CJEU Sets GDPR Limits on Online Publication of Anti-Doping Sanctions

CJEU, 14 July 2026, Case C-474/24, NADA Austria and Others

Date of the decision: 2026-07-14

In the NADA Austria case, the CJEU held that the online publication of anti-doping sanctions falls within the GDPR. While such publication may pursue a public-interest objective and be necessary to combat doping, it must remain proportionate. Where national legislation does not itself ensure proportionality in each case, anti-doping bodies must be able to carry out an individual balancing exercise before publishing the data online.

Background

The case arose from Austrian anti-doping legislation requiring the online publication of certain information relating to athletes sanctioned for anti-doping rule violations.

Under that legislation, NADA Austria and the Austrian Anti-Doping Legal Committee (ÖADR) were required to make available to the general public information concerning suspensions and bans imposed on athletes, including the name of the person concerned, the duration of the ban and the reasons for it. Certain exceptions were provided for, in particular for especially vulnerable persons, recreational athletes and persons who had significantly contributed to the detection of potential anti-doping...

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