proven.
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Malik Beasley and Ed Davis: Prop Bets, Debts and a Presumption of Innocence
Federal prosecutors allege a Bucks guard shaped his rebound and point totals to pay down debts to a former NBA player who bet on them. Both deny it.
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Manchester City and the '115 Charges': The Commission's Verdict
An independent commission found Manchester City guilty of years of breaches of Premier League financial rules. The club denies it and has appealed. What's at stake?
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Mandate or Guideline? Heat Illness and High School Sports Safety Policy
Heat stroke is preventable, yet high school athletes keep dying in August practices. Should states require heat rules instead of recommending them?
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Mankad or Run Out? Deepti Sharma, Charlie Dean and Cricket's Spirit
Running out a non-striker who leaves the crease early is legal, and since 2022 no longer listed as unfair play. A 2022 Lord's finish reopened the spirit debate.
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Maria Sharapova and Meldonium: Strict Liability and a Newly Banned Drug
A tennis superstar tested positive for a heart drug banned only weeks earlier. Was it a careless mistake or a reasonable rule enforced on everyone?
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Markus Rehm: The Blade Jumper and the Olympic Long Jump
German long jumper Markus Rehm jumps farther than many Olympic champions using a prosthetic leg. Sports bodies have barred him from Olympic competition.
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Medina Spirit and Bob Baffert: A Kentucky Derby Winner Disqualified
The 2021 Kentucky Derby winner tested positive for a medication banned on race day. Regulators disqualified the colt; Churchill Downs banned the trainer for three years.
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Meldonium 2016: 172 Positives and a Rule Change Mid-Stream
When meldonium was banned in 2016, 172 athletes tested positive within months. With excretion science unclear, WADA issued guidance. Was the process fair?
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Michael Vick and the Bad Newz Kennels Dogfighting Case
An NFL quarterback's federal conviction for running a dogfighting operation, his prison sentence, and his conditional reinstatement to the league.
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Michigan's Sign-Stealing Scheme and the Limits of Gamesmanship
A Michigan staffer ran a network that filmed future opponents' sideline signals in person. The NCAA found a scheme and cover-up, and issued record fines.
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Minor League Baseball: Poverty Wages, a Lobbied Exemption and a Union
Minor leaguers sued over wages below the federal minimum. MLB won an exemption from Congress, then settled for $185 million as players unionized.
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Missouri Football Players and the University President's Resignation
In 2015, Black football players at the University of Missouri refused to play until the university president resigned. He resigned within two days.
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MLB's Salary Cap Push: Competitive Balance or Pay Suppression?
In 2026 bargaining, MLB owners proposed baseball's first salary cap and floor. Players called it a play to control costs. Who's right about balance?
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Modern Pentathlon Drops the Horse: Animal Welfare, Tradition and Olympic Survival
After a coach struck a horse at Tokyo 2020, modern pentathlon swapped riding for obstacle racing. Animal welfare, Olympic survival, or lost identity?
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Moon Blasts and Umpire Patches: The FTX Collapse and Sport's Crypto Sponsors
FTX put its name on an NBA arena, umpires' uniforms and star athletes' ads. Then it collapsed in fraud. What due diligence do teams and athletes owe fans?
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Muhammad Ali's Draft Refusal and Boxing Ban
Muhammad Ali refused induction into the U.S. Army in 1967 and lost his boxing license and title. The Supreme Court overturned his conviction in 1971.
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Murphy v. NCAA: Legalized Sports Betting and Its Consequences
A 2018 Supreme Court ruling let states legalize sports betting. Leagues that once fought gambling now partner with sportsbooks. Who bears the costs?
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Naomi Osaka, Press Conferences and Mental Health
Naomi Osaka skipped press conferences at the 2021 French Open, was fined and threatened with expulsion, then withdrew, disclosing depression.
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NBA Europe and the EuroLeague: Who Owns European Basketball's Future?
The NBA and FIBA planned a 16-team European league with permanent franchises, pressing EuroLeague clubs to choose between a new partner and their own league.
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NCAA Sickle Cell Trait Screening
After a football player's death, the NCAA required Division I athletes to be tested for sickle cell trait or sign a waiver. Hematologists objected.
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NCAA v. Alston: The Supreme Court Rejects the Amateurism Defense
The Supreme Court unanimously ruled that the NCAA could not cap education-related benefits for athletes. One concurrence questioned the whole compensation model.
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Neutral Athletes at Paris 2024: Russia, Belarus and Collective Responsibility
After Russia invaded Ukraine, the IOC let only vetted Russian and Belarusian athletes compete at Paris 2024 as neutrals. Was that fair to athletes or to Ukraine?
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Neutral Rules, Unequal Effects: FIBA's Headgear Ban and Its Reversal
FIBA's ban on headgear kept hijab-wearing and Sikh players off international courts until 2017. When does a 'purely sporting' rule become exclusion?
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New Orleans Saints "Bountygate"
NFL findings that the Saints ran a pay-for-injury "bounty" program, the resulting record discipline, and the appeal that vacated the player suspensions.
