Doping Offences

Under Polish law, the use of performance-enhancing substances (“doping”) by an athlete does not, as a rule, constitute a criminal offence. Doping is, instead, primarily treated as a breach of sports regulations and anti-doping rules, resulting in disciplinary liability rather than criminal sanctions.

Criminal liability may, however, arise in specific statutory circumstances, in particular:

• administering a prohibited substance to a minor athlete or to an athlete without their knowledge, where the substance belongs to groups S1, S2 or S4 of Annex 1 to the International Convention against Doping in Sport, adopted in Paris on 19 October 2005 (the “Convention”); and
• making available to third parties, or possessing for the purpose of distribution, or trading in prohibited substances from groups S1, S2 or S4 of Annex 1 to the Convention, without the marketing authorisation required under pharmaceutical law.

POLADA

The Polish Anti-Doping Agency (POLADA) is the authority responsible for all anti-doping activities in Poland. It was established under the Act of 21 April 2017 on Combating Doping in Sport, replacing the former Commission for Combating Doping in Sport.

POLADA’s principal responsibilities include:

• establishing rules and procedures for anti-doping testing;
• adopting disciplinary anti-doping rules;
• developing and implementing educational, informational and training programmes relating to anti-doping; and
• co-operating with public authorities, research institutions and other entities engaged in anti-doping activities.

Pursuant to its statutory mandate, POLADA adopted the POLADA Anti-Doping Rules, which are based on the World Anti-Doping Code (WADC) developed by the World Anti-Doping Agency (WADA).

The WADC is implemented in Poland through:

• the national anti-doping regulations adopted by POLADA; and
• the statutory obligation imposed on all Polish sports federations under the Act of 25 June 2010 on Sport to comply with and enforce these rules.

POLADA has exclusive competence to implement and enforce the POLADA Anti-Doping Rules.

Anti-doping rule violations and sanctions are adjudicated by a Disciplinary Panel established under the Act on Combating Doping in Sport, which operates independently from sports federations.

Implementation of the WADC also includes the WADA Prohibited List of Substances and Methods (the “Prohibited List”), which is updated annually.

Not all substances included on the Prohibited List are illegal under criminal law. Their legal status depends on their classification under Polish law.

• Legal substances prohibited in sport – Certain anabolic steroids or hormonal medicines may be lawfully prescribed and used for medical purposes but remain prohibited in sport without a Therapeutic Use Exemption (TUE). Violations involving such substances give rise to disciplinary rather than criminal liability.
• Controlled or narcotic substances – Certain substances on the Prohibited List (eg, cocaine, amphetamines and their derivatives, THC in specified forms or circumstances, and certain opioids) may also fall within the scope of criminal legislation. Possession, supply or trafficking may therefore trigger criminal liability under the Act on Counteracting Drug Addiction.

Noteworthy Anti-Doping Cases

A recent high-profile case concerned a canoeing athlete considered a medal contender for the Summer Olympic Games in Paris. The athlete returned an adverse analytical finding shortly before the Games. Following detailed investigation, it was established that the prohibited substance originated from a veterinary spray used to treat the athlete’s dog’s paw injuries, recommended by a veterinarian during a training camp. Scientific analysis of the athlete’s hair, the dog’s fur, and expert evidence from both domestic and international specialists confirmed inadvertent contamination as the source of exposure.

Although experts initially anticipated that a final decision would not be issued before the Olympic Games, the Court of Arbitration for Sport (CAS) ultimately held that the athlete bore no fault and had not been negligent in any way. The ruling, issued only hours before final confirmation of participating athletes, allowed the athlete to compete in the Olympic Games.

Polish law does not provide for a single, standalone statute governing match-fixing or, more broadly, sports integrity violations. Instead, these matters are regulated through a combination of criminal law, sports law and gambling regulations.

While general criminal law provisions address offences such as corruption and fraud, the Act on Sport contains specific criminal provisions aimed at protecting the integrity of sport, thereby supplementing the general framework set out in the Polish Criminal Code.

The Act on Sport criminalises several forms of conduct affecting the integrity of sporting competitions.

• Sports corruption (match-fixing) – Criminal liability arises where a person accepts, requests, grants or promises a financial or personal benefit in connection with sports competitions organised by a Polish sports federation or an entity acting under its authority. The offence applies where the benefit is linked to dishonest conduct capable of influencing the result or course of the competition.
• Use of insider information in betting – It is a criminal offence to participate in betting activities, or to disclose information to third parties involved in such activities, where the offender possesses knowledge that match-fixing conduct has occurred. The purpose of the provision is to prevent insider betting and the commercial exploitation of manipulated competitions.
• Trading in influence in sport – Criminal liability also covers invoking influence within a Polish sports federation or an authorised entity in order to affect the outcome or course of a competition in exchange for financial or personal benefit. This provision addresses unlawful influence over persons performing official functions within sports structures.

Polish sports federations and competition organisers play a central role in safeguarding sports integrity. Under the Act on Sport, every Polish sports federation is required to adopt disciplinary regulations specifying, in particular, disciplinary offences and types of disciplinary sanctions.

Noteworthy Misconduct/Match-Fixing Cases

The most significant sports corruption proceedings in Poland have concerned football. These investigations led to numerous criminal convictions for sports officials, referees and players. Although the main wave of cases occurred between 2003 and 2015, their consequences continue to shape current compliance standards and integrity-monitoring mechanisms within Polish sport.

One of the most significant recent integrity cases affecting a Polish athlete arose in the context of gymnastics. The case concerned manipulation of judging scores during the European Gymnastics Championships, which determined Olympic qualification. The investigation established that a judge holding a senior position within the European gymnastics structure had engaged in conduct influencing athletes’ scores, directly affecting the final ranking and Olympic qualification outcomes.

