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WADA will appeal AFL anti-doping tribunal's Essendon decision

11th May, 2015
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The World Anti-Doping Authority (WADA) announced on Tuesday morning that they would appeal the AFL anti-doping tribunal’s decision which found 34 past and present Essendon players not guilty of using the banned substance thymosin beta-4.

On March 31, the AFL’s tribunal, led by chairman David Jones, cleared the players with a unanimous decision.

WADA have now decided to override this decision and take their right of appeal to the Court of Arbitration for Sport.

The decision was confirmed in a statement from WADA director general David Howman on Tuesday morning.

“We have now completed our independent review of the full case file on the AFL Anti-Doping Appeals Tribunal decision regarding 34 current and former Essendon players,” the statement read.

“After a thorough examination of the evidence contained within the file, WADA has decided to lodge its independent right of appeal to the decision to the Court of Arbitration for Sport.

“As with all pending cases, and adhering to the proper and normal respect for the integrity of the legal process, WADA will refrain from commenting further on the subject until a decision has been made by CAS.”

WADA says it will not comment further until a decision is handed down by the court.

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It was 785 days from when the drugs saga began that Essendon players felt the relief of receiving a not guilty verdict. That number now ticks up to 827 days, as the story takes another ugly turn.

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