Today, September 25, 2025, Advocate General Dean Spielmann issued his opinion in Case C-474/24 | NADA Austria and others. Four professional athletes, sanctioned for violating anti-doping rules, challenged the publication of their personal data on the internet before an Austrian court, arguing that it violates the provisions of the GDPR.

The Advocate General found that such actions were incompatible with EU law and suggested that it would be enough to share this information only with relevant sports organizations, or in a form that makes it difficult to identify the individual. This approach would effectively fight doping while reducing intrusions into athletes’ privacy and boosting compliance with personal data protection rules.

The Advocate General emphasizes that data publication is only permitted if it is proportionate, limited in scope and duration, and tailored to the specific circumstances of the case. The ultimate decision on whether these conditions are satisfied is left to the Austrian court.

The Court of Justice of the European Union (CJEU) has started deliberating on this case, and a decision is expected soon. This decision could greatly impact the operations of sports federations, anti-doping agencies, and sponsors.

At Jabłoński Koźmiński & Partners, we actively support the sports community – both in Poland and internationally. We run a specialized Sports Law practice, advising athletes, clubs, coaches, federations, sports agents, and sponsors on the most complex legal matters – from contracts and transfers, through image and personal data protection, to international and disciplinary disputes.

We encourage you to contact us!

More information available here.