The Athlete's Status Under the Sports Law
The Georgian Law on Sport defines the athlete's status in Article 21, and these definitions shape the entire strategy of representation. An athlete is a person who practises sport and takes part in competitions. An athlete for whom sport is the main source of income is a professional, and "athlete" is recognized as a profession. The professional activity of athletes, coaches, referees and other specialists — training and participation in competitions — when it is their main source of income, is carried out under labor legislation. An athlete's contract with a club or federation is therefore not some special "sporting" deal: it is an employment contract with all its guarantees. A representative must act precisely within this legal qualification: where the law speaks of an employment relationship, sporting custom cannot replace the law.
The Professional Athlete's Contract and Insurance
Under the law, persons employed in sport, as a rule, work on the basis of an individual employment contract. The conclusion of a contract with an athlete, the establishment of another form of agreement, and the conditions of activity in sport and participation in competitions on professional grounds are determined by Georgian legislation, the statutes of international sports organizations, regulations and other regulatory documents. One imperative requirement is especially important: the employment contract concluded by a professional athlete must, together with the conditions of activity in sport and participation in competitions, contain terms of health and life insurance. This means a contract without an insurance clause is lawfully impossible, and a representative cannot concede this minimum in negotiations.
Doping Risks and Protection of the Athlete
Article 22-3 lays down the general grounds of the fight against doping: in Georgia, doping prevention and the fight against it are carried out on the basis of the Council of Europe Anti-Doping Convention, the UNESCO International Convention against Doping in Sport, the World Anti-Doping Code and related international standards, the Georgian anti-doping rules and other international treaties. Overall coordination belongs to the inter-agency commission for the protection of the integrity of sport. The threat of disqualification is the gravest risk of an athlete's career — representation therefore gives athlete protection its proper place on the non-negotiable list: monitoring the list of prohibited substances and methods, controlling the composition of support staff, verifying information about medications. An active stance by the representative in disqualification disputes is often decisive, since a sanction may follow not only from a positive test but also from procedural violations.
The Sports Organization's Duties in the Sphere of Doping
Article 22-5 establishes the duties of a sports organization in the sphere of doping. The organization must ensure automatic recognition of the authority of the Georgian anti-doping agency and of the Georgian anti-doping rules, and cooperation with the agency; ensure the creation of conditions necessary for doping control and support the agency in facilitating it; together with the agency, ensure anti-doping propaganda and information and educational programs; carry out appropriate measures following violations of the anti-doping rules; and discontinue all funding of an athlete during the period of a sanction. If the organization fails to perform these duties, the ministry is entitled to suspend or discontinue its funding. For the athlete this means: a club's neglect of its anti-doping duties itself becomes a financial risk for the club — and the representative can use this leverage in negotiations to demand proper controls.
Liability for Violation of the Law
Article 28 records the general rule: violation of a requirement of the Georgian Law on Sport entails liability in accordance with Georgian legislation. This norm sets the general direction of the consequences of a violation — a sanction is determined under general legislation, from administrative liability to liability provided by an employment or written contract. The practical conclusion for representation is simple: every sporting relationship — contract, insurance, doping control, funding — is subject to a dual legality check: under the sports law and under general legislation. The athlete's representative builds the defense strategy with both layers in mind.
Frequently Asked Questions
Who is considered a professional athlete?
An athlete for whom sport is the main source of income. "Athlete" is a profession, and professional activity is carried out under labor legislation.
Is insurance mandatory in the athlete's contract?
Yes. A professional athlete's employment contract must, together with the conditions of activity and participation in competitions, contain health and life insurance terms.
What threatens a club that breaches anti-doping duties?
The ministry may suspend or discontinue the sports organization's funding. Continuing to fund a sanctioned athlete is impermissible.
What follows from violation of the law's requirements?
A violation of the Law on Sport entails liability under Georgian legislation — within the general regime of sanctions.
How We Help on Legal.ge
On Legal.ge we protect the athlete's interests in conflict situations: we assess the legality of the contract including insurance terms, prepare the position in disqualification disputes, evaluate the club's performance of its anti-doping duties and defend the athlete before international sports bodies as well. Contact us before the situation escalates.