An arbitrator has recently made a noteworthy ruling to reverse a national sports organization’s decision on team selection, ensuring Dylan Bibic’s inclusion on Canada’s roster for the upcoming UCI Track Cycling World Championships. Hailing from Mississauga, Ontario, Bibic, a prominent figure in men’s track endurance cycling globally, secured Canada’s spot at the championships in the omnium event. However, he was initially overlooked for the event in Santiago, Chile.
The exclusion of the 22-year-old followed Cycling Canada’s alteration of the criteria for omnium participation by disregarding 2024 track results from December 16, 2024. The omnium, known as a comprehensive test of track cycling prowess, consists of multiple endurance races.
Bibic’s legal representatives, Dr. Emir Crowne and Amanda Fowler, expressed that arbitrators usually refrain from making selection decisions but may intervene in urgent or fairness-related cases. They highlighted bias in Bibic’s appeal, leading the arbitrator to take charge of the selection process.
Bibic raised concerns with the Sport Dispute Resolution Centre of Canada on August 12, asserting that a cyclist ranked 135th was favored over him following his safe-sport complaint against a team selection official.
The arbitrator emphasized that Canada’s omnium spot was earned through Bibic’s individual achievements and rankings, including his stellar 2024 season. This season saw him clinch the UCI Champions League title, secure a bronze at the world championships, and claim three Nations Cup gold medals, including an omnium victory.
Given the imminent start of the track cycling world championships on October 22, arbitrator Praveen Sandhu mandated Bibic’s inclusion in the Canadian team to bypass another selection process. Sandhu criticized Cycling Canada for its lack of transparent reasoning and failure to justify the athlete’s exclusion adequately.
The arbitrator noted the absence of evidence regarding Cycling Canada’s decision-making process to differentiate the omnium from other track events. Sandhu underscored the accumulation of circumstantial evidence leading to a reasonable perception of bias in this case.