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Nike Vaporfly and the Super Shoe Rules
Carbon-plated 'super shoes' transformed distance running. World Athletics declined to ban them in 2020 but set limits on soles and prototypes.
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NIL Go: Policing College Athletes' Endorsement Deals
After the House settlement, a new commission began reviewing college athletes' NIL deals for a valid business purpose. Is it a guardrail or a pay cap?
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No Charges, Record Ban: Trevor Bauer and MLB's Domestic Violence Policy
Prosecutors declined to charge Trevor Bauer, but MLB suspended him 324 games. An arbitrator cut it to 194. How should a league judge conduct the courts do not?
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No More Draft: The NWSL Gives Players Control Over Where They Play
In 2024 the NWSL became the first major U.S. league to abolish its draft, adding free agency, guaranteed contracts and trade consent for every player.
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No Officials, No Games: Abuse of Referees and the Shortage in School and Grassroots Sport
Surveys show most U.S. officials think sportsmanship is getting worse, and many have feared for their safety. States pass laws; England tries bodycams. What works?
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North Dakota's Self-Reported Tampering and the Show-Cause Order
A North Dakota assistant traded texts with a player not in the transfer portal. Compliance caught it and the school self-reported. Was a show-cause fair?
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Norway's Beach Handball Team and the Bikini Rule
In 2021, Norway's women's beach handball team was fined for wearing shorts instead of bikini bottoms, prompting a global outcry and a rule change.
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Not the Saudi State, It's PIF: The Newcastle United Takeover
The Premier League approved Saudi Arabia's PIF buying Newcastle on assurances the state would not control the club. A US court filing later tested that line.
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O'Bannon v. NCAA: Who Owns a College Athlete's Likeness?
A former UCLA star saw his avatar in a video game and sued. The case found NCAA compensation limits violated antitrust law and opened the door to NIL.
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Ohio State "Tattoo-Gate" and Jim Tressel
Ohio State players traded memorabilia for cash and tattoos, and head coach Jim Tressel concealed what he knew. He resigned, and the NCAA imposed a bowl ban.
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Ohio State and Dr. Richard Strauss: Decades of Abuse and Institutional Silence
An independent investigation found a team physician abused at least 177 male students over two decades while university staff knew and failed to stop him.
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Olga Kharlan and the Refused Handshake: Rules, Respect and War
At the 2023 fencing worlds, Ukraine's Olga Kharlan beat a Russian and refused to shake hands. She was disqualified, then reinstated. Should sport compel a handshake?
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Olympic Champions Under Protest: Canada Soccer's Labour Dispute with Its Women's Team
Months before a World Cup, Canada's Olympic champion women's team stopped training over pay equity and cuts, until the federation threatened legal action.
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One Word at Every Goal Kick: Mexico, FIFA and the Homophobic Chant
FIFA dismissed a 2014 charge over Mexican fans' goal-kick slur, then fined and sanctioned the FMF. CAS upheld strict liability but faulted FIFA's officials.
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Oscar Pistorius: Prosthetics Eligibility and the Killing of Reeva Steenkamp
A double-amputee sprinter won the right to race able-bodied athletes at the Olympics, then was convicted of murdering Reeva Steenkamp.
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Out of the Infield: NASCAR's Confederate Flag Ban and the Talladega Noose
NASCAR banned the Confederate flag in 2020 after its only Black Cup driver called for it. Then a noose was found in his garage. How should a sport face its own symbols?
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Owning the League: Unrivaled and Player Equity in Women's Basketball
Unrivaled gave WNBA stars six-figure winter salaries and equity in the league. Does player ownership change league ethics, and what conflicts does it create?
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Padded Promises: The NFL's Guardian Cap Mandate and the Evidence Behind It
The NFL required Guardian Caps in practice from 2022 and credited them with halving concussions. Independent studies are less sure. What does a league owe the public?
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Paralympic Medal Bonuses: Should Paralympians Be Paid the Same as Olympians?
In 2018 the US Olympic Committee raised Paralympic medal bonuses up to 400% to match Olympians. By Paris 2024 most nations still paid less. Is parity a duty?
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Paul Pogba's DHEA Ban: From Four Years to 18 Months on Appeal
A World Cup winner tested positive after taking a supplement from a Florida doctor. CAS cut his four-year ban to 18 months but said he should have taken more care.
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Pay Up or Lose Out: FIFA's Variable Ticket Pricing at the 2026 World Cup
FIFA priced 2026 World Cup tickets by demand, with final seats up to $10,990. Fan groups called it an abuse of monopoly. Who should a World Cup be priced for?
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Pay-to-Play: The Rising Cost of Youth Sports
Family spending on youth sports has risen sharply, and school fees and club costs keep many lower-income children out of the game.
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Paying Around the Cap: The Clippers, Kawhi Leonard and the NBA's Circumvention Rules
In 2026 the NBA stripped the Clippers of five first-round picks, fined them $30 million and suspended owner Steve Ballmer for steering sponsor money to Kawhi Leonard.
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Paying Back the Pandemic: The NHL's Escrow System
NHL players lose part of each paycheck to escrow so revenue splits 50-50 with owners. After COVID left a $1.5 billion gap, who should bear a league's revenue risk?
