How to recover prize money from doping athletes: Lessons for event organisers from the Shobukhova case

The case of Liliya Shobukhova provides a timely reminder for sporting event organisers. Having the necessary contractual mechanisms in place gives the best opportunity to recover appearance fees, prize monies and other bonus payments, given to professional competitors should they need to be recovered in future.

This article discusses the high-profile case between London Marathon Events Limited (“LMEL”) and Ms Shobukhova and explores ways to ease the challenges faced by rights holders when chasing athletes for recovery of monies post event.

Specifically, it looks at:

• The Shobukhova case and legal proceedings
  
  
• Contract formation
  
  
• Must a form be physically signed for the rules to be incorporated?
  
  
• Using contracts to protect rights-holders’ interests
  
  
• “Cheats are not welcome here” – Banning cheats
  
  
• Reclaiming consequential losses
  
  
• Other remedies
  
  
• Staggered payments and/or shared liability?
  
  
• Concluding thoughts 

Please note that Kerman & Co LLP acted for LMEL[1].