(CN) — Siding with two Dutch speed skaters, an EU court ruled Wednesday that the International Skating Union has been illegally forcing skaters to compete only in events it sanctions.
The General Court, a lower EU court based in Luxembourg, said the International Skating Union is breaching the EU’s laws against anti-competitive behavior by saying its members must only compete in ISU-approved events or face lifetime bans.
The ruling marks the first time for the General Court has decided a case that examines whether a sports federation complies with EU competition law, the court said in a news release. As such, the decision could have far-reaching consequences, though the General Court’s finding can be appealed to the European Court of Justice, the EU’s highest court, where it could be struck down.