The matter was examined by independent ethics bodies operating within the International Gymnastics Federation’s framework. As a result, the judge received a four-year suspension for manipulating competition results. The decision was subsequently upheld by CAS.

Legality of Betting

Sports betting is legal in Poland provided that it is organised by operators holding a licence issued by the Minister of Finance under the Gambling Act.

The following activities are illegal:

• organising betting without the required licence;
• participating in betting offered by unauthorised operators; and
• operating or using platforms entered into the register of prohibited domains.

Regulation and Legislation

The Polish regulatory model is based on a licensing system combined with strict market supervision exercised by the tax administration authorities.

The principal legal act governing betting activities is the Act of 19 November 2009 on Gambling, which regulates, among other matters:

• conditions for obtaining a bookmaker’s licence;
• taxation rules applicable to mutual betting;
• operators’ obligations related to preventing abuses; and
• state supervision over the betting market.

In practice, sports regulations – rather than criminal law – constitute the primary mechanism for controlling betting-related conduct among participants in sport. In line with international integrity standards, almost all Polish sports federations have adopted disciplinary regulations which:

• prohibit athletes, coaches, referees and officials from betting on events in which they participate or which may have an impact on their particular sport or league;
• impose an obligation to report attempts to manipulate sporting results; and
• provide for disciplinary liability independent of any criminal proceedings.

Such rules are particularly well developed in football and other popular sports in Poland, including volleyball and speedway.

Information Sharing

Information-sharing arrangements are based primarily on regulatory and contractual mechanisms rather than on specific statutory provisions. In practice, co-operation includes:

• collaboration with betting operators licensed in Poland;
• use of international betting monitoring systems;
• exchange of information with international sports organisations; and
• analysis of unusual betting odds movements as indicators of potential manipulation.

In Poland, athletes’ liability for breaches of sports regulations operates within two parallel systems:

• disciplinary liability, conducted by Polish sports federations and typically concerning integrity-related matters, including match-fixing and betting-related violations; and
• anti-doping liability, conducted within the POLADA system and based on the WADC.

These systems are independent from one another and may operate in parallel with criminal proceedings.

Disciplinary Proceedings Conducted by Polish Sports Federations

Standard disciplinary proceedings conducted by Polish sports federations generally include the following stages.

• Preliminary investigation:
1. collection of documentation;
2. analysis of evidence; and
3. opportunity for the accused person to submit explanations.
• Commencement of disciplinary proceedings:
1. initiation of proceedings where a suspected disciplinary breach is identified;
2. examination of the case by the competent disciplinary body; and
3. issuance of a disciplinary decision.
• Appeal proceedings:
1. appeal to a higher disciplinary body within the relevant sports federation; or
2. filing a claim with the Court of Arbitration for Sport at the Polish Olympic Committee.

Anti-Doping Proceedings

Anti-doping proceedings constitute a separate framework from disciplinary proceedings conducted by sports federations. They are administered by POLADA and the Disciplinary Panel established under the Act on Combating Doping in Sport.

Typical anti-doping proceedings include the following stages:

• Anti-doping control and sample analysis:
1. collection of samples by authorised doping control officers; and
2. laboratory analysis carried out by an accredited laboratory.
• Notification of an adverse analytical finding:
1. the athlete is informed of the result; and
2. the athlete is given the opportunity to request analysis of the B sample.
• Formal charge by POLADA
1. POLADA notifies the athlete of an alleged anti-doping rule violation; and
2. the athlete is informed of the right to have the case examined by the Disciplinary Panel.
• Proceedings before the Disciplinary Panel:
1. the case is adjudicated based on WADC principles implemented in Poland through the POLADA Anti-Doping Rules.
• Appeal proceedings:
1. for national-level athletes – appeal to the second-instance Disciplinary Panel; and
2. for international-level athletes – appeal to CAS.

Beyond sponsorship and broadcasting, the commercialisation of sport in Poland also includes ticketing, merchandising, hospitality and the exploitation of athletes’ and clubs’ image rights.

Ticketing

Ticketing is a key revenue stream for sports organisations, particularly in disciplines with large fan bases such as professional football. Most professional sporting events qualify as “mass events” under the Act on the Safety of Mass Events of 20 March 2009, which imposes specific security and organisational obligations on event organisers.

Although ticket sales are typically managed by clubs or competition organisers, distribution is often outsourced to specialised ticketing providers operating online sales platforms. While Polish law does not generally prohibit secondary ticket resale, organisers frequently impose contractual restrictions and may limit resale to official platforms. Ticket touting – purchasing tickets for resale at a profit – constitutes an offence under the Polish Petty Offences Code.

Merchandising and Hospitality

Merchandising and hospitality rights represent important commercial assets for sports organisations. Merchandising relies primarily on trade mark protection and licensing arrangements, while hospitality packages (eg, VIP areas or “skyboxes”) are commonly offered to sponsors and corporate partners as part of broader commercial partnerships.

Image Rights

The commercial exploitation of athletes’ and teams’ image rights, as well as stadium-based marketing rights, also forms an important component of sports commercialisation and may be exercised either by clubs or centrally at league level.

In Poland, sports sponsorship constitutes one of the principal tools for brand promotion and marketing communication. Sponsorship agreements are typically structured as unnamed contracts concluded under the principle of freedom of contract (Article 353¹ of the Civil Code) and are reciprocal in nature, with sponsors providing financial or in-kind support in exchange for defined marketing and promotional rights. The legal framework of such arrangements is further shaped by intellectual property law and general civil liability rules.

