Swiss to Take Olympic Bronze Dispute to Top Court

Swiss Rowing Federation to Appeal Court Decision

After a months-long legal battle, the Swiss Rowing Federation has decided to take its dispute over the allocation of Olympic bronze medals to the Swiss Federal Court. The move comes after the Court of Arbitration for Sport (CAS) ruled in favor of the German Rowing Federation in December 2022. CAS had upheld the results of the men's lightweight double sculls event at the 2020 Tokyo Olympics, in which the German boat finished third and the Swiss boat finished fourth.

Swiss Team Contests Results

The Swiss team had contested the results, claiming that the German boat had gained an unfair advantage by using illegal equipment. However, CAS rejected the Swiss team's claims, stating that there was no evidence to support their allegations. The Swiss Rowing Federation has now decided to appeal CAS's decision to the Swiss Federal Court, the highest court in Switzerland.

Long-Running Legal Dispute

The legal dispute between the Swiss and German rowing federations has been ongoing for over a year. The Swiss team initially filed a complaint with CAS in August 2021, alleging that the German boat had used illegal equipment during the Olympic race. CAS held a hearing in November 2021 and issued its ruling in December 2022.

Swiss Federal Court to Rule

The Swiss Federal Court is now expected to hear the appeal from the Swiss Rowing Federation. It is unclear when the court will issue its ruling, but it is likely to be several months before a decision is made. If the Swiss Federal Court upholds CAS's decision, the German team will be awarded the bronze medals from the 2020 Tokyo Olympics.

Impact on Rowing Community

The outcome of the legal dispute will have a significant impact on the rowing community. If the Swiss team is successful in its appeal, it would set a precedent for other teams to challenge results based on allegations of illegal equipment. This could lead to more legal disputes and uncertainty in the sport.