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Paying the Newcomers Less: The NFL's 2011 Rookie Wage Scale
The 2011 NFL labor deal capped rookie pay and moved savings to veterans and retirees. Was it fair to set the terms for players who were not yet at the table?
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Paying the Watchdog: The U.S. Withholds WADA Dues Over the Chinese Swimmers Case
After the Chinese swimmers case, the U.S. stopped paying its WADA dues and lost its board seats. Congress then tied future payments to an independent audit.
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Paywalls and the Sports Broadcasting Act: The DOJ's NFL Media Probe
As more NFL games moved behind subscription paywalls, the Justice Department opened an antitrust investigation. Should a 1961 exemption still protect league TV deals?
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Peng Shuai and the WTA's Stand on China
After a Chinese tennis star accused a former vice premier of sexual coercion, the WTA suspended its China events. It returned 16 months later.
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Penn State and the Sandusky Abuse Scandal: Institutional Failure
How Penn State leaders responded to reports about former assistant coach Jerry Sandusky, and the criminal, NCAA, and federal consequences that followed.
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Periods and White Kit: Wimbledon's Dress Code and the Push for Dark Shorts
In 2022 players and campaigners said all-white kit made periods a source of anxiety. Wimbledon allowed dark undershorts, and football clubs changed shorts too.
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Pete Rose: Betting on Baseball and the Lifetime Ban
Baseball's hits leader accepted a lifetime ban in 1989 over gambling, admitted betting on baseball in 2004, and was removed from the ineligible list after his death.
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PGA Tour v. Martin: A Golf Cart and the Rules of the Game
A golfer with a circulatory disorder sued for the right to ride a cart. In 2001, the Supreme Court ruled 7–2 that the disability law required it.
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Players Are the LCS: League of Legends' 2023 Walkout
When Riot let LCS teams drop their academy squads, players voted to walk out. Riot delayed the season and threatened to cancel it. Who should carry esports' losses?
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Playing Through the Heat: The 2025 Club World Cup
FIFA's expanded Club World Cup put afternoon kick-offs in a US heatwave. Players called it dangerous, and the union said some games should have been delayed.
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Prescription or Edge? ADHD Stimulant Exemptions in Major League Baseball
After MLB banned amphetamines in 2006, ADHD drug exemptions soared to about one in ten players. Was baseball treating a real condition or leaving a loophole?
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Private Capital Comes to College Sports: The Big Ten, Big 12 and Utah
Facing the cost of paying athletes, the Big Ten weighed selling a stake in a new company, the Big 12 took a credit-and-commercial deal, and Utah partnered with a PE firm.
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Qatar 2022 World Cup and Migrant Labor
How hosting the 2022 World Cup focused global attention on migrant workers' conditions in Qatar and led to labor reforms whose enforcement remains disputed.
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Racing to Net Zero: Formula 1's 2030 Carbon Pledge
In 2019 Formula 1 pledged net zero carbon by 2030. Its reported cuts depend on boundaries, fuel certificates and offsets, and fans' travel is excluded.
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Rainbow Tape: The NHL's Pride Tape Ban and Its Reversal in 72 Hours
After players declined Pride warmup jerseys, the NHL banned theme jerseys and then rainbow stick tape. One player defied the ban; the league reversed it within days.
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Ray Rice and the NFL's Domestic Violence Policy
How the NFL's initial two-game suspension of Ray Rice, and the later release of the elevator video, forced changes to the league's Personal Conduct Policy.
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Rebuilding U.S. Olympic Sport: The 2024 Congressional Commission
A commission created by Congress found that the U.S. Olympic system underinvests in safety and grassroots sport and proposed a sweeping overhaul. Who should pay?
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Red Bull's 2021 Budget-Cap Breach: Accounting Error or Unfair Advantage?
Red Bull overspent F1's first cost cap by 1.6% in a title-winning year and paid $7m plus an aero-testing cut. Was the penalty proportionate?
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Registration Fees and Silence: Hockey Canada, the 2018 World Junior Allegation and the Trial
Hockey Canada quietly settled a sexual assault claim from a fund built on registration fees. Five players were later acquitted. What did the institution owe, and to whom?
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Regulator and Rival: The EU Court's 2023 Sport Governance Rulings
In 2023 the EU's top court ruled that FIFA, UEFA and skating's ISU could not block rival competitions without fair, transparent criteria. Who should police sport's gates?
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Renée Richards v. USTA: The 1977 Sex-Test Ruling
A transgender tennis player challenged the U.S. Open's chromosome test in 1977 and won. Decades later, she said her past gave her an advantage.
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Reopening the Deal: MLS, the Pandemic and the Force Majeure Clause
MLS twice threatened a lockout to reopen its labor deal during COVID-19, using a force majeure clause added months earlier. Was the pandemic a fair reason?
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Representing the Country on a Shoestring: Olympians' Financial Hardship
Surveys in Australia, Canada and around the world show many elite athletes live near the poverty line. Should sport systems guarantee a living stipend?
