Abstract:
The introduction of the dedicated “Sports Arbitration” chapter in the revised Law of the People's Republic of China on Physical Culture and Sports (Chapter IX) has effectively operationalized the establishment of independent sports arbitration institutions. Through a comparative analysis of global sports arbitration frameworks and national models such as Australia’s, this study demonstrates that China’s sports arbitration system has cultivated institutional mechanisms and operational practices uniquely suited to its socio-legal context. Findings indicate that China’s sports arbitration has established a hierarchical legal framework centered on national legislation. Independent arbitration serves as a foundational principle guiding the China Commission of Arbitration for Sports (CCAS). This principle is operationalized through rigorous arbitrator selection protocols, stringent oversight mechanisms, and the empowerment of tribunals with independent adjudicative authority. Furthermore, the law incentivizes sports associations to adopt internal dispute resolution mechanisms while mandating arbitration as a remedial pathway for associations lacking such structures, and courts retain the power to annul arbitration awards under seven statutory grounds, including “errors in legal application.” To further refine the system, reforms should enhance its service-oriented dimension by integrating streamlined, accessible mechanisms for dispute resolution, thereby contributing to China’s strategic objectives of building a globally competitive sports powerhouse and advancing the Healthy China vision.