Standard sponsorship agreements in Poland typically regulate, inter alia, the scope of sponsorship rights and designation of sponsor status, marketing and image rights (including use of trade marks, logos and athletes’ image), the extent of brand exposure across physical and digital assets, sector exclusivity (category exclusivity), the sponsor’s activation obligations, remuneration structures (including monetary and barter consideration), intellectual property licences, morality clauses aimed at protecting reputation, as well as the duration and termination of the agreement (including in the event of regulatory breaches or sporting relegation).

Sponsors enhance and promote their brands primarily through exposure linked to sporting events and entities. This includes, in particular, logo placement on team apparel, stadium and LED board advertising, title sponsorship (including naming rights for stadiums or competitions), integration into broadcast and digital content, social media campaigns, and hospitality packages. Sponsorship is also used as a means of associating a brand with the values of sport – such as competition, credibility or a healthy lifestyle – and of conducting targeted marketing activities aimed at fan communities or local audiences.

The commercial exploitation of sports broadcasting rights in Poland is primarily governed by general civil law (including the principle of freedom of contract under Article 353¹ of the Civil Code), the Act on Copyright and Related Rights, and the Broadcasting Act. Although sporting events themselves are not protected by copyright, the audiovisual recording and broadcast signal are protected as related rights of the producer and broadcaster. Broadcasters therefore acquire transmission rights contractually from the relevant rights-holder, such as a league organiser, federation or event organiser.

Broadcasters monetise sports rights mainly through subscription-based models (pay-TV channels and over-the-top (OTT) platforms), advertising revenue, sponsorship of broadcast segments and, in some cases, sublicensing arrangements. Premium sports content remains a key driver for subscriber acquisition and retention, while free-to-air broadcasters rely primarily on advertising revenue generated by high audience reach.

From the perspective of sports rights-holders, broadcasting rights are typically centralised and sold through multi-season cycles, often divided into packages based on platform, territory or the number and importance of matches. Exclusive licensing within a defined territory and distribution channel remains the dominant model in Poland, although hybrid structures are increasingly used to expand audience reach (eg, non-exclusive highlights or selected matches).

Broadcasting agreements usually regulate signal ownership, archival rights, digital exploitation of content, highlight creation and anti-piracy measures, while venue access and production requirements are governed by host broadcaster agreements or competition regulations. Certain events of major importance may also be subject to mandatory free-to-air availability under Polish broadcasting regulations implementing the Audiovisual Media Services Directive.

Under Polish law, there is no single statutory proprietary right in a sporting event as such. An exception concerns the exclusive right of a Polish national sports federation to organise competitions for the titles of “Polish Champion” and winner of the “Polish Cup”, as provided for in the Polish Sports Act. This right applies only in sports disciplines governed by an officially recognised national federation.

The right to organise sporting events may arise from different sources. Some events are organised under the authority of national federations, while others are promoted commercially by private entities, particularly in disciplines where no national federation operates.

In practice, organisers secure commercial control over events through contractual arrangements, intellectual property rights (such as trade marks and event branding), venue access rights, and federation or licensing regulations. Access to events is typically regulated through ticketing conditions, accreditation systems and event regulations, which often restrict unauthorised recording or commercial use of audiovisual material.

The organisation of sporting events is also subject to statutory requirements, notably the Act on the Safety of Mass Events of 20 March 2009, which imposes security and organisational obligations on event organisers. Consumer protection rules apply to ticket sales, while personal data processing in connection with ticketing and access systems must comply with the GDPR.

Participation in competitions is governed primarily by federation rules and competition regulations, which determine eligibility, disciplinary measures and dispute resolution mechanisms.

In Poland, sports event organisers owe a general duty of care towards participants and spectators based on civil law principles of contractual and tort liability, supplemented by statutory obligations governing the organisation of sporting events.

The main legal framework includes the Civil Code and the Act on the Safety of Mass Events of 20 March 2009, which imposes detailed organisational and security requirements on organisers, including risk assessments, access control measures and co-operation with public authorities. Consumer protection legislation also applies, particularly in relation to ticket sales and information duties.

Organisers may limit liability towards spectators through event regulations incorporated into ticket terms and conditions. Such limitations typically cover minor property damage or events caused by force majeure. However, they must comply with consumer protection law and cannot exclude liability for intentional misconduct, gross negligence or breaches of statutory safety obligations.

Athletes may incur civil liability towards spectators under general tort law where their conduct exceeds the normal risks inherent in sport. In practice, such liability is rare, as spectators are generally considered to accept the ordinary risks associated with sporting competitions.

Safety obligations are primarily regulated by the Act on the Safety of Mass Events, which requires organisers to implement security plans, control venue access, provide security services and co-operate with public authorities. Sports federations may additionally impose disciplinary sanctions for misconduct under their internal regulations.

Under the Polish Sports Act, sports activity is conducted primarily through sports clubs, which are required to operate as legal entities.

Sports clubs

In disciplines where no professional league exists, sports clubs most commonly operate in the form of associations. Sports clubs may also function under other legal forms, such as foundations. A specific simplified category is the student sports club (uczniowski klub sportowy), whose members typically include students, parents, and teachers.

By contrast, in sports disciplines where a professional league operates (eg, football, speedway, volleyball, handball or basketball), there is a statutory requirement for sports clubs to operate in the form of a commercial company, either a limited liability company or a joint-stock company.

Polish Sports Federations

For the purpose of organising and conducting sporting competition in a given discipline, a Polish sports federation (polski związek sportowy) may be established, subject to authorisation from the minister responsible for physical culture.