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Riot Games and the $100 Million Gender Discrimination Settlement
After reports of a sexist workplace, Riot Games faced lawsuits and a state investigation, and agreed to a $100 million settlement in 2021.
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Robert Sarver and the Suns: Workplace Misconduct and an Owner's Punishment
An NBA investigation found Suns owner Robert Sarver's workplace conduct violated common standards. A one-year ban drew outrage, and within nine days he moved to sell.
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Robot Umpires: MLB's Automated Ball-Strike Challenge System
MLB adopted a challenge system in 2026 letting players appeal ball-strike calls to a tracking system. It raises questions about fairness and the human element.
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Rule 50: Should the Olympic Podium Be Protest-Free?
The IOC's Rule 50 bans demonstrations at Olympic venues. A 2020–21 consultation kept the podium off-limits but allowed pre-competition gestures. Who decides?
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Russian State-Sponsored Doping and the WADA Response
Investigations found an institutional doping and sample-tampering scheme in Russian sport, including at Sochi 2014, leading to years of sanctions and legal disputes.
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Ryan Lochte and the Rio 2016 Gas Station Incident
An Olympic swimmer's false account of a robbery at gunpoint in Rio, the diplomatic fallout, and his suspension and loss of sponsors.
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Sandpapergate: Australia's Ball-Tampering Scandal at Cape Town
Australia's leadership group planned to scuff the ball with sandpaper in a 2018 Test. The punishments, and a review blaming team culture, reshaped the national side.
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Sandro Tonali: A Betting Ban, a Treatment Plan and Two Federations
Italy midfielder Sandro Tonali was banned for 10 months for betting on football, with part of an 18-month ban swapped for addiction treatment and talks.
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Santa Anita 2019: When Racehorses Kept Dying
Twenty-three horses died at Santa Anita Park in under three months in 2018–19. Investigators found no crimes, but the deaths forced changes in medication and oversight.
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Saudi Arabia and the 2034 World Cup
FIFA awarded the 2034 men's World Cup to Saudi Arabia, the only bidder, after changing its process. Rights groups raised concerns about workers and freedoms.
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Selling a Stake in the World Cup? FIFA Forward Enterprise and UEFA's Legal Fight
In July 2026 FIFA proposed a subsidiary that would sell stakes in its tournaments' commercial rights. Europe threatened a boycott, and UEFA went to US courts.
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Serena Williams, Carlos Ramos and the 2018 US Open Final
Serena Williams received three code violations from the umpire in the 2018 US Open final and accused him of sexism. The match divided tennis.
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Serena Williams, Seeding and Motherhood: Rewriting Tennis's Return Rules
Serena Williams returned from childbirth unseeded at No. 453. Slams split on seeding her, and the WTA rewrote its rules. What does fair return from pregnancy look like?
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Sha'Carri Richardson and Cannabis: Rules, Grief and the Spirit of Sport
The U.S. 100m champion lost her Olympic spot after a positive test for cannabis, used while grieving. WADA reviewed the ban and kept cannabis on the list.
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Shim Suk-hee and Abuse in South Korea's Elite Sport System
Olympic champion Shim Suk-hee accused her national team coach of years of assault. His conviction, and a triathlete's death, forced South Korea to rewrite its sports law.
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Shohei Ohtani, Ippei Mizuhara, and Gambling in the Inner Circle
Ohtani's interpreter and closest aide stole nearly $17 million from him to pay an illegal bookmaker. The case exposed betting risks in an athlete's entourage.
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Should Children Play Tackle Football?
Research links early tackle football to earlier brain-related symptoms. Should leagues and lawmakers raise the age for tackle, or leave the choice to parents?
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Should College Athletes Be Allowed to Bet on Pro Sports?
In 2025 the NCAA approved letting athletes and staff bet on professional sports, then member schools rescinded it within weeks. Harm reduction or integrity risk?
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Should Pitch-Level Micro-Bets Exist? Market Design After the Guardians Indictment
Federal prosecutors alleged that two MLB pitchers rigged individual pitches for bettors. MLB and sportsbooks capped pitch-level bets at $200. Is that enough?
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Silent Partners: The NFL Opens the Door to Private Equity
In 2024 NFL owners voted 31–1 to let approved private equity funds buy passive stakes of up to 10% in teams. What guardrails should govern institutional money in sport?
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Simona Halep's Doping Ban: From Four Years to Nine Months
A two-time Grand Slam champion's four-year doping ban was cut to nine months after CAS accepted a contaminated supplement. What does the slow, costly process teach?
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Simone Biles at Tokyo: The Twisties and the Right to Withdraw
The world's best gymnast withdrew from most of the Tokyo Olympics, citing 'the twisties' and mental health. Was it courage, and what do athletes owe teams?
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Skategate: The 2002 Olympic Pairs Judging Scandal
At Salt Lake City 2002 a French judge said she was pressured to favor a Russian pair. The IOC gave a second gold to Canada. Can judged sports be made trustworthy?
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Skin Gambling: Virtual Items, Real Money and Children
Third-party sites let players, including children, gamble with Counter-Strike skins and FIFA coins. Who was responsible: the sites, the platform or regulators?
