Welcome to the third edition of Mishcon de Reya's Sports disputes update, where we bring you the latest developments and key stories from the world of sports law and governance. This month's issue highlights how sporting integrity is under scrutiny, with new anti-doping bans and match-fixing charges. The debate over transgender athletes’ participation in women’s sports is also intensifying, with a major ruling expected in June.
Integrity in sports
Sporting integrity looks set to remain a hot topic in 2026. Combat Sports Anti-Doping (CSAD) announced the fighting ban of heavyweight Mohammed Usman for two and a half years after he was found to have taken testosterone supplements before a fight in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil, in October 2025. Usman's sentence was increased from the ordinary two-year suspension following his intentional obstruction of CSAD's investigation. In certain circumstances, attempts to deceive or obstruct anti-doping investigations can double the standard suspension; however, a six-month increase was deemed appropriate given Usman ultimately admitted to his wrongdoing. Issues of sporting integrity can sometimes result in criminal sanctions. In the US, an extensive FBI investigation has resulted in criminal indictments being secured against 26 people accused of match fixing in NCAA Division 1 games as well as professional Chinese Basketball Association games. Those accused are suspected to have engaged in "points shaving", wherein they paid bribes to basketball players to manipulate or "fix" the final margin of victory in numerous basketball games, resulting in millions of dollars in bets being paid out to bettors involved in the scheme.
Transgender athletes in the US
The rights of transgender athletes will also remain an important topic in sports, following the UK Supreme Court's decision on the meaning of "sex" in the Equality Act 2010, and the subsequent bans on trans women from participating in women's competitions by the Football Association and England and Wales Cricket Board in 2025. This year, the US Supreme Court is appearing likely to maintain restrictions on transgender athletes participating in female school sports. Over half of the states in America have banned trans women from participating in women's school sporting events, with restrictions increasing last year following an executive order by President Donald Trump which prompted major national sport bodies such as the NCAA and US Olympic Committee to ban trans women from participating in women's competitions. Those in favour of the ban argue that trans women have athletic advantages which undermine the separation of men and women in sports. Lawyers for those appealing the ban argue that such policies ignore the role that testosterone-suppressing drugs can play in levelling competition. The US Supreme Court is expected to hand down judgment in June 2026.
Our Sports practice
Mishcon de Reya’s Sports group delivers winning strategies for the world’s biggest sporting moments. We’ve handled some of the most high-profile sports cases in recent years, combining deep legal expertise with real-world sports experience.