Polish sports federations operate as associations or federations and hold exclusive authority (right) to:

• organise and conduct competitions for the title of Polish Champion and the Polish Cup in a given sport;
• establish and implement sporting, organisational and disciplinary rules applicable to competitions organised by the federation, except for disciplinary anti-doping rules;
• appoint national teams and prepare them for the Olympic Games, Paralympic Games, Deaflympics, World Championships or European Championships; and
• represent the relevant sport in international sports organisations.

Choice of Legal Form for Sports Organisations

Sports organisations typically choose the form of an association or foundation in order to:

• pursue statutory objectives rather than profit-making activities;
• reinvest obtained funds into sports development, youth training and social activities;
• benefit from easier access to public funding (including municipal and state grants); and
• use broader tax exemptions and preferential regimes.

In practice, this structure enables sports activity to be carried out primarily for socially beneficial purposes, without a profit-oriented business model or extensive commercial operations.

The commercial company structure is primarily selected in order to:

• enable participation in professional league competitions;
• pursue profit-making objectives, including improved access to investors;
• facilitate professional management of commercial rights (media rights, sponsorship and player transfers); and
• limit the liability of owners or shareholders.

In practice, this model supports the operation of sports activity as a business undertaking and allows for more structured financial risk management.

A mixed (hybrid) model can also be observed on the Polish market, particularly in disciplines with professional leagues. Under this structure, a sports club operating as an association conducts all sports activities, while simultaneously acting as a shareholder in a commercial company established exclusively to participate in professional league competition.

Polish law does not provide a single statutory corporate governance code applicable to all sports organisations. However, the Polish Sports Act establishes a set of governance rules specifically applicable to Polish sports federations, which together form a sport-specific governance framework.

Governance Rules Applicable to Polish Sports Federations

Term limits and prevention of power concentration

The term of office of federation governing bodies may not exceed four years and the president of the management board may serve a maximum of two consecutive terms.

These rules aim to prevent excessive concentration of power and promote rotation and transparency.

Separation of functions and organ independence

Management board members may not:

• hold positions in other governing bodies of the same federation (subject to limited electoral exceptions);
• act simultaneously as national team coaches or coaching staff members; or
• be employed by or perform work for the ministry responsible for sport.

Business activity restrictions and conflicts of interest

Board members may not:

• conduct business connected with federation activities;
• hold shares in entities providing services to the federation;
• perform management or supervisory roles in such entities; or
• maintain certain family relationships with other board members.

Conflicting activities must be relinquished within 30 days of appointment; otherwise, mandatory dismissal applies.

Reputational and ethical standards (fit and proper elements)

A person may not serve on the management board if they:

• have been finally convicted of an intentional criminal offence;
• have received anti-doping sanctions exceeding 24 months; or
• have held specified roles in former state security institutions.

Duty of loyalty and conflict management

Board and supervisory body members must avoid actions contrary to the federation’s interests and abstain from voting in cases of conflict of interest.

Financial oversight and transparency

Annual financial statements must be audited by a statutory auditor, and the general assembly approves annual financial and activity reports.

Approved reports must be submitted to the minister responsible for sport and published in the Public Information Bulletin (BIP).

Enforcement mechanisms

Governance standards are enforced through:

• mandatory dismissal for breach of conflict rules;
• ministerial oversight via reporting obligations; and
• supervision by the general assembly.

These governance rules apply directly only to Polish sports federations and do not automatically extend to regional federations or sports clubs.

Multi-Club Ownership Restrictions

Polish law does not provide a uniform system of owners’ and directors’ tests comparable to common law jurisdictions. However, the Sports Act restricts multi-club ownership within the same discipline. A person holding membership, shares or governance functions in one club affiliated with a federation may not simultaneously:

• be a member of another club competing in the same sport;
• hold shares in such a club; or
• serve on the governing or supervisory bodies of another competing club.

Governance Duties Depending on Legal Form

Management board members of companies are subject to standard commercial law duties, including acting in the company’s best interests and exercising due care. They are potentially liability for company obligations (eg, in an insolvency). Board members of associations operate under the Law on Associations and must manage the organisation in accordance with its statutes and interests.

Polish law does not provide statutory sporting sanctions for insolvency (eg, automatic points deductions); such measures are typically introduced through federation licensing and disciplinary regulations.

Sports financing in Poland follows a mixed model combining public and private funding sources.

Public funding plays a central role and is allocated primarily through the state budget via the minister responsible for physical culture, as well as through dedicated public funds and government programmes supporting professional, youth and grassroots sport. Public funds are granted in particular for national team preparation and participation in international competitions, youth training programmes, organisation of sports competitions, and development or modernisation of sports infrastructure. The legal basis for such funding is provided by the Polish Sports Act and implementing regulations governing public grants.

Local government units represent another important source of financing, mainly through targeted grants for sports organisations operating within a given territory, as well as through the financing and maintenance of sports infrastructure and support for youth sport programmes.

Private financing constitutes a further pillar of the Polish sports economy and typically includes sponsorship and marketing agreements, media rights revenues, commercial activities (including ticketing and merchandising) and investments from private investors.

In practice, the balance between public and private funding varies depending on the discipline. Sports with stronger commercial appeal and media visibility tend to rely more heavily on private funding, while less commercialised disciplines remain more dependent on public support.

Registration

In Poland, a trade mark may be registered either:

• at the national level before the Urząd Patentowy Rzeczypospolitej Polskiej (Polish Patent Office); or
• at the European Union level before the European Union Intellectual Property Office (EUIPO), which grants protection across all EU member states.