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Smoke Over the Circuit: The 2022 Jeddah Missile Attack and Formula 1's Decision to Race
A missile strike near Jeddah's F1 track in 2022 led drivers into a four-hour meeting before they agreed to race. Who decides when a sporting event is safe enough?
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Spain's Fake Paralympians: Sydney 2000
Spain's intellectual disability basketball team won Paralympic gold in 2000. Ten of its 12 players had no disability, and the scandal excluded an entire class.
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Sports Illustrated's Fake AI Writers: Trust, Bylines and Machine-Made Content
In 2023 Sports Illustrated ran product reviews under invented writers with AI-generated headshots. Its union revolted. What do sports media owe readers about who writes?
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Sports Prediction Markets: Are Event Contracts Just Sports Betting?
Kalshi sells federally regulated contracts on game outcomes in states where sports betting is illegal. Courts have split over whether they are swaps or gambling.
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Sportsbooks on Campus: University Betting Partnerships and Their Unwinding
Universities signed sportsbook deals that put betting ads on campus and in students' inboxes. Within two years, industry rules and state bills pushed them to unwind.
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SRY Gene Screening: The Return of Sex Testing
After decades without routine sex testing, World Athletics, World Boxing and the IOC adopted genetic screening for the women's category in 2025–2026.
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Stand Respectfully: Megan Rapinoe, Anthem Protest and U.S. Soccer's Policy 604-1
After Megan Rapinoe knelt for the anthem in 2016, U.S. Soccer made players stand. In 2020 it repealed the rule and apologized. Can federations compel anthem conduct?
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Steps Followed, Outcome Wrong: Tua Tagovailoa and the NFL Concussion Protocol
Tua Tagovailoa stumbled, returned to play, and four days later was stretchered off. A review found the protocol was followed. So who decides when a player is fit?
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Suspended Until Further Notice: FIFA, UEFA and Russia's Exclusion From Football
Four days after Russia invaded Ukraine, FIFA and UEFA suspended all Russian teams. CAS upheld it. Is collective exclusion fair to players who bear no responsibility?
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Swimming in the Seine: Athlete Health and the Paris 2024 Triathlon
Paris spent €1.4 billion to make the Seine swimmable for the Olympics. When rain fouled the water, was it fair to ask triathletes to race there?
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Ten Metres From the Line: Iván Fernández Anaya and the Race He Refused to Win
A Kenyan leader stopped short of the finish thinking he had won. The Spaniard behind him guided him over the line instead of passing. Sportsmanship, or a wasted chance?
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Ten Rounds Is Not a Career: AFL Women's Pay and Season Length
AFLW players won large pay rises, but the AFL tied a longer season to crowd and TV targets. Is growth earned through audience, or a prerequisite for it?
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Tennessee and Virginia v. NCAA: The NIL-Recruiting Ban Falls
Two state attorneys general won an injunction against NCAA rules barring recruits from negotiating NIL deals before enrolling, then a consent judgment ending the ban.
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Tennis Balls on the Pitch: German Fans Stop the Bundesliga's Private-Equity Deal
In 2024 the DFL tried to sell a share of Bundesliga media revenue to private equity. Fans halted matches until it gave up. Should supporters have a veto?
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Tennis Match-Fixing and the Independent Review of Integrity
Leaked files and an independent panel found a "tsunami" of fixing in lower-tier tennis, fueled in part by the sport's own sale of live betting data.
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Tennis Stars vs. the Grand Slams: A Fair Share of Revenue?
In 2025, top tennis players asked the four Grand Slams for more prize money, welfare funding and a voice. What share of revenue is fair in an individual sport?
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The 1919 Black Sox Scandal
Eight White Sox players were accused of conspiring with gamblers to lose the 1919 World Series. A jury acquitted them; baseball's first commissioner banned them for life.
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The 2017 Cricket Australia Pay Dispute: Revenue Sharing, Lockout and the Ashes
Cricket Australia tried to end 20 years of revenue sharing. 230 players went unpaid, a tour was boycotted and the Ashes was at risk. Who should share in a sport's money?
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The 2021–22 MLB Lockout: A 99-Day Fight Over Baseball's Money
MLB owners locked out players for 99 days over pay for young players, the luxury tax and tanking. The deal saved the season, and the next fight looms in 2026.
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The 2026 College Basketball Point-Shaving Indictments
Prosecutors charged 26 people over an alleged scheme bribing college and Chinese league players to shave points. What do schools and the NCAA owe athletes?
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The 76ers' "Process": Tanking as Strategy
Philadelphia fielded rosters built to lose from 2013 to 2016 to collect top draft picks. The team recovered, and the NBA reformed its lottery.
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The Athletics Leave Oakland for Las Vegas
After years of failed stadium plans in Oakland, MLB's Athletics won Nevada public funding and approval to move to Las Vegas. Fans protested the owner.
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The Bahrain Grand Prix: Racing Amid Repression
Formula 1 canceled its 2011 Bahrain race during an uprising, then returned in 2012 despite protests. Rights groups say the race helps whitewash abuses.
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The Black Granules: The EU's Microplastics Ban and Europe's Artificial Pitches
The EU will ban sales of rubber and plastic pitch infill from 2031. Grassroots football faces a costly transition as the price of cleaner pitches.
