The Spanish supreme court has upheld an appeal lodged by the nation’s professional cycling association (ACP), a member of EU Athletes, against changes to anti-doping rules that were adopted in 2009. The Court argued that those affected by the law – the athletes – had not been adequately consulted by the government.

The law was originally put in place after the IOC had raised concerns about the Spanish Anti Doping system after the failed bid of Madrid for the 2016 Olympic Games.

Under the changes, athletes could be tested outside competition from 6 a.m. until 11 p.m. and during competition 12 hours before an event started and until it ended. In a ruling published on Tuesday, the supreme court said it had upheld the ACP appeal due to “a lack of consultation with the interested parties” and nullified the decree which contained the new regulations.

A statement from the ACP will follow here shortly.

The ruling should be regarded as an example for other countries where the athletes’ voice is not properly heard in the making of sporting rules and laws. Athletes unions equipped with a  mandate from their members need to be recognized as stakeholders in any rule or law-making procedure.