Sports Law in Uzbekistan (General Provisions)

In modern conditions, physical culture and sport are not only elements of the State’s social policy but also constitute an independent sphere of legal regulation encompassing public law, private law, labor, educational, medical, entrepreneurial, and international legal relations. The adoption of the Law of the Republic of Uzbekistan “On Physical Culture and Sports” dated March 24, 2026, No. ZRU-1123 demonstrates the legislature’s intention to systematize the legal foundations of sports activities, define the range of participants in sports-related relations, and establish mechanisms for State regulation in this field.

The purpose of this Law is to regulate relations in the field of physical culture and sports. The Law establishes the main concepts, determines the principal directions of State policy, defines the powers of governmental authorities, regulates the activities of sports federations, clubs, leagues, athletes, coaches, sports referees, and sports agents, and also contains provisions concerning medical, financial, scientific, methodological, and other forms of support for sports activities.

The Law is comprehensive in nature and covers both mass sports, aimed at improving public health and promoting a healthy lifestyle, and professional sports, involving athletes’ participation in competitions in return for remuneration or salary. The Law distinguishes such concepts as physical culture, physical education, mass sports, professional sports, amateur sports, athlete, sports competition, sports federation, sports disqualification, and other fundamental categories.

Particular importance is attached to the distinction between amateur and professional sports. Amateur sports are regarded as voluntary activities aimed at improving health, whereas professional sports involve systematic training and participation in competitions as the athlete’s principal activity, for which the athlete receives remuneration or a salary. This approach makes it possible to take into account the specific nature of sports activities when regulating contractual, labor, social, and disciplinary relations.

Sports Federations, Clubs and Leagues

An important element of the Law is the regulation of sports federations and associations. They are recognized as non-governmental non-profit organizations whose primary purpose is the development and promotion of one or more sports, organization of sporting events, training of athletes, and representation of the interests of the Republic of Uzbekistan at international competitions.

The Law introduces a Register of Sports Federations maintained by the authorized State body. Inclusion in this Register has legal significance because it enables a federation to participate in the official sports system, submit proposals concerning the development of sports, participate in the formation of national teams, and receive financial or other support. Federations are also required to develop sports development programs, enter information concerning athletes and coaches into information systems, comply with anti-doping rules, and prevent discrimination and violence.

The status of sports clubs and sports leagues is regulated separately. A sports club may be established either with or without legal entity status. A sports league is established for the organization, conduct, and management of sports competitions, including professional competitions. The statutory recognition of sports leagues represents an important step toward the institutionalization of professional sports, since leagues may ensure the regular organization of competitions, commercialization of the sports product, regulation of participants’ rights, and development of sports infrastructure.

Legal Status of Athletes, Coaches, Sports Referees and Sports Agents

The Law sets out in detail the rights and obligations of athletes. An athlete has the right to choose a sport, participate in competitions, obtain sports titles and rankings, enter into agreements with physical culture and sports organizations, join trade unions and other public associations, demand protection of his or her rights, and appeal decisions of sports organizations.

An athlete’s obligations include compliance with safety requirements, anti-doping rules, the principles of fair play, competition rules, sanitary and medical requirements, as well as undergoing medical examinations. State sports organizations and federations are required to create the necessary conditions for athletes and ensure the protection of their health.

The Law also regulates the status of coaches, sports referees, and sports agents. Coaching activities are permitted subject to possession of a qualification certificate for the relevant sport. A coach is required to promote physical culture, sports, and a healthy lifestyle, comply with safety requirements, and continuously improve his or her qualifications. A sports referee ensures compliance with the rules of the relevant sport and the regulations governing competitions. A sports agent acts on a contractual basis on behalf of an athlete, coach, or club, participates in the conclusion of contracts and transfer agreements, and monitors compliance with their terms.

The recognition of the status of sports agents is particularly important for professional sports, since transfer, agency, and advertising relations require specific legal regulation. The Law provides that the procedure for carrying out the activities of sports agents shall be determined by the Cabinet of Ministers.

Anti-Doping Regulation and Protection of Sports Integrity

One of the most significant sections of the Law concerns anti-doping regulation. The National Anti-Doping Agency of the Republic of Uzbekistan is responsible for preventing and combating doping and for conducting doping control. It approves national anti-doping rules based on the World Anti-Doping Code, publishes the list of prohibited substances and methods, determines the procedure for doping control, and compiles a list of athletes subject to such control.

The Law defines doping as the commission of one or more violations provided for by anti-doping rules, including the use or attempted use of a prohibited substance or method. Measures to combat doping include doping control, establishment of liability for athletes, coaches, and other specialists, anti-doping education, public awareness campaigns through the mass media, and scientific research. This structure demonstrates that anti-doping policy is regarded not only as a mechanism for imposing sanctions but also as a system of prevention, education, and medical protection of athletes.

The Law also provides measures aimed at preventing unlawful influence on the results of sports competitions. Such influence includes unlawful financial interest or other forms of pressure exerted on athletes, coaches, referees, participants, or organizers of competitions for the purpose of altering the result or course of a sporting event. This provision is aimed at combating match-fixing, corruption, and conflicts of interest in sports.

Physical Culture in Education, Adaptive Sports and Training of Sports Reserves

The Law provides for the mandatory organization of physical culture and sports within the education system. This includes compulsory physical education classes, creation of conditions for sports training, identification of talented children and young people, medical supervision, and annual monitoring of students’ physical development.