The following signs cannot be registered as a trade mark:

• signs lacking distinctive character;
• descriptive signs (ie, signs that are not capable of distinguishing the goods or services of one undertaking from those of another);
• signs contrary to public policy or accepted principles of morality;
• misleading signs;
• state symbols, coats of arms, or flags without proper authorisation; or
• signs infringing third-party rights (eg, earlier trade marks, personality rights, copyrights).

Exploitation

Registering a trade mark provides:

• the exclusive right to use the mark in commercial activity;
• easier enforcement against competitors using identical or similar signs;
• a legal basis for infringement claims (including damages);
• increased company value (as the trade mark becomes an intangible asset); and
• the possibility to license or assign the trade mark.

In the sports sector, notable examples include the RL9 trade mark of Robert Lewandowski and the figurative trade mark of Iga Świątek.

These registrations allow athletes to commercially exploit their names, logos, and personal branding elements.

Revocation

In Poland and under the EU system, prior use is not required for trade mark registration. However, if the trade mark is not genuinely used for a continuous period of five years, it may become vulnerable to revocation for non-use.

Law of Copyright

In Poland, copyright is regulated by law. The primary legal act is the Act on Copyright and Related Rights of 4 February 1994. Copyright protection stems directly from the Act, although case law clarifies its application.

For a work to be protected under the Polish Act on Copyright, it must:

• constitute a manifestation of creative activity;
• have an individual character; and
• be fixed in any form (it does not have to be recorded).

Protection arises automatically – without the need to complete any formalities. However, the following are not protected: (i) ideas, procedures, methods of operation; (ii) normative acts and official documents; and (iii) press releases.

There is no system of copyright registration as a condition for protection.

The main defences against an allegation of infringement are:

• that no copyrighted work actually exists – ie, the material does not meet the criteria of creativity and individuality;
• that there is no significant similarity between the copyrighted work and the allegedly infringing work – ie, only unprotected elements (eg, facts) were used;
• fair use – eg, right to quote or right to private use;
• licence or consent to use has been granted; and
• expiry of rights, which as a rule is 70 years after the author’s death.

Database Rights

Poland has a separate law on databases, independent of the regulations resulting from IP rights regulation. The basic legal act in this area is the Database Protection Act of 27 July 2001.

In order to claim protection, the following must be established:

• the existence of a database (a collection of data organised in a systematic manner); and
• significant investment in its creation, verification or presentation – a particularly important element in the context of establishing a database,

Protection lasts for 15 years from the creation of the database (with the possibility of renewal in the event of significant updates).

Notable Sport Examples

In Poland, league schedules, match results, rankings and statistics are collected and published by the entities organising the competitions. The entities organising these competitions may operate their own statistical platforms for the media and bookmakers, requiring licences and fees for the use of this data. This is based on database rights and licence agreements; and not only on the copyright of individual materials.

In Poland, image rights and other personal rights (including the right to a name, pseudonym and likeness) are recognised and protected primarily under civil law, notably the Civil Code, copyright legislation and personal data protection regulations. An individual’s image is treated as a personal right, alongside elements such as reputation, dignity and privacy.

Under Polish copyright law, the dissemination of an image generally requires the consent of the person depicted. Exceptions apply, for example, to widely known persons in connection with the performance of public functions or where a person constitutes only a detail of a larger scene (eg, a crowd or public event).

The use of an image may also involve the processing of personal data. Accordingly, the GDPR and the Polish Personal Data Protection Act apply where the image allows identification of the individual, requiring a valid legal basis for such processing.

Polish sports law introduces specific rules concerning the commercial use of athletes’ image rights in connection with national representation. Members of national teams grant the relevant Polish sports federation exclusive rights to use their image in the national team uniform, while members of the Olympic team grant equivalent rights to the Polish Olympic Committee. These rights may be commercially exploited in accordance with federation or Olympic regulations.

This mechanism centralises certain marketing rights connected with national representation while leaving athletes free to commercially exploit their image outside the context of national team participation.

The Polish legal system does not recognise the doctrines of customary law as understood in common law. However, their functional equivalents exist in statutory provisions and are widely used in practice, especially in sports.

This applies in particular to the protection of athletes against unauthorised commercial use of their images.

In Polish law, protection corresponding to common law doctrines stems mainly from:

• provisions on personal rights (Civil Code) or image protection under the IP Rights Act;
• image rights as personal data;
• provisions on combating unfair competition; and
• regulations on trade mark registration, in particular the Act of 30 June 2000 on Industrial Property Law.

The protection of athletes’ image is based primarily on regulations concerning personal rights, image rights, and combating unfair competition, which effectively prevent impersonation and unauthorised commercial use of athletes’ identities by third parties.

In practice, athletes often also strengthen protection by registering their name or nickname as a trade mark or protecting their personal logo and branding elements (as discussed in relation to Robert Lewandowski and Iga Świątek in 5.1 Trade Marks). This allows them to act on the basis of industrial property law, similar to common law systems.

Sports bodies/teams/athletes can commercially exploit their intellectual property primarily through licensing agreements. This applies to industrial property rights, copyrights, and image rights.

Professional sports entities primarily license:

• trade marks and branding – including club names, crests, league and federation logos, and team markings;
• rights to broadcast sporting events, rights to rebroadcast and highlight reels, and rights to digital content;
• image rights of athletes – athletes may (i) independently grant licences for the use of their image, (ii) transfer rights to clubs in contracts, (iii) enter into individual sponsorship agreements; and
• IP rights – video materials, photographs, graphics, and promotional content.

Licensing is the primary mechanism for the commercial use of intellectual property in sport. In professional sport, it covers a wide range of rights, in particular trade mark rights, rights to broadcast sporting events, and athletes’ image rights. In amateur and academic sport, it is usually more limited in scope, local in nature, and sponsorship based.

