The Court of Arbitration for Sports (CAS) has published a new code (the "CODE") that modifies some of the rules of the arbitration procedure. This new code entered into force on July 1, 2020.

The three significant modifications are as follows:

- Spanish is accepted as the third language to be used during the proceedings. According to data shown by CAS, 10% of arbitration disputes involve Spanish-speaking parties. Currently, if the parties (both Spanish-speaking) do not agree on setting the language of the proceedings, the panel chair will set Spanish as the language of the arbitration proceedings.

- The parties may submit documents and copies through the CAS e-filing platform. This modification exempts the parties from sending documents and copies of them directly to the offices of the CAS. 

- The CAS Director General can approve a request by a party for the first extension of time of up to 10 days without prior consultation with the other party. However, this extension provision does not yet apply to the parties' statements of appeal. 

The CAS administration wants to adapt to the new circumstances and that is why they have implemented these new amendments. In particular, the possibility for the parties to send documents and their copies through the CAS e-filing platform, facilitates and speeds up the complicated situations experienced because of the COVID-19.