Particular attention is paid to adaptive physical culture and sports. Adaptive sports are regarded as an area aimed at ensuring the physical rehabilitation and social adaptation of persons with disabilities. The development of adaptive sports is based on the principles of priority, mass participation, and accessibility. The implementation of this policy involves the authorized State body, the National Agency for Social Protection, local government authorities, citizens’ self-government bodies, and public associations of persons with disabilities.

The training of highly qualified athletes and sports reserves is carried out by sports educational organizations. The Law identifies the following stages of sports reserve training: the sports and recreation stage, the initial training stage, the training stage, the stage of improvement of sports mastery, and the stage of highest sports mastery. This multi-stage model ensures continuity in athlete development—from mass participation by children and young people to the formation of national teams.

Material, Medical and Financial Support for Sports

The Law regulates matters relating to sports infrastructure, medical support, and financing. Physical fitness, recreational, and sports facilities may be privately or publicly owned. Local government authorities exercise control over the planning, construction, and commissioning of such facilities. At the same time, the construction and reconstruction of educational institutions and populated areas without the creation of the necessary sports facilities is prohibited, as is the liquidation of sports facilities without the construction of equivalent replacement facilities.

Organizers of physical culture and sporting events are required to provide participants with medical assistance. In addition, events must be conducted in a manner that does not cause harm to the health, honor, or dignity of participants and spectators. Training methods that humiliate the honor and dignity of athletes or create a risk of sports injuries are prohibited. Persons participating in sports competitions are required to have an insurance policy in accordance with the procedure established by law.

Sports are financed from the State Budget, revenues from entrepreneurial activities, paid services, sponsorship and charitable funds, membership fees, special funds, payments for the use of sports symbols, foreign investment, grants, and other sources not prohibited by law. This model creates a mixed financing mechanism combining State support with private sources of funding.

Rights and Obligations of Certain Participants in Sports

Participant	Rights	Duties / Obligations
Athlete	1. To choose one or more sports. 2. To participate in sports competitions in the chosen sport in accordance with the rules of the sport and the competition regulations. 3. To obtain sports titles and sports rankings upon fulfillment of the standards of the Unified Sports Classification. 4. To enter into agreements with physical culture and sports organizations and other organizations. 5. To join trade unions and other public associations for the protection of his or her rights and interests. 6. To demand protection of his or her rights and legitimate interests from sports federations / associations. 7. To appeal decisions of sports organizations and actions / omissions of their officials to higher authorities or courts. 8. For certain categories, to receive scholarships and preferential pension benefits.	1. To comply with safety requirements when participating in sports events and training sessions and while present at sports facilities. 2. To comply with anti-doping rules. 3. To observe the principle of fair play. 4. To show respect toward opponents, sports referees, and spectators. 5. To comply with the rules, provisions, and regulations governing sporting events. 6. To comply with lawful requirements of event organizers. 7. To comply with sanitary rules, standards, hygiene regulations, and medical requirements. 8. To undergo medical examinations in accordance with the established procedure and within the prescribed time limits.
Coach	1. To carry out coaching activities. 2. To undertake retraining and professional development courses. 3. To participate in sports competitions and physical culture events. 4. To exercise other rights in accordance with legislation.	1. To promote physical culture, sports, and a healthy lifestyle. 2. To comply with safety rules, sanitary standards, and hygiene regulations during training sessions. 3. To strictly comply with the requirements applicable to coaches. 4. To continuously improve professional qualifications. 5. Not to promote violence, religious extremism, or other activities directed against the constitutional order, peace, and security of the country. 6. Not to humiliate the honor and dignity of persons engaged in physical culture and sports. 7. Not to conduct activities unrelated to sports during training sessions. 8. Not to use prohibited substances, tobacco products, or alcoholic products, and not to promote their use.
Sports Referee	1. To officiate sports competitions. 2. To receive remuneration / income for officiating sports competitions. 3. To join public associations. 4. To require the competition organizer to create the necessary conditions for officiating. 5. To exercise other rights in accordance with legislation.	1. To know and strictly comply with the rules, provisions, and regulations of the relevant sport and sports competitions. 2. To ensure compliance with the rules of the sport and competition regulations. 3. To demonstrate a high standard of culture and solidarity. 4. To take measures to prevent rudeness, disorder, and violations of sports rules by participants, including athletes, coaches, representatives, and spectators.
Sports Agent	1. To conclude agency agreements with athletes, coaches, and sports clubs. 2. To carry out activities on a contractual basis on behalf of and in the interests of athletes, coaches, and sports clubs. 3. To represent the interests of athletes, coaches, and sports clubs when concluding agreements. 4. To interact with sponsors and advertisers operating in the field of physical culture and sports. 5. To receive remuneration / income for representing the interests of athletes, coaches, and sports clubs. 6. To exercise other rights in accordance with legislation.	1. To know the rules, regulations, and provisions approved by international sports organizations. 2. To know the rules of sports and the rules / provisions / regulations governing sports competitions. 3. To strictly comply with the requirements of such rules and regulations. 4. To monitor compliance with the rights and legitimate interests of athletes, coaches, and sports clubs. 5. To protect the rights and legitimate interests of athletes, coaches, and sports clubs in accordance with concluded agreements.