In Poland, the transfer of intellectual property rights to third parties is generally permissible, but is subject to significant statutory restrictions, which vary depending on the type of right.

The most important of these are the non-transferability of moral rights and image rights, formal requirements for the transfer of economic copyrights, and registration obligations when transferring industrial property rights.

Sports data plays an increasingly important role in sports management, media, marketing and sports technology, generating significant commercial value through licensing, analytical services and data-driven business models.

The commercial use of sports data is subject to several legal constraints, including personal data protection under the GDPR, image rights, database rights and the regulatory frameworks of sports federations. Certain categories of data, particularly athletes’ biomedical data, are subject to enhanced protection standards.

In practice, sports data in Poland is used primarily for sports management and performance analysis, including athlete performance monitoring, training optimisation, injury prevention, scouting and transfer decision-making. It is also widely used in media coverage to generate live statistics and expert analysis, as well as in marketing activities and fan engagement strategies.

From a commercial perspective, sports data creates opportunities in several areas. These include the sale and licensing of sports statistics to media organisations, analytics providers and betting operators, as well as the use of data to enhance sponsorship value and support the development of sports technologies.

The processing of sports-related data is primarily subject to personal data protection regulations, in particular EU regulations (ie, the GDPR) but also national legal regulations such as the Personal Data Protection Act. In addition, the following apply:

• sectoral regulations (eg, concerning the safety of mass events); and
• sports federation regulations.

Impact of the GDPR on the Sports Sector

The GDPR has had a significant impact on the functioning of sport, particularly in the following areas.

• Management of player data - Clubs have had to introduce data protection policies, restrictions on access to medical data, and IT security procedures.
• Sports marketing – Including the creation of fan databases, sending newsletters, and marketing profiling. Clear consent and transparency have become mandatory.
• Broadcasting and monitoring – Additional obligations have been introduced for stadium monitoring systems and sports event broadcasts.

In Poland, state courts play a complementary role to dispute resolution mechanisms operating within sports structures. Sports disputes are primarily addressed through internal mechanisms established by sports organisations; however, national courts retain jurisdiction to review legal matters and to adjudicate civil and commercial disputes, including property-related claims.

In practice, Polish sports federations operate extensive internal systems for dispute resolution and disciplinary liability within their respective disciplines. These systems commonly include:

• internal arbitration bodies functioning within sports structures (eg, in football or speedway); and
• disciplinary bodies responsible for enforcing sporting regulations.

Such mechanisms constitute the primary forum for resolving sport-specific disputes.

Independently of internal federation systems, the Polish Sports Act provides for the Court of Arbitration for Sport at the Polish Olympic Committee. This body operates as a permanent arbitration court acting under the principles set out in the Polish Code of Civil Procedure.

Polish law does not establish a uniform statutory obligation to exhaust all internal remedies before bringing a claim before state courts. In practice, however, such an obligation may arise:

• from the statutes and regulations of Polish sports federations; or
• from arbitration clauses accepted by participants in sport.

In practice, sports disputes in Poland are primarily resolved outside state courts through alternative dispute resolution (ADR) mechanisms operating within sports organisations or through arbitration. This model reflects the principle of autonomy of sport and results from statutory regulations as well as the internal rules of national and international sports federations.

Within the exclusive competence granted to them under the Polish Sports Act to establish and implement sporting, organisational and disciplinary rules (with the exception of anti-doping matters), Polish sports federations develop their own systems for dispute resolution and disciplinary enforcement.

These mechanisms typically cover:

• licensing disputes and eligibility to participate in competitions;
• contractual disputes; and
• disciplinary matters.

In practice, participants in sport are required to use these internal procedures on the basis of federation statutes and regulations.

Independently of internal federation mechanisms, the Court of Arbitration for Sport at the Polish Olympic Committee operates as a permanent arbitration court under the Polish Sports Act. The Court is competent to hear disputes:

• falling within its jurisdiction on the basis of an arbitration agreement, including arbitration clauses contained in the statutes of Polish sports federations or in the corporate regulations of other sports organisations, or on the basis of a separate arbitration submission; and
• arising from appeals against final disciplinary decisions issued by Polish sports federations.

The principal legal acts governing sports dispute resolution include:

• the Polish Code of Civil Procedure – regulating arbitration and mediation;
• the Polish Sports Act – granting regulatory and disciplinary powers to Polish sports federations;
• the Polish Act on Combating Doping in Sport – granting the POLADA authority to establish and enforce anti-doping rules in Poland.

Polish sports federations exercise broad regulatory powers derived from the Polish Sports Act as well as their internal statutes and regulations. Within the framework of sports autonomy, these bodies are authorised to establish and enforce both sporting and financial sanctions applicable to participants in the sports system.

Under the Polish Sports Act, disciplinary regulations adopted by Polish sports federations may provide, in particular, for the following sanctions:

• warnings;
• reprimands;
• suspensions;
• temporary or lifetime disqualification;
• financial penalties;
• relegation of a team to a lower competition division;
• removal from federation membership; and/or
• expulsion from the federation.

A party dissatisfied with a decision issued by a Polish sports federation typically has the right to lodge an internal appeal within the organisation. In practice, exhaustion of internal remedies is usually a prerequisite for further challenges.

Subsequently, final decisions of Polish sports federations may be appealed to the national sports arbitration body (the Court of Arbitration for Sport at the Polish Olympic Committee) or, in certain circumstances, to state courts.

