A Swiss Court denied the appeal from the 34 current and former players of Australian Football League side Essendon "banned for doping," according to Cherny, McClure, Quayle & Masters of THE AGE.
Relevant player managers "were informed on Tuesday evening Melbourne time that the appeal, which followed the suspension of the players by the Court of Arbitration for Sport in January, had been rejected." It is understood costs "will be awarded against the players." The AFL Players' Association "was looking through the judgment" -- handed down in German -- before it "could explain the decision to relevant parties." All 34 players "were banned from playing for the duration of the 2016 season." All the bans "expire by December meaning the 10 Bombers returning to the club next season" -- including Dons captain Watson -- will still be "free to play next year." So too "will the handful of other banned players who are now at other AFL clubs."
The decision paves the way for Essendon "to begin finalising the compensation it will pay to the affected players." The 34 current and former Bombers who took part in the '12 supplements program overseen by Stephen Dank "were suspended for 12 months in January by the Court of Arbitration for Sport" (THE AGE, 10/11). The AAP reported with the appeal over, the AFL commission "can now go ahead with its landmark hearing that will decide whether Essendon star Jobe Watson keeps his 2012 Brownlow Medal."
Watson "is one of the banned players." The AFL announced the hearing after the CAS verdict in February, but "postponed it until the Swiss appeal verdict."
The likelihood is that the commission "will take the unprecedented step of stripping Watson of his Brownlow." It was unclear immediately when the commission hearing about Watson's Brownlow "would now go ahead." Watson "has been invited to speak to the commission" (AAP, 10/11).
