The case revolves around a dispute concerning the results of the women’s triathlon at the 2012 London Olympics, specifically between Swedish athlete Lisa Norden and Swiss athlete Nicola Spirig. The Swedish National Olympic Committee and the Swedish Triathlon Federation protested the referee’s decision to award Spirig the gold medal and Norden the silver, arguing that the International Triathlon Union rules were not correctly applied. The referee, Dr. Bela Varga, relied on live television footage and a photo-finish image from a single camera due to technical issues with the backup camera. Initially, the Swedish Triathlon Federation accepted the decision but later filed a formal protest, claiming the referee misapplied the rules by considering the entire upper body rather than the foremost part of the torso, as defined by ITU Rule 6.2(a).
The ITU Executive Board rejected the protest, and the case was brought before the Court of Arbitration for Sport (CAS) ad hoc Division. The Swedish side sought to amend the results to declare a tie and award a second gold medal to Norden. The CAS panel reviewed the evidence, including witness statements and technical explanations, and emphasized that field-of-play decisions are only reviewable if made arbitrarily or in bad faith. The panel concluded that the referee’s decision was neither arbitrary nor in bad faith, upholding the original results. It noted the unusual circumstances of Norden’s backward-leaning position but affirmed the referee’s authority in making the call.
The Applicants argued that the referee’s assessment was flawed because the photo-finish image did not clearly show the Swiss athlete’s torso base, making a fair determination impossible. They insisted a dead-heat should have been declared. The Respondent, supported by the Swiss athlete, countered that CAS jurisprudence generally avoids reviewing field-of-play decisions unless there is evidence of arbitrariness or bad faith. They maintained the referee’s decision was correct and based on proper procedures. The CAS Panel confirmed its jurisdiction under the Olympic Charter and ITU rules, applying established legal principles. It found no misapplication of the rules or evidence of arbitrariness, concluding the referee’s decision was a legitimate judgment.
Ultimately, the CAS ruled against the Applicants, denying their request to overturn the finish line decision. The Panel upheld the referee’s determination that Spirig’s torso crossed the line first, affirming the gold and silver medals as originally awarded. The Swedish National Olympic Committee and the Swedish Triathlon Federation’s application was rejected, finalizing the dispute without further elaboration. The decision underscores the deference given to field-of-play judgments in sports arbitration, provided they are made in good faith and according to the rules.