Skater’s Lawsuit May End Sports Bodies’ Grip on Competion
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Two Olympic speed skaters filed an antitrust complaint in Europe that may prevent sports governing bodies from banning athletes for taking part in big-money events that fans can bet on.
Mark Tuitert, a 1,500-meter speed skating gold medalist at the 2010 Winter Games, and short-track world champion Niels Kerstholt have gone to the European Commission to block the International Skating Union from banning them for life for participating in a new competition in Dubai with 1.4 million euros ($1.7 million) in prize money. The antitrust filing in June by the two Dutchmen may affect not just speed skating but also other sports such as swimming, field hockey and volleyball.