Polish law does not recognise a specific legal category of a “sports contract”. The legal relationship between athletes and sports organisations therefore depends on the level of professionalisation of the discipline. In practice, athletes are most commonly engaged under civil law agreements for the provision of sports services (governed by the Civil Code), which regulate both sporting performance and promotional or image-related obligations. Employment contracts under the Labour Code are legally possible but relatively rare.

The appropriate contractual form is assessed on a case-by-case basis, taking into account both the internal regulations of a given sport and the actual manner in which the athlete performs their duties.

Central contracts concluded directly between national federations and athletes are not common in Poland and typically arise only in limited situations, such as federation support programmes or in preparation for major competitions. Similarly, salary cap systems are not widely implemented, although certain disciplines apply limited remuneration-related mechanisms (eg, point-based remuneration limits in speedway). In practice, financial oversight is exercised mainly through licensing systems and financial stability requirements.

Although Polish law does not treat sports competition law as a separate regulatory category, sports organisations may be reviewed under general competition law by the President of the Office of Competition and Consumer Protection (UOKiK). Investigations have concerned issues such as centralised media rights sales, collective management of commercial rights by leagues and restrictions affecting market access for organisers or broadcasters.

Potential competition law risks include collective remuneration rules, transfer regulations affecting athlete mobility and agreements between clubs regarding employment conditions. Regulatory practice indicates that UOKiK – similarly to other EU authorities – will recognise the specific nature of sport when assessing such arrangements.

A notable recent case involved a finding that a federation and a professional league organiser had entered into an anticompetitive agreement by setting maximum remuneration levels for athletes. Although financial penalties were initially imposed, the decision was later overturned following judicial review.

Sports organisations in Poland, including national federations, clubs and professional leagues, are generally subject to ordinary employment law rules where employment relationships exist. In practice, however, athletes are most commonly engaged under civil law agreements for the provision of sports services governed by the Civil Code. Employment contracts are used more frequently for coaching staff and administrative personnel.

Where the actual manner in which duties are performed reflects the characteristics of an employment relationship – such as subordination, continuity of work and managerial supervision – labour law provisions may apply regardless of the contractual form used by the parties. Courts assess the substance of the relationship rather than its formal designation.

Employment-related disputes in sport most commonly concern the termination of contracts with coaches or technical staff, remuneration claims and disputes regarding the recognition of an employment relationship where an athlete formally performed under a civil law contract. Such cases are resolved by labour courts under general procedural rules.

There is no statutory provision in Polish law expressly prohibiting sports organisations from introducing limits on foreign players. However, the ability to apply such restrictions is significantly constrained by European Union law, in particular the principles of free movement of workers.

As a general rule, sports organisations may not impose quantitative restrictions on players who are nationals of EU or EEA member states. In practice, this means that “foreign player” limits should not apply to EU/EEA nationals.

Restrictions concerning players from outside the EU are, in principle, permissible, provided that they arise from the internal regulations of the relevant Polish sports federation. In many Polish professional leagues, rules are in place limiting the number of non-EU players who may be included on the field or in the match-day squad.

In practice, the design and enforcement of such restrictions must remain consistent with EU law and the case law of the Court of Justice of the European Union, which requires sporting rules to pursue legitimate sporting objectives and to remain proportionate to those aims.

Women’s sport in Poland has developed unevenly across disciplines but has recently experienced increasing professionalisation, improved marketing standards and growing interest from sponsors and broadcasters. Women’s football has seen particularly strong growth in visibility and attendance, while greater media exposure has also been observed in women’s handball, basketball and volleyball.

A significant regulatory development is a proposed amendment to the Polish Sports Act aimed at strengthening the institutional position of women in sports governance and improving support mechanisms for female athletes. The draft legislation introduces gender representation requirements within the governing bodies of Polish sports federations. Management boards composed of two to five members would be required to include at least one woman and one man, while in larger boards each gender must represent at least 30% of members. Similar rules would apply to supervisory bodies. The proposal also introduces enhanced protection for athletes during pregnancy and after childbirth, including extending the period during which female athletes receive funding after childbirth from six to 12 months and increasing benefit levels.

The growth of women’s sport in Poland has also been driven by the international success and commercial visibility of leading athletes. This trend is reflected in the results of Poland’s most prestigious sports poll (the Przegląd Sportowy Sports Personality of the Year), where female athletes have won consecutive editions between 2022 and 2025: Iga Świątek (tennis) in 2022 and 2023, Aleksandra Mirosław (sport climbing) in 2024 and Klaudia Zwolińska (canoe slalom) in 2025. These results illustrate the growing mainstream recognition and commercial attractiveness of women’s sport in Poland.

In Poland, the development of women’s sport is supported through a combination of governmental programmes, federation-led initiatives and grassroots projects aimed at increasing participation and strengthening professional pathways.

A notable initiative is the government-funded programme supporting women’s football training introduced by the Ministry of Sport and Tourism. The programme targets academies operating within top-tier and first-division women’s clubs and focuses on improving youth development systems, organisational stability and long-term professionalisation of the discipline. At federation level, the Polish Football Association has implemented grant-based programmes supporting women’s clubs, including funding for training activities, the creation of new women’s sections and promotional initiatives aimed at increasing participation.

Broader participation programmes promoting physical activity among children and young people also indirectly support women’s sport by improving access to infrastructure and organised training environments at local level.

From a regulatory perspective, proposed amendments to the Polish Sports Act aimed at strengthening female representation in sports governance and improving welfare protections for female athletes, including pregnancy-related support, illustrate a broader policy shift towards institutional equality in sport.

The development of women’s sport in Poland also benefits from non-governmental initiatives. For example, the Polish Association of Women’s Sport promotes women’s participation and supports female athletes, while the nationwide project “A Woman’s Perspective on Management in Sport” (2022–2024) provided training and leadership programmes aimed at increasing women’s representation in sports management.

