Reports this week confirmed that Johan Bruyneel has appealed the decision to ban him for ten years from the sport of cycling, just days after news broke about the World Anti-Doping Agency’s (WADA) decision to pursue an extension of his ban with the Court of Arbitration for Sport (CAS).
However, reports indicate that Bruyneel filed his appeal with CAS before WADA’s motion. In response, CAS has confirmed “that Mr Bruyneel has filed an appeal.”
Bruyneel was given a 10 year ban back in April for his role in the "wide spread and systematic" doping practices within the US Postal and Discovery teams, while he was at the helm. In addition, as part of that case, Lance Armstrong was given a life-time ban for his role as well.
However, unlike Armstrong, Bruyneel chose to contest the ban, and after a lengthy appeal process in London, he was nevertheless handed the sanction.
Additionally, the team’s doctor, Pedro Celaya, and trainer, Jose ‘Pepe" Marti, were both handed eight-year sanctions also.
Bruyneel had a 21 day window in which he could submit an appeal, with reports indicating that he did so just in time to challenge the case on the issue of national jurisdiction.
Leading up to the case, Bruyneel argued that USADA had no legal grounds or jurisdiction to sanction him.
Following Bruyneel’s initial motion, WADA had the right to appeal the decision up to 21 days.
In a statement last week WADA said:
"In appealing the AAA’s decision to CAS, WADA requests that consideration be given to longer sanctions for all three individuals involved in order to best protect athletes, and ensure a clean sport of cycling.
"UCI and USADA are supportive of the appeal to seek longer sanctions, and will provide support to WADA during this process."
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