Practical guide

How to draft a CAS/TAS appeal with AI

3 min read · Updated May 2026 · Editorial oversight: Avv. Federico Papa

The appeal to the Court of Arbitration for Sport (CAS/TAS) is the preeminent legal remedy in international sports law, governed by the Code of Sports-related Arbitration. This arbitral mechanism is available to challenge final decisions issued by national and international sports federations or bodies, provided that a valid arbitration clause exists within the relevant organization's statutes. The proceedings take place before an independent panel in Lausanne and require strict compliance with the formal and temporal requirements set out in the arbitration rules.

In brief

Appeals to the Court of Arbitration for Sport (CAS) in Lausanne are governed by the Code of Sports-related Arbitration. Jurisdiction requires a valid arbitration clause and exhaustion of internal remedies. The Statement of Appeal must be filed within 21 days (Art. R49) with a 1,000 CHF fee. The Appeal Brief follows within 10 days (Art. R51). Under Art. R57, the Panel conducts a de novo review. Arbitrators are appointed from the ICAS official list. AI technology facilitates drafting legal grounds and prayers for relief.

The steps

  1. 1.

    Verification of jurisdiction and deadlines

    The first step is to verify the existence of an arbitration clause in the sports body's statutes and compliance with the deadline, typically set at 21 days from receipt of the challenged decision (Art. R49 of the Code). It is also essential to ensure that all internal remedies provided by the federation have been exhausted before applying to the CAS. Timeliness is a non-derogable prerequisite for admissibility, save for exceptional cases provided for by specific regulations.

  2. 2.

    Filing the Statement of Appeal

    The proceedings commence with the filing of the Statement of Appeal, which must contain the details of the parties, a copy of the challenged decision, and the designation of an arbitrator. At this stage, the appellant must specify whether the dispute should be referred to a sole arbitrator or to a three-member panel, pursuant to Arts. R48 and R50 of the Code. The brief must be submitted electronically or by mail to the Lausanne headquarters, in compliance with the applicable language rules.

  3. 3.

    Payment of the Court Office fee

    Simultaneously with the filing of the statement, or within the deadline fixed by the CAS Court Office, the appellant must pay a non-refundable court office fee of 1,000 Swiss Francs (CHF). Failing such payment, pursuant to Art. R64.1 of the Code, the appeal is deemed withdrawn and the proceedings will not commence. It is advisable to attach proof of transfer directly to the initial filing to expedite the processing of the file.

  4. 4.

    Drafting and filing the Appeal Brief

    Within ten days of the expiry of the time limit for the appeal, pursuant to Art. R51 of the Code, the appellant must submit the Appeal Brief containing the statement of facts and legal arguments. This brief must include all evidence and specify the witnesses and experts to be called at the hearing. It constitutes the primary submission in which the substantive legal and factual challenges against the sports body's decision are developed.

  5. 5.

    Designation of arbitrators from the closed list

    Unlike ordinary arbitration, before the CAS parties must choose their arbitrator exclusively from the official list drawn up by the International Council of Arbitration for Sport (ICAS). If the appellant fails to nominate an arbitrator in the Statement of Appeal, the CAS will not process the appeal. It is crucial to select an arbitrator with specific expertise in the subject matter of the dispute (e.g., anti-doping, disciplinary, or contractual matters).

Legal basis: Codice di arbitrato in materia di sport (Code of Sports-related Arbitration)Statuto dell'organismo sportivo (Federazione Internazionale o Nazionale)

Related checklist: pre-filing checks for a CAS appeal

The template structure

The standard sections that make up the document. The full template can be opened and completed directly on edit.legal.

  1. Court of Arbitration for Sport

    Heading of the arbitral tribunal with an indication of the Lausanne seat and the competent division.

  2. Parties

    Identification of the appellant and the respondent, including their respective contact and legal details.

  3. Arbitral Jurisdiction and Admissibility

    Specification of the statutory arbitration clause and proof of compliance with appeal deadlines and exhaustion of internal remedies.

  4. Challenged Decision

    Details and summary of the decision issued by the lower sports body that the appellant seeks to challenge.

  5. Grounds of Appeal

    Factual and legal arguments supporting the application for annulment or modification of the challenged decision.

  6. Prayers for Relief

    Specific and precise requests addressed to the arbitral panel regarding the outcome of the proceedings.

  7. Evidence

    Detailed list of documents, witness testimony, and expert reports submitted in support of the defense.

  8. Place, date, and signature

    Signature of counsel acting under power of attorney and list of attached documents.

Open the template in edit.legal Download as DOCXRequires a free account

Mistakes to avoid

  • Failure to exhaust internal remedies provided by the relevant federation's statutes before filing the appeal with CAS.
  • Exceeding the mandatory 21-day deadline without proving a different statutory provision.
  • Appointing an arbitrator who is not included in the official closed list of CAS/TAS members.
  • Failing to pay the court office fee of 1,000 CHF within the deadlines set by the Code.

Frequently asked questions

What are the official languages of the proceedings before CAS?

The official languages are English, French, and Spanish (since 2020, pursuant to Art. R29 of the Code). However, the parties may agree to use another language, subject to authorization by the Panel.

Can CAS review both facts and law?

Pursuant to Art. R57 of the Code, the Panel has full power to review the case 'de novo', evaluating both the facts and the legal issues.

How much does it cost to initiate an appeal at CAS?

In addition to the initial court office fee of 1,000 CHF, the parties must pay an advance on arbitration costs, determined by the Court Office based on the value and complexity of the dispute.

Avv. Federico Papa
Editorial oversight: Avv. Federico Papa·ICAM

What edit.legal automates

  • —Automated verification via AI of appeal compliance with the formal requirements of Arts. R47 and R48 of the CAS/TAS Code.
  • —AI-driven generation of arbitrator profiles based on the official list to support the selection of the Panel member.
  • —Automatic AI calculation of deadlines based on the notification date of the challenged sports decision.

Put edit.legal to the test on actual cases

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This guide is for informational purposes only and does not constitute legal advice for your specific case.