The Court of Arbitration for Sport will have a better idea by the end of this week when the result of WADA’S anti-doping appeal against Essendon will be announced, with no guarantee it will be known before Christmas as the Bombers would like.
The hearing started in Sydney on Monday, with the WADA team including Richard Young, who was also involved in the case against disgraced cyclist Lance Armstrong.
Asked outside the venue if he was confident of getting a result, Young told broadcasters “Yes.”
“I’m not going to talk about the case except for the arbitrators, so thank you for your interest, though.”
CAS secretary general Mr Matthieu Reeb didn’t want to commit to when the result of the hearing would be announced.
“I would not like to engage myself to any deadline at the moment, but we’ll probably know more at the end of this week,” Reeb told broadcasters.
The world body is challenging the AFL anti-doping tribunal’s March verdict that cleared the 34 current and past Essendon players.
The three-man CAS panel’s verdict is final, meaning it is the last stage of the anti-doping process that started in February two years ago.
The hearing is closed and even Essendon cannot have a representative in the room.
The saga relates to the club’s controversial 2011-12 supplements regime.
“While there are no guarantees, all indications from CAS and players’ lawyers suggest that it is likely a decision will be handed down prior to Christmas,” Essendon chief executive Xavier Campbell said.
“Our players have been incredibly resilient throughout this process and we ask that our members and fans continue to support them in this final stage of the process.”
Former ASADA chief executive Richard Ings was sceptical last week about CAS handing down a verdict by Christmas.
He noted that unless there was a time imperative – such as a selection appeal ahead of an Olympics – the verdict could take about three months.
If the players lose the appeal, their actual punishment could well be token.
They have already served provisional suspensions before the original AFL anti-doping tribunal hearing and those would count towards any sanction.
Also, Cronulla players had their suspensions backdated last year, meaning most of them only missed a small number of games.
The Essendon players remain adamant they did nothing wrong.
andyl12
Guest
Nice post Bruce, except that even in Victoria most of us are smarter than to view James Hird as great. The same way we're not all the Eddie-worshippers that non-Victorians make us out to be.
andyl12
Guest
Yes, I'll believe what I want. You'll believe what James Hird wants.
Casper
Guest
Hird delisted him, so I don't think the player would be worried about loyalty. Also, Dell'Olio was under no obligation to say anything at all, but he wanted to anyway. Feel free to believe what you want though.
andyl12
Guest
No, the difference is that Dell'Olio played under Hird and there is an unwritten rule that players never talk their coach down in public. I reckon if you met privately with most Essendon players they'd say something quite different. Unless they are converted Hird disciples like you.
Bruce
Guest
Whats wrong with WADA? Don't they know how important Victorian Rules is? Don't they know they're damaging EFC? Can't they understand the greatness of J.Hird? Don't they know that Vic Rules owns Melbourne, Adelaide, Perth and.......um........a lotta really really big deserts? This tinpot, puffed up mob don't even come from Melbourne.......rubbish!
Casper
Guest
The difference Andyl12 is that Dell'Olio actually knows Hird, you don't. So have a guess whose opinion holds more weight.
andyl12
Guest
Yes Casper, you would take such an opinion from Cory Dell'Olio's as gospel, because you are a Hird disciple so it suits you to do that. Those of us who still think about this with our heads and not our hearts know how little Hird really cares about the players. Oh yeah and I doubt you'll hear Cory Dell'Olio's parents say that Hird cares about the players.
Casper
Guest
That's interesting, because after Hird was sacked, Cory Dell' Olio said that 'Hirdy really cares about the players'. This from a guy who got delisted. I'll take his opinion of Hird over yours.
Frank R
Roar Rookie
Talk of Hird and Principles in the same sentence is ironic. This is the guy at he first presser said he will take full responsibility? He only ever had his own interest at heart - not Essendon's.
andyl12
Guest
"You really ought to rethink that statement !!." No I oughtn't. Hird and the EFC blew squillions fighting a court case that everyone knew they couldn't win. Not the sort of thing you'd do if you know you've got nothing to hide.
AR
Guest
"No quick announcement for WADA appeal" What a shocker.
Knoxy
Guest
At the end of the day, if Essendon had bothered to keep records of what they had given their players this investigation would've been over years ago. The club has no one to blame but themselves.
trenerry boy
Roar Rookie
You really ought to rethink that statement !!.
andyl12
Guest
If they knew they were innocent, why did they waste so much time & money in court? It defies belief.
trenerry boy
Roar Rookie
It's bwuce, the poor mans fuss, from the poor mans rugby
Bruce
Guest
I think its funny.......lol.....
trenerry boy
Roar Rookie
You mean if Hird and the players had bent over and accepted a punishment for an offence they thought and still think BTW they did not commit. Some people have more principles.
andyl12
Guest
Exactly. This would've been over long ago had the club not been so accepting of James Hird and his desire to drag everyone through the courts.
Col from Brissie
Guest
And if they came back with a guilty verdict after a couple of days you would be screaming that they rushed it.
George
Roar Rookie
No one said it was. The comparison is still accurate. The higher the level the appeal is whether it be civil, criminal, sport whatever, the longer and more detailed the verdict will be. Educate yourself, go look at the average time a verdict takes in high courts and appeal courts.