Tao Jingzhou, 50, is one of two ethnic Chinese arbitrators among a total of 12 in the Beijing Olympic Games Ad Hoc Division of the Court of Arbitration for Sports (CAS).

Tao said he is also competing in the Games, but in another way.

"To some extent, we're also athletes. We're running as fast as possible against unfairness in sports," he told China Daily Friday in Beijing.

The CAS Ad Hoc Division has since the Sydney Olympic Games been required to settle all sports-related disputes arising within the time frame of 10 days prior to the Games' opening ceremony and their conclusion. Doping cases and refereeing issues fall under its jurisdiction.

So far, the Beijing Games division has received eight applications, most of which are to do with qualification and admission issues, Tao said.

"I'm particularly excited to have been one of the three arbitrators appointed to handle the first application," he said.

In the first case on July 31, Azerbaijan challenged the decision of the judicial committee of the International Hockey Federation (FIH) which allowed the Spanish women's hockey team to participate in the Beijing Games.

The Spanish team beat Azerbaijan during the Women's World Hockey qualifying tournament in April, but two Spanish players were suspected of taking drugs, according to CAS website. FIH rules state that a team in which more than one player has violated anti-doping rules forfeits its entry qualification.

The FIH judicial committee, however, found that only one player had been guilty.

But Azerbaijan was adamant that both Spanish players had committed the violation, insisting that the Spanish team be disqualified and the Azerbaijan team take its place.

Tao said although the application comprised a thick wad of documents, in this case a decision was needed within 24 hours.

Based on established Olympic rules and precedents, the panel dismissed Azerbaijan's application.

Tao believed his invitation to participate in the Ad Hoc Division is attributable to his rich experience in arbitration by virtue of his position as a partner in the Beijing office of the international law firm Jones Day, as well as his fluency in English and French.

But Tao was a rookie in the world of sports arbitration before being taken on at the Ad Hoc Division.

He spent hours before the Games browsing through old cases and studying sports laws and Olympic rules.

"As my decision may affect the sporting future of a dedicated athlete, I must be careful and responsible," he said.

Tao said he would like to handle more sports-related issues after the Games.

"I think a similar sports arbitration organization in China would help to develop a healthy sports industry," he said.

Tao does not mind the paltry compensation for the work with the Ad Hoc Division.

But the job accreditation did give him the enviable privilege of seeing any Games events he chose.

The only trouble is, as Tao said, "I'm too busy to take advantage of it."