Comparative Analysis of Legal Systems in Managing International Sports Disputes and Strategies to Enhance Countries’ Legal Success before International Tribunals

The effective management of international sports disputes has become a critical concern for national legal systems seeking to protect athletes’ rights and national interests on the global stage. This study conducts a comparative analysis of leading legal frameworks governing international sports dispute resolution, with a particular focus on the Court of Arbitration for Sport (CAS) and similar bodies. Employing a mixed-methods approach, we analyzed 120 CAS decisions from 2015 to 2024 using advanced statistical techniques, including multinomial logistic regression and hierarchical cluster analysis, to identify key legal, procedural, and institutional factors influencing successful outcomes for states. Results indicate that countries with specialized legal teams, proactive engagement in international sports governance, and robust national dispute resolution mechanisms achieve significantly higher success rates (p < 0.01) in international sports tribunals. Furthermore, the study highlights the impact of arbitrator selection, procedural fairness, and legal representation quality as critical determinants of case outcomes. Based on these findings, we propose targeted reforms, such as enhanced legal training, strategic arbitrator appointments, and international collaboration, to improve countries’ legal performance in sports-related disputes. These insights offer practical recommendations for policymakers aiming to strengthen their national legal systems within the evolving landscape of international sports law.