MUSCAT : The new Sports Entities Law, published in the latest edition of the Official Gazette, will come into force six months after publication and requires all sports entities to regularise their status within one year, with the possibility of a one-year extension approved by the Minister of Culture, Sports and Youth.

Among the most significant changes is the removal of prison sentences for sports-related violations and their replacement with substantially higher financial penalties. The law imposes fines ranging from RO 1,000 to RO 10,000 for offences including operating unregistered sports activities, misuse of sports entity funds, unauthorised fundraising, and submitting false financial records.

More severe penalties were introduced for breaches of executive regulations, with fines reaching up to RO 20,000, while legal entities may face penalties amounting to double the maximum fine if violations are committed by senior officials or board members acting on behalf of the organisation.

For the first time, the law also introduces anti-doping penalties in Oman. Athletes found using banned substances, or individuals involved in supplying or facilitating access to performance-enhancing drugs, may face fines ranging from RO 5,000 to RO 10,000.

The legislation marks a major shift toward commercialisation and sports investment, allowing clubs to convert into commercial companies and establish investment and marketing businesses subject to ministry regulations. The law also permits approved investment projects to receive incentives and benefits following Cabinet approval.

In another key reform, the law establishes a dedicated framework for sports dispute resolution and bars sports disputes from being brought before ordinary courts in Oman. Decisions issued by authorised sports dispute committees will carry the force of judicial rulings, with appeals limited to mechanisms defined within sports governance structures.

The new framework also introduces governance and digital transformation requirements, including electronic record systems, remote voting procedures, and mandatory governance principles within sports entity statutes.

The decree repeals the previous Law on Private Sports Entities issued in 2007, as well as Royal Decree 57/2012, replacing them with updated provisions aligned with international sports governance standards and contemporary investment practices.

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