Khayran Noor: Law, Leadership, and Inclusion in African Sport

When Kenyan sports lawyer Khayran Noor was recently announced as a Rising Star at the Women In Sports Law (WISLaw) Members Awards, the recognition felt like more than a personal milestone. For Khayran, it symbolised visibility for African women in a field where representation is still emerging. “This recognition is deeply meaningful because my journey has always been driven by purpose rather than visibility,” she reflects. “It reminds me that the work matters, and that African and marginalised women in sports law are increasingly being seen and heard.”

Today, Khayran’s career profile spans governance, policy development, safeguarding, human rights, and sports dispute resolution across Africa.

But this path began long before law school. Growing up, Khayran was drawn to athletics — particularly sprints — not for medals, but for the energy, community, and possibility that sport embodied. Yet she also witnessed its inequities: socio-economic barriers, cultural limitations, inadequate infrastructure, and systems that made opportunity a matter of chance rather than merit.

“These realities stayed with me,” she says. “When I later entered the legal profession, everything connected. I could finally see the systemic causes behind the barriers I had witnessed — governance failures, lack of rights protection, harmful norms, and the absence of structures that nurture talent. Sports law became a means to confront these inequities.”

Building a legal foundation for reform

Holding an LLM in Sports Law & Practice from De Montfort University and admitted as an Advocate of the High Court of Kenya, Khayran credits her legal training with shaping her approach to sport. “My foundation as an advocate taught me how legal frameworks can either protect or exclude,” she explains.

It is a perspective that now informs her work across compliance, ethics, safeguarding, policy development, and dispute resolution.

As Founding Director of Sports Legal and Chairperson of the East Africa Law Society Sports Law Committee, Khayran approaches governance with a combination of capacity-building, systems strengthening, and stakeholder collaboration.

For Khayran, mentorship is equally critical. “Africa’s sports governance future depends on a skilled and empowered pipeline,” she says. “Mentorship ensures that leadership is nurtured and representation expands.”

BOLD-ly shaping governance and human rights

Khayran also serves as Special Advisor in Sports Law, Governance, and Human Rights at the BOLD Initiative, a Global-South–led movement transforming how sport approaches gender and inclusion. “What drew me to BOLD is its unapologetic focus on intersectionality,” she says. “It challenges the status quo — and so do I.”

Through BOLD, she works to dismantle systemic barriers that prevent women and girls from accessing safe sporting spaces and leadership.

“For me, ‘Lead BOLD. Play BOLD. Be BOLD.’ is a philosophy,” says Khayran. “It reflects the governance culture Africa deserves — one that empowers, protects, and ensures that every girl and woman can move freely and thrive fully.”

Championing diversity, inclusion, and safeguarding

Her advocacy extends to safeguarding and integrity, areas she addresses through the H.E.R.O Project and Sports & Crime Briefing. She notes that as sport becomes more commercial and more complex, the risks of abuse, corruption, exploitation, and misconduct increase.

“Federations need independent safeguarding systems, clear reporting channels, proper training, and strong accountability structures,” she says. “When sport is safe and ethical, its potential for social change becomes unlimited.”

Knowledge transfer and the next generation

In addition to her advisory roles, Khayran lectures on sports leadership and human rights at the Academy for Leadership Sciences Switzerland (ALSS). Teaching, she says, is a multiplier effect. “One student can influence entire institutions. Through teaching, I bridge global knowledge with African realities.”

For young people hoping to enter sports law, Khayran advises building a strong legal foundation, then specialising intentionally. “Sports law is broad — governance, compliance, arbitration, commercial rights, athlete welfare, human rights. Your niche will emerge through practice and exposure.”

She encourages young Africans to leverage LinkedIn strategically: publishing insights, engaging with thought leaders, sharing research, and using the platform to access courses, scholarships, and global networks.

Looking ahead: a vision for African sport

Khayran’s long-term vision is clear: “An African sport ecosystem grounded in integrity, human rights, ethical leadership, and strong governance.”

She sees initiatives like Young African Leaders in Sport (YALS) as key to nurturing a lineage of African talent capable of shaping policy, reform, and innovation.

Her message to young African professionals — especially women — is powerful:

“Your voice belongs here. Stand firm in your values, build your knowledge relentlessly, and step into rooms even when they feel intimidating. And when you get there, hold the door open for others. The future of African sport will be shaped by those bold enough to build what does not yet exist.”

Gordon Gogo Ouma, ACIArb is an Advocate in Kenya who advises clients on litigation matters, sports business, athlete management, implementing AI strategies, and governance. He recently became Sports Manager of Mashuuru Sports Complex, an all-in-one high performance complex for elite athletes, and aspiring champions.