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The Bosman Ruling: Free Movement and Football's Transfer System
A little-known Belgian midfielder took his club to the EU's highest court, ending transfer fees for out-of-contract players and quotas on EU nationals.
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The Braves, Cobb County and Public Stadium Funding
Cobb County approved up to $397 million in bonds for a new Braves ballpark two weeks after it was announced. An economist later found it costs taxpayers.
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The Chicago Blackhawks, Kyle Beach and the 2010 Cover-Up
Blackhawks leaders learned in 2010 that a video coach was accused of sexual assault and waited three weeks, through a Stanley Cup run, to act.
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The Coach's Bug: CS:GO's Spectator Exploit and Esports Integrity
In 2020 a volunteer referee found CS:GO coaches had exploited a spectator bug for years. ESIC banned 37 coaches, and Valve curbed coaching. Was it cheating?
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The Enhanced Games: Should Sport Allow Performance-Enhancing Drugs?
A privately funded event let athletes use PEDs under medical supervision and paid bonuses for records. It was held in Las Vegas in May 2026 to fierce opposition.
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The European Super League: A Breakaway That Lasted 48 Hours
Twelve elite clubs announced a semi-closed league in 2021. Fan fury forced most to withdraw within days, but the legal fight reached the EU's top court.
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The FBI's College Basketball Corruption Probe
Federal prosecutors charged coaches, an Adidas executive and agents over payments to recruits' families, turning NCAA amateurism rules into federal fraud cases.
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The FBI's Nassar Failures: Accountability for Law Enforcement
The FBI received abuse reports about Larry Nassar in 2015 and failed to act; he abused more athletes. How should a government agency be held accountable?
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The Golf Ball Rollback: One Rule for Pros and Weekend Players?
In 2023 golf's rule-makers changed how balls are tested, cutting distance for elite and recreational players alike. Is one rule for all fair, or should the game split?
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The Horner Investigation: Confidential Verdicts and a Team in Public Crisis
Red Bull cleared team principal Christian Horner after a complaint by a female colleague, but kept the report secret. What transparency does a workplace inquiry owe?
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The House Settlement: Colleges Begin Paying Athletes Directly
A $2.8 billion settlement approved in 2025 let Division I schools pay athletes directly, swapped scholarship limits for roster caps, and raised Title IX concerns.
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The Iowa and Iowa State Betting Investigation and the Geofence Question
Iowa agents used betting-app location data to identify college athletes who gambled, some on their own teams. Did enforcing betting rules justify the surveillance?
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The Kanjuruhan Stadium Disaster: Tear Gas, Locked Gates and Who Answers for 135 Deaths
Police fired tear gas into a packed Indonesian stadium in 2022 and 135 people died. What do police, clubs and football bodies owe the fans they control?
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The Malice at the Palace: The Pacers–Pistons Brawl
A 2004 on-court fight spilled into the stands when a fan threw a drink. The NBA issued record suspensions, and players and fans faced criminal charges.
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The Matildas' Equal-Pay Deal: From a Cancelled Tour to Revenue Sharing
Four years after striking over pay, Australia's Matildas won a deal matching the Socceroos. What makes an equal-pay agreement real when prize money is unequal?
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The Milwaukee Bucks' 2020 Playoff Boycott
After police shot Jacob Blake in 2020, the Milwaukee Bucks refused to play a playoff game. Other teams and leagues followed, halting play for days.
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The Mitchell Report and Baseball's Steroid Era
MLB commissioned George Mitchell to investigate steroid use. His 2007 report named dozens of players and asked whether to punish the past or reform the future.
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The NBA Bubble: Finishing a Season Inside a Pandemic
In 2020 the NBA finished its season in a sealed campus at Walt Disney World. It worked medically, but who bore the costs, and was playing the right call?
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The NBA Gambling Indictments: Rozier, Billups and Inside Information
Federal prosecutors charged an NBA player, a head coach and a former player in betting and rigged-poker schemes. How should a league act before any verdict?
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The NBA's 65-Game Rule and the 3-2-1 Lottery
The NBA tied awards to 65 games, fined teams for resting stars, and in 2026 adopted a lottery that penalizes the worst teams to discourage tanking.
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The NFL Concussion Litigation and Settlement
Thousands of retired players sued the NFL over concussion risks. The result was an uncapped class settlement and a later fight over "race-norming."
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The NFL's Three-Year Wait for HGH Testing
The NFL and its players agreed to HGH blood testing in 2011, but testing did not start until late 2014. Was the union protecting players or stalling?
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The Nike Oregon Project and Alberto Salazar
Nike's elite distance group produced Olympic medalists. Its coach was banned for doping violations and later for misconduct, and the project shut down.
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The NWSL's 'High Impact Player' Rule and the Union's Grievance
To keep stars like Trinity Rodman, the NWSL let clubs pay $1 million over the cap to players meeting set criteria. The union said the rule was never bargained.
