Sport and employment law – the year in review 2018/19

As 2018 drew to a close, over five days in Manchester, the Employment Tribunal heard detailed evidence and submissions in the dispute between the British cyclist, Jess Varnish, and British Cycling and UK Sport. Given the importance of the case, this review focuses on analysing the arguments and decision of the Tribunal regarding the question of whether elite British cyclists have employment rights.

Whilst each case will necessarily turn on its own facts, the reasoning of the Tribunal in the Varnish case is likely to have ramifications beyond the sport of cycling, given its analysis of various matters including the applicable funding arrangements. A copy of the judgment is available to view here.1