Karl Bayer's Disputing Blog » Sports and Entertainment

Arbitrator Poised to Issue Decision in Appeal Over A-Rod’s 211-Game Suspension

By Beth Graham - January 5, 2014

The independent arbitrator who is now considering an appeal over Major League Baseball (MLB) player Alex Rodriguez's unprecedented 211-game suspension, Fredric Horowitz, will reportedly issue a decision to uphold, reduce, or toss the penalty in the near future.

Armstrong Seeks to Avoid Review of 2006 Arbitration Settlement

By Beth Graham - January 2, 2014

In late December, former professional bicyclist Lance Armstrong and United States Postal Service bicycling team owner Tailwind Sports filed individual motions to stay arbitral proceedings in a case brought by Dallas-based sports insurer SCA Promotions over bonuses paid to Armstrong following several of his Tour de France wins.

Arbitration Panel to Reconsider Binding Agreement Between Armstrong and SCA Promotions

By Beth Graham - October 31, 2013

In an interesting twist, a three-member arbitration panel will reportedly consider an appeal related to a 2005 arbitration agreement between Lance Armstrong and Dallas-based SCA Promotions, Inc.

Texas Company Files Suit to Recover Bonus from Armstrong

By Beth Graham - February 15, 2013

A Texas promotions company that paid cycling champion Lance Armstrong bonus payments following his seven Tour de France wins has filed a breach of contract lawsuit in a Dallas district court against the now disgraced sports star. SCA promotions is seeking to recover more than $12 million the company paid to Armstrong in connection with several cycling wins. This case is especially interesting because SCA and Armstrong previously engaged in arbitr

Armstrong Autobiography Suit Seeks Class Action Status

By Beth Graham - January 31, 2013

It looks like Lance Armstrong’s legal troubles in connection with his use of performance enhancing drugs and other measures to secure seven Tour de France victories are far from over. Last fall, the International Cycling Union released its decision to recognize the USADA’s findings against Armstrong. In the decision, all of Armstrong’s competitive results achieved after August 1, 1998 were disqualified. In addition, United States Justice Departme

Lance Armstrong Admits Using Performance-enhancing Drugs

By Victoria VanBuren - January 22, 2013

As readers may already know, Lance Armstrong admitted last week to using performance enhancing drugs in an interview with Oprah Winfrey. Our posts on the USADA case are here. What’s next? read about the pending federal whistle-blower lawsuit at the Wall Street Journal. Stay tuned!

UCI Recognizes Sanctions against Lance Armstrong

By Victoria VanBuren - October 23, 2012

by Jeremy Clare On October 22, 2012, the International Cycling Union (UCI) released its decision regarding USADA’s case against Lance Armstrong. UCI came to three main conclusions: (1) UCI will not appeal USADA’s reasoned decision to the Court of Arbitration for Sport (CAS); (2) UCI will recognize and implement USADA’s reasoned decision; and (3) UCI will disqualify all competitive results achieved by Mr. Armstrong from August 1, 1998 thereafter.

USADA Case against Lance Armstrong | Statute of Limitations

By Victoria VanBuren - October 22, 2012

by Jeremy Clare USADA is seeking the disqualification of all of Mr. Lance Armstrong’s competitive results from August 1, 1998 onward. According to Article 17 of the World Anti-Doping Code, the statute of limitations for an action brought against an athlete is eight years from the date that the alleged violation(s) occurred. However, USADA claimed that the statute of limitations was suspended because Mr. Armstrong concealed the violations. In its

USADA Case against Lance Armstrong | Evidence against Armstrong

By Victoria VanBuren - October 19, 2012

by Jeremy Clare The overall purpose of USADA’s Reasoned Decision was to present the evidence it gathered in order to justify the sanctions against Mr. Armstrong. The Reasoned Decision gives both, a detailed account and an extensive summary of the evidence. USADA had sworn statements from more than two dozen witnesses. The witnesses include fifteen professional cyclists and Armstrong’s former masseuse. Eleven of those cyclists were members of Arms

USADA Case against Lance Armstrong | Standard of Proof and Means of Proof

By Victoria VanBuren - October 17, 2012

by Jeremy Clare Standard of Proof According to Article 3.1 of the World Anti-Doping Code (the Code), USADA bore the burden of establishing Mr. Armstrong’s violations of the Code. “This standard of proof in all cases is greater than a mere balance of probability but less than proof beyond a reasonable doubt.” USADA noted in the Reasoned Decision that the standard is comparable to the standard applied to other cases of professional misconduct. In t