CAS decision has a world sport perspective

The decision of the Court of Arbitration for Sport to suspend thirty-four past and present Essendon players over the 2012 supplements program is a decision with a world sport perspective. The anti-doping regime could not afford a no-fault defence to succeed.

Morally, the suspension of the players for an entire season is indefensible, but this decision has nothing to do with the rights or wrongs of the players’ position.

Had CAS found in favour of the players, very clever dopers all over the world would have quickly concocted means to deliver their chemical boosts to their targets under cover of the no-fault defence.

That is the essence of this decision. The players are collateral damage.