Towards a redefinition of political neutrality in sport

Traditionally, the international community has not fully recognised the capacity of sport as an enforcement tool within international law. Despite sporadic boycotts and sanctions, its potential remains largely unrealised. Yet the notion of sport as apolitical, never consistently upheld, has been challenged more clearly than ever by the Russian invasion of Ukraine, prompting sports authorities and International Organizations to adopt coercive measures of contested legal basis. This reaction shows that sport can serve not only diplomacy, peace and human rights, but also the enforcement of international obligations. Such measures, however, ultimately bear on athletes’ fundamental rights, raising concerns of non-discrimination and proportionality. This study thus contributes to redefining political neutrality in sport and its relationship with international law.