On the eve of the IAAF World Athletic Championship in Doha, new media reports of a corrupt bidding process tarnished the host country Qatar. Two weeks ago, Amnesty International accused the country of one more breach of the promise to improve workers’ rights. But according to the International Labour Organisation, Qatar has also made great progress and more is to come.

The Hakeem Al-Araibi case puts FIFA and the AFC in a bad light, say human rights organisations, players’ unions and observers questioning their efforts in advocating the release of the detained footballer.

ANOC presidential election postponed after ANOC general assembly reluctantly approves the self-suspension of Sheikh Ahmad Al-Fahad Al-Sabah.

Qatar has announced its national development strategy for 2018-2022, which has great emphasis on sport as a major factor in strengthening the country’s economic development and its image internationally. The following analysis is a summary of a bigger research conducted by the author.

After agreements between workers’ rights organisations and Qatar a new law has been introduced that will strengthen migrant workers’ rights in Qatar. Critics claim that effective changes are yet to be seen and question Qatar’s will to change.

The “Foundation for Sports Integrity” was recently launched in a lavish setting that made several participants ask about the source of the money. Two of them were Andreas Selliaas and Jan Jensen, who have tried to track the secret backers of the new initiative.

On 12 April 2017 CAS lifted the suspension of Kuwait Shooting Federation imposed by the General Assembly of the International Shooting Sport Federation. The CAS ruling could have a long term impact on Kuwait’s suspension from multiple sports and the associated international intrigues.

An international volleyball tournament in the Iranian capital has thrown into sharp relief a debate in international sporting associations on how to deal with nations that restrict women’s rights as athletes and/or spectators.