Buftea Court | June 24, 2025 | Civil Case No. 8411/2025
Dear supporters, athletes, coaches, and friends of fair play in sports,
We are delighted to announce that the Romanian Association for the Defense of Athletes’ Rights – United Europe (ARADS-EU) has officially obtained legal status, following a decision issued by the Buftea Court, Civil Division, on June 24, 2025.
Until now, we operated as part of the NGO Atelierul de Soluții, which has now merged with the newly established ARADS-EU.
It was not an easy journey.
Nearly a year of procedures, setbacks, and delays.
We faced open opposition, including challenges filed by well-known law firms—sadly, acting on behalf of petty interests, fearful of change, justice, and truth.
It’s no wonder that in Romania, similar associations and organizations are rare.
A year ago, we asked ourselves why. In time, we got the answer firsthand. These kinds of entities are not welcomed. They are inconvenient. They disrupt certain “arrangements.”
We were forced to perform legal and institutional gymnastics, but we never lost hope. We pushed forward. We persevered. We won.
Today, ARADS exists legally, with the right and responsibility to:
- Promote the rights of Romanian athletes and coaches
- Expose abuse, discrimination, and injustice within the system
- Support fairness, dignity, and transparency in sports
- Be an active voice for those who, until now, were forced into silence
Additionally, we are committed to supporting sports structures in developing good governance through practical projects aimed at:
- Attracting resources and building partnerships to support athletes, clubs, and sports federations
- Promoting sustainable sports
- Initiating and organizing seminars, workshops, and training courses for athletes—offering educational activities that contribute to their professional and personal development
- Launching and running safeguarding programs
- Initiating and organizing sports events
- Creating and managing projects to promote Romanian sports—supporting initiatives that showcase Romanian sports on both national and international stages
- Digitalizing sports—helping integrate digital technologies to modernize and streamline processes in the sports field
Excerpt from the court ruling:
“The court admits the request and orders the registration of the petitioner in the Register of Associations and Foundations held by the Buftea Court Clerk’s Office. (…) The Association acquires legal personality in accordance with Government Ordinance No. 26/2000.”
🙏 We sincerely thank everyone who supported us—legally, morally, or simply with words of encouragement.
Our journey is just beginning.
We will be present wherever athletes lacked support before.
We will watch, act, and build.
ARADS-EU is now, officially, the voice of Romanian athletes.
👊 See you in the gym, on the field, and—when necessary—in court.
In solidarity,
The ARADS Team
