KEIR RADNEDGE REPORTS; Veteran Australian sports director John Coates has resigned as president of both the International Council of Arbitration for Sport and the Court of Arbitration for Sport (CAS)—a post he held for 15 years.

In a formal media release the 75-year-old cited serious health concerns as the reason for his departure, noting that after a six-month chemotherapy regimen his condition no longer allowed for recurrent international travel.

Coates saidthat “it is the right moment for me to leave the institution,” expressing gratitude to ICAS colleagues, CAS staff, and the many stakeholders who have supported the bodies under his tenure.

During Coates’s presidency, CAS experienced notable growth. The number of arbitration procedures handled annually reportedly rose from 304 in 2010 to 917 in 2024, while the size of the CAS Court Office staff expanded from 18 to 61 employees.

In accordance with ICAS’s governing statutes (Article S6), Michael Lenard —senior vice-president of ICAS—will assume the functions and responsibilities of president in the interim.

The next presidential election is not scheduled until May 2027, though ICAS may opt to call one sooner.

Coates had been a member of ICAS since its foundation in 1994 and became its third president in 2010, being re-elected without opposition in 2015, 2019 and 2023.

Beyond his role in arbitration, Coates has been a prominent figure in the Olympic movement as a former president of the Australian Olympic Committee, long-time IOC member, and a key player behind Brisbane’s 2032 successful hosting bid.

###