Paul Renteurs

Sports Law

Paul’s Sports Law Practice encompasses advising and representing clients across a broad spectrum of different areas, including anti-doping, professional discipline, gambling regulation and player transfer regulations.

During a secondment at UK Anti-Doping, Paul was closely involved in the investigation, charging and case management of a number of alleged anti-doping rule violations by athletes. Paul represented UKAD before the National Anti-Doping Panel in many of these cases. Paul continues to accept instructions from UKAD on a regular basis.

Paul has recently been instructed to supervise the disclosure of material within the Football Association’s archives to the Sheldon Review and Operation Hydrant, both concerning allegations sexual abuse by individuals within football.

Notable Cases:

FA v Tony Henry

Paul represented the Football Association in proceedings brought before the Regulatory Commission of the FA against former Head of Recruitment at West Ham United, Tony Henry. Mr Henry admitted charges that alleged using improper, insulting and/or abusive words which amounted to an ‘aggravated breach’ of FA Rules, including, as they did, references to ethnic origin, race, nationality and/or colour. Mr Henry was suspended from all football related activity for a period of twelve months, and was ordered to pay a contribution to the Football Association’s costs.

UKAD v Darren McCormack

Paul oversaw the case management, and represented UKAD before the NADP, in a case brought against Darren McCormack, a player for Brechin City FC, concerning the presence of a metabolite of metandienone in the player’s system. The defence contended that any violation of the anti-doping rules was not intentional, as, unbeknownst to Mr McCormack, a friend and training partner had added a fat-burning substance containing metandienone to his protein shakes. The panel concluded that the anti-doping rule violation was intentional, and Mr McCormack was banned for four years.

UKAD v Robbie Turley

Paul drafted written submissions for UKAD, and represented it before the NADP, in a case brought against Robbie Turley, a boxer, concerning the presence of furosemide in Mr Turley’s system. Queen’s Counsel representing Mr Turley submitted that he bore no significant fault or negligence for the presence of furosemide in his system, because he unwittingly took furosemide tablets belonging to his grandfather, and that he should therefore receive a sanction ranging from no ban to two years. The panel found that there was no significant fault or negligence, but banned Mr Turley for one year.