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The OneLove Armband: FIFA, Captains and Protest at the Qatar World Cup
Seven European teams planned to wear a OneLove armband at Qatar 2022. FIFA threatened yellow cards and they backed down. When should athletes accept a cost to speak?
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The Other Side of the Medal: Homelessness, Evictions and the Paris 2024 Olympics
Charities said thousands of homeless people and migrants were evicted and bused out of Paris before the 2024 Games. The state said its policy had no link to the Olympics.
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The Pac-12's Collapse and Rebuild
After ten schools left for richer leagues in 2022–23, Oregon State and Washington State fought in court for the Pac-12's assets and rebuilt it with Mountain West schools.
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The Premier League's Front-of-Shirt Gambling Ban: Self-Regulation or Shuffling Logos?
In 2023 Premier League clubs agreed to remove betting brands from shirt fronts from 2026-27. Sleeves, boards and training kits stayed open.
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The PTPA Lawsuit: Tennis Players Sue the Tours and the Slams
A players' group co-founded by Novak Djokovic sued tennis's tours and later the Grand Slams, alleging a cartel that suppresses pay. A judge let the case proceed in 2026.
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The Rodchenkov Act: U.S. Criminal Law Reaches Into Global Doping
A 2020 U.S. law made it a crime to run doping schemes at major international events anywhere in the world, while leaving U.S. pro leagues and college sports outside it.
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The Rooney Rule and Brian Flores's Discrimination Lawsuit
The NFL's Rooney Rule requires interviews of minority candidates. In 2022, Brian Flores sued, alleging some interviews were shams and that hiring discriminated.
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The Rubiales Kiss and Spain's #SeAcabó Movement
After Spain won the 2023 Women's World Cup, the federation president kissed Jenni Hermoso without consent. Players struck, and a court later convicted him.
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The Salt Lake City Bid Scandal: Buying the Olympics
Salt Lake City's bid committee gave IOC members cash, scholarships, and gifts. The 1998–99 scandal forced the first major reforms of Olympic governance.
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The Saudi Pro League Spending Spree: Stars, State Money and Sportswashing
In 2023 Saudi Arabia's sovereign wealth fund took over four clubs and the league outspent all but England. Are players choosing a job, or lending their names to a state?
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The SCORE Act and the Protect College Sports Act: Should Congress Write College Sports' Rules?
House Republicans' SCORE Act would bar athlete employee status; the Senate's 2026 bill dropped that and passed 77-22. Should Congress write college sports' rules?
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The Seattle SuperSonics' Move to Oklahoma City
An Oklahoma City group bought Seattle's NBA team in 2006 promising good-faith efforts to stay. It moved in 2008. The city has fought to get a team back.
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The U.S. Center for SafeSport: Protecting Athletes, Protecting Due Process
Congress created SafeSport after the Nassar scandal to handle abuse in Olympic sports. Athletes say it is too slow; the accused say it is unfair.
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The UFC-USADA Split: Who Should Run a Promoter's Drug Testing?
After eight years, the UFC ended its anti-doping deal with USADA amid a dispute over Conor McGregor's return. Can a promoter's own program be truly independent?
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The USWNT's Fight for Equal Pay
World champion women's soccer players sued their federation for pay discrimination, lost a key ruling, then won a $24 million settlement and equal-pay contracts.
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The WNBA's 2026 Labor Deal: Revenue Sharing After a Standoff
WNBA players opted out, authorized a strike, and won a seven-year deal tying salaries to league revenue. Is growth-sharing the fair model for women's sport?
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Tim Donaghy and the NBA Betting Scandal
An NBA referee bet on games, including games he officiated, and passed inside information to gamblers. He pleaded guilty to federal charges in 2007.
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Tommie Smith, John Carlos and the 1968 Podium Protest
Two U.S. sprinters raised gloved fists on the Olympic podium in 1968. They were expelled from the Games, and later honored. Protest rules are still debated.
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Tonya Harding and the Attack on Nancy Kerrigan
The 1994 attack on figure skater Nancy Kerrigan, organized by people close to rival Tonya Harding, and the criminal and sporting consequences that followed.
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Too Tall to Race? Blake Leeper, World Athletics and the MASH Rule
A double-amputee 400m runner won a key point at CAS: the governing body must prove advantage. Then he lost on height. Who carries the burden, and how is it measured?
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Tramadol in the Peloton: Cycling's Medical Ban and Nairo Quintana's Disqualification
Cycling banned the painkiller tramadol in races for safety before WADA did. Nairo Quintana lost his 2022 Tour de France sixth place, though it wasn't a doping case.
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Treatment or Advantage? The 2014 Ban on Testosterone Exemptions in MMA
In 2014 Nevada banned therapeutic exemptions for testosterone replacement therapy in combat sports, and the UFC followed. Was ending all exemptions fair to fighters?
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Twenty-Three Chinese Swimmers, Trimetazidine, and Trust in WADA
WADA accepted China's finding that 23 swimmers' positive tests came from a contaminated hotel kitchen. When the case surfaced in 2024, it split world anti-doping.
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Two Yards Back: Tiger Woods, the 2013 Masters and Whether to Withdraw
Tiger Woods took an improper drop at the 2013 Masters and signed his card. Officials waived disqualification. Should he have withdrawn himself?
