This was published 8 years ago
WADA's request for overseas hearing 'narky', says Collingwood president Eddie McGuire
The World Anti-Doping Agency has been labelled "narky" by Colllingwood president Eddie McGuire after the body requested its appeal against the ruling that cleared 34 past and present Essendon players be held in Switzerland.
Fairfax Media on Tuesday reported that WADA's move could be interpreted as removing from an AFL environment their appeal against the AFL anti-doping tribunal decision to clear the players, and ensuring that some of the arbitrators hearing the case will be international panel members.
Eddie McGuire: 'If you want to get away from the AFL influence, do it in Sydney.'Credit: Pat Scala
McGuire said on his Triple M morning show that it was "far easier to bring two people over to actually hear the case as opposed to having to transport everyone" overseas.
"I can't understand this," McGuire said. "Why wouldn't you send two people over here and hold it in Australia?
Jobe Watson and others spoke publicly when they were initially cleared.Credit: Getty Images
"If you want to get away from the AFL influence, do it in Sydney. That seems to me to be really narky and beyond the pale as far as I'm concerned."
A decision on where the Court of Arbitration for Sport hearing will sit will only be made once a panel has been appointed by CAS and all interested parties have made submissions – most likely written submissions. Lawyers for the 34 current and former Essendon players will strongly object to the request to hold the hearing overseas.
The system for appointing the three person panel is that the players, WADA and CAS each nominate an arbitrator. WADA has nominated a Belgian senior counsel as its preferred arbitrator.
The CAS head office is in Lausanne, Switzerland, but the Oceania regional office is in Sydney. It was presumed an appeal would be held in Australia – most likely Sydney – because the players, lawyers, expert witnesses and interested parties are all in Australia and the alleged offences occurred here.
Bombers captain Jobe Watson said he agreed that "it would make sense to hold it in Australia".