Poland is considered one of the more developed esports markets in Central and Eastern Europe, combining participation in professional international club competitions with a growing national organisational framework. The market includes both high-level professional competition and an expanding amateur, academic and youth ecosystem.

Polish law does not currently provide a dedicated legal framework for esports. In practice, esports activities operate under general provisions of civil law, commercial law and intellectual property law. Esport is not expressly recognised as a sport under the Polish Sports Act, although amendments extending the statutory definition of sport to include intellectual activity have opened the possibility of interpreting esports within that framework. Legislative work aimed at introducing esports-specific regulation is currently under consideration.

From an organisational perspective, the Polish Esports Federation holds the authorisation to represent the country on the international stage (in the form of the Polish Esports National Team) granted by the Chancellery of the President of the Republic of Poland. It is also a member of the Polish Olympic Committee and co-operates with public institutions and sports organisations. In addition, the European Esports Federation, bringing together more than 40 national federations, is headquartered in Warsaw.

Key legal challenges include the unclear legal status of esports under sports law, dependence on intellectual property rights held by game publishers, the absence of a universally recognised international esports federation, contractual issues concerning player status (including minors) and integrity risks such as match-fixing, betting-related issues and forms of “digital doping”. Governance standards are often adapted from traditional sport, although the sector remains largely self-regulated.

The Polish esports market has in recent years shown a clear trend towards further professionalisation and institutionalisation. A key element of this process is the ongoing work of a task force established by the Ministry of Digital Affairs, aimed at developing dedicated legal solutions intended to systematise the market and create organisational, legal and financial frameworks more closely aligned with those operating in traditional sports.

Another noticeable trend is the growing use of esports as an interdisciplinary tool for developing skills among young people and increasing their competitiveness in the labour market. In practice, this includes initiatives targeted at specific groups, such as esports programmes for military personnel and educational or rehabilitation-focused esports projects implemented in youth correctional facilities.

In addition, increasing interest from major international organisers of club-based esports competitions has contributed to the continued expansion of Poland as a location for hosting large-scale esports events. A notable recent development was the relocation of one of the largest club-level esports tournaments from Katowice to Kraków, highlighting growing competition between Polish cities to host major esports events.

The NFT market in Poland is still relatively early in its development compared to major global hubs. While global NFT activity remains significant, Poland’s portion of the market is much smaller.

At present, NFTs are not subject to a dedicated national legal framework and – provided they are genuinely unique and do not perform financial or investment functions – they generally fall outside the direct scope of the Markets in Crypto-Assets Regulation (MiCA).

However, various general legal provisions may apply, depending on the structure and features of a particular NFT project. In practice, this means that the legal status of NFTs in Poland is currently assessed on a case-by-case, functional basis, rather than under a dedicated, uniform statutory regime, which creates a degree of legal uncertainty and regulatory risk for market participants, particularly in projects operating near the boundaries of financial or investment activity.

Polish sports organisations are beginning to use NFTs to engage fans and create digital collectibles. Examples include the Polish Volleyball League, offering season-themed NFTs with VIP perks, and the Poland Business Run, issuing NFT medals as digital certificates.

In 2026, the Polish Olympic Committee in co-operation with zondacrypto, implemented an innovative athlete reward programme based partly on blockchain technology. Under this model, Polish Olympic medallists receive financial bonuses consisting of both traditional cash payments and digital TMPL tokens. The initiative represents one of the first examples globally of integrating tokenised assets into elite sports funding structures, extending financial support not only to medallists but also to athletes placing between fourth and eighth.

The most important legal framework governing AI in Poland today is the EU Artificial Intelligence Act (the “AI Act”). Poland is currently preparing its national AI legislation to support enforcement and oversight of AI systems under the EU framework, including plans for dedicated regulatory bodies and sandbox environments for innovation. The lack of national regulations may cause some uncertainty as to the possibility/legality of using AI in particular situations.

Organisations in Poland must already comply with the EU AI Act and other applicable EU rules such as the GDPR that continue to govern personal data processing in AI systems.

Polish sports organisations are increasingly adopting AI to enhance player performance, tactical analysis and fan engagement. Clubs like GKS Tychy use AI for performance optimisation, while the Polish Handball Superliga and Polish Handball Federation employ AI-powered video and tactical analysis to support coaching and scouting. Start-ups such as ReSpo.Vision provide advanced 3D tracking and data insights, and broadcasters like TVP Sport leverage AI to automatically generate real time highlights.

These initiatives show that AI in Poland is being applied across performance, analytics and the fan experience, laying the foundation for innovation and data driven decision-making in sport.

In Poland, the metaverse is still at an early stage of its development/market penetration, but there are concrete pilots and initiatives exploring its use. Polish sport tech initiatives like Zetly or Mazer, working with technology partners, plan to integrate metaverse elements with club NFT marketplaces, gamification, and community experiences – allowing fans to collect digital assets, participate in virtual events and interact with digital spaces tied to real clubs.

A good example of local metaverse use in the sports industry is the idea of the “SPORT Metaverse”. The SPORT Metaverse is a pilot programme aimed at building virtual 3D stadium environments and fan spaces that combine NFTs with digital experiences, allowing clubs to monetise digital engagement and offer new ways for fans to interact with teams.

These examples show that metaverse use in Poland is mostly experimental and strategic, not yet widespread but growing across sectors.

In Poland, there is no dedicated legal framework specifically for the metaverse. Instead, traditional laws – including intellectual property, civil and commercial law, and EU level data protection rules such as the GDPR – apply to virtual worlds and related activities.