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UFC Fighter Pay and the Le v. Zuffa Antitrust Settlement
Former UFC fighters claimed the promotion used its market dominance to suppress their pay. After a decade of litigation, they settled for $375 million.
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UNC "Paper Classes": The African and Afro-American Studies Scandal
For nearly two decades, UNC–Chapel Hill offered irregular "paper classes" with no instruction. Athletes were heavily enrolled, yet the NCAA found no violations.
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Under-Fueled: RED-S, Weight Culture and the Coach's Duty
Sports medicine now treats under-fueling as a syndrome that harms health and performance. Athlete accounts show how coaching cultures around weight can drive it.
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Unfit to Be Associated: Kyrie Irving, an Antisemitic Film and the Nets' Suspension
In 2022 the Brooklyn Nets suspended Kyrie Irving without pay after he shared an antisemitic film and would not disavow antisemitism. Was it fair discipline?
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Unlimited Transfers: States and DOJ v. NCAA's Sit-Out Rule
States and the DOJ sued the NCAA over a rule making multiple-time transfers sit out a year. A 2024 judgment barred it. Freedom to move, or chaos?
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VAR and Luis Díaz's Wrongly Disallowed Goal
A VAR miscommunication wrongly disallowed a Liverpool goal at Tottenham in 2023. The referees' body admitted the error, but the result stood.
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Vinícius Júnior and Racist Abuse in Spanish Football
Real Madrid's Vinícius Júnior faced repeated racist abuse in Spanish stadiums. In 2024, three fans received Spain's first conviction for such abuse at a match.
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Vladyslav Heraskevych's Remembrance Helmet at Milan-Cortina 2026
A Ukrainian skeleton racer was barred from the 2026 Olympics for refusing to race without a helmet honoring athletes killed in the war. Was it neutrality or erasure?
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Wander Franco: A Record Contract, a Criminal Case and a League's Own Discipline
Rays star Wander Franco signed a record deal, then was convicted in the Dominican Republic of abusing a minor. What should a league do while courts decide?
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Watching the Feeds: AI Monitoring of Online Abuse Against Athletes
Sports bodies now use AI to scan millions of posts for abuse aimed at athletes, with women often targeted most. What do they owe players, and what can AI not do?
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We Were a Bit of Meat: Former Players Sue Rugby Over Brain Injury
Former rugby players with early-onset dementia sued World Rugby, the RFU and WRU for negligence. The case now hinges as much on legal process as on science.
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Weight Cutting in Combat Sports and the Death of Yang Jian Bing
Fighters dehydrate to make weight, then rehydrate before bouts. After a 21-year-old died cutting weight, ONE Championship banned the practice.
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West Virginia v. B.P.J.: The Supreme Court and Transgender Athletes
In 2026, the Supreme Court upheld state laws limiting girls' and women's school sports to biological females, rejecting challenges by two transgender athletes.
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What He Should Have Known: Northwestern Football, Hazing and a Coach's Responsibility
An inquiry found widespread hazing but no evidence the head coach knew. Northwestern suspended him, then fired him three days later. What is a leader responsible for?
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When the Local Channel Goes Dark: Diamond Sports and the Collapse of Regional Sports Networks
Diamond Sports' 2023 bankruptcy and the 2026 shutdown of its successor left dozens of teams seeking new TV homes. Who should bear the cost of a broken media model?
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When the Machine Went Quiet: Wimbledon's Line-Calling Failure
Wimbledon replaced its line judges with electronic calling in 2025. Then the system was switched off by mistake on Centre Court. Who answers when technology errs?
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Who Coaches the Women? Title IX's Paradox and the Women in College Coaching Report Card
Before Title IX, women coached over 90% of women's college teams. Fifty years on it is under half, and in 2026 the share fell again. Is this a fairness problem?
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Who Governs Anti-Doping? WADA's Independence Reforms and the Athlete Voice
After the Russia scandal, athletes demanded a real voice at WADA. The 2018 and 2022 reforms added independence and athlete seats. Did they go far enough?
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Who Owns Pro Cycling? The Fight Over Rights and Reform
Pro cycling teams want a bigger share of race revenue. After rejecting a Saudi-linked breakaway plan, the UCI is weighing pooled media rights. Who should benefit?
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Who Reviews Sport's Court? Seraing and the Limits of CAS Finality
In 2025 the EU Court of Justice ruled that CAS awards imposed by sports bodies must be open to review by EU courts on EU public policy. Should sport's court be final?
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Who Runs Cheer? The Varsity Brands Antitrust Settlements
Cheer families and gyms alleged Varsity Brands used its competitions and a governing body it created to dominate the sport. Two settlements followed, without admissions.
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Whose Cleats? The NWSL Footwear Policy and Player Fines
In 2026 the NWSL began fining players whose cleat brands hadn't paid the league. Can a league charge for what players wear on their feet?
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Zambia's Copper Queens and a Coach Under Investigation
Zambia's women's coach Bruce Mwape faced sexual misconduct allegations and a FIFA investigation, yet kept coaching through the Olympics. Who protects players?
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