Norton Rose Fulbright secures decisive victory for SRAM

Global law firm Norton Rose Fulbright has secured a decisive victory for SRAM before the Brussels Court of Appeal (Markets Court), which dismissed the Union Cycliste Internationale's (UCI) appeal in full and upheld the Belgian Competition Authority's (BCA) decision of October 2025 suspending the Maximum Gear Ratio Test Protocol (Protocol).

The Court confirmed that the Protocol infringed, prima facie, competition law and that its suspension was necessary to prevent serious, immediate and irreparable harm, including to SRAM's reputation. It also endorsed the use of interim measures and validated the BCA's swift intervention.

The ruling sets a clear benchmark for sports governance, well beyond cycling. When international sports federations vested with exclusive regulatory powers adopt rules that affect the economic activities of market participants, including athletes, teams, equipment suppliers and event organisers, they must do so within a substantial and procedural framework ensuring transparency, objectivity and non-discrimination, in line with the Superleague line of case law, regardless of whether they compete in the markets they regulate.

The Norton Rose Fulbright team advising SRAM before the Court of Appeal was led by Brussels-based partner Yves Botteman, with assistance from senior associate Paul Henrion, and associates Lisa Sopena and Julien Haverals.

Yves Botteman commented:

"This Court decision marks a pivotal moment in sports governance and establishes a powerful new standard for how international sport governing bodies must be held accountable in their rulemaking. While ensuring safety in sports remains absolutely essential, it is equally vital that international federations operate within a robust framework - one that guarantees genuine representation and meaningful participation from all stakeholders, including athletes, teams, and equipment suppliers."

Norton Rose Fulbright's Brussels antitrust and competition practice provides a one-stop legal service for national and cross-border investigations into anti-competitive practices, including cartel activity and civil litigation, as well as merger filings and clearances.

The firm's global antitrust and competition practice includes more than 150 lawyers who advise on all aspects of antitrust law, ranging from multinational mergers and clearances to antitrust litigation, cartels, abuse of dominance, international investigations and compliance. Its antitrust litigation team forms a core part of the practice and consists of more than 40 dedicated lawyers with experience across well-established and emerging centres for antitrust litigation.