The case involves a dispute between Megan Henry, a US skeleton athlete, and the International Bobsleigh & Skeleton Federation (IBSF) over the reallocation of an unused quota position for the Women’s Skeleton event at the 2022 Beijing Winter Olympics. The Court of Arbitration for Sport (CAS) Ad Hoc Division was tasked with resolving the matter. The dispute arose when the IBSF amended its Qualification System for the Beijing Games, expanding eligibility from the top 45 to the top 55 women in the IBSF rankings. This change allowed Katie Tannenbaum, ranked 49th, to receive a quota spot reallocated from France and Sweden, which had declined their positions. Megan Henry, ranked 15th, argued that the IBSF should have adhered to the original Qualification System and that the amendment unfairly deprived her of a competitive spot.
The IBSF initially published quota allocations on January 16, 2022, and released its rankings on January 17. After France and Sweden declined their spots, the IBSF requested and received approval from the International Olympic Committee (IOC) on January 24 to adjust the eligibility criteria. The same day, the IBSF reallocated the unused quota to Tannenbaum. Henry petitioned the IBSF Appeals Tribunal, which denied her request, leading her to file an application with the CAS Ad Hoc Division on January 28.
During the proceedings, all parties, including the IOC, the US Olympic and Paralympic Committee, and Katie Tannenbaum, presented their arguments. Henry contended that the IBSF’s late amendment was unfair and prejudicial, citing a precedent from the International Luge Federation. The CAS panel emphasized that it applies the rules adopted by the international federation and generally should not substitute its own policy judgment. The panel’s decision, issued on February 1, 2022, addressed whether the IBSF’s actions complied with its own rules and principles of fairness.
The dispute centered on whether quota places should be allocated to National Olympic Committees (NOCs) or individual athletes. The IBSF argued that reallocation rules were clear: unused quota places should go to the next best-ranked athlete from an NOC that had not yet earned a quota. The US NOC had already used its two quota places, making it ineligible for further reallocation. The IOC and other interested parties supported the IBSF’s position, stating that the Qualification System allocates quotas to NOCs, not individual athletes.
The CAS Ad Hoc Division confirmed its jurisdiction and upheld the IBSF’s decision, denying Henry’s request for relief. The ruling affirmed that the reallocation process followed the Qualification System’s explicit language, ensuring fairness and adherence to established criteria. The panel acknowledged Henry’s achievements but clarified that it could not alter the Qualification System. The decision underscored the complexity of reallocating Olympic quotas and the importance of adhering to established systems to ensure fairness for athletes. The case highlights the challenges in balancing eligibility criteria with the goal of maximizing athlete participation in the Olympic Games.
Ultimately, the panel dismissed Henry’s application, upholding the IBSF Appeals Tribunal’s decision to allocate the last remaining quota place to Tannenbaum. The decision reaffirmed that the Qualification System’s application meant Henry could not be named to the unfilled quota position, and the IBSF’s decision stood as final. The application filed by Megan Henry on January 28, 2022, was dismissed.