[mkdf_dropcaps type=”normal” color=”#f55549″ background_color=””]T[/mkdf_dropcaps]
he Court of Arbitration for Sports (CAS) has decided to reduce Australian swimmer, Shayna Jack’s doping suspension from four years to two years.

The CAS ruled the result of the out-of-competition test showed Jack had ingested Ligandrol, but not intentionally, something Jack’s lawyer, Tim Fuller, told the ABC proves Jack was not a doping cheat.

“I think probably the thing that is most noteworthy about this case is the fact that the court has been very, very emphatic in saying there was no intent and intent is all about cheating,” Fuller said.

“This is not somebody that set out to gain from the system.

“She was caught up in a situation that’s unexplainable.

“And that’s what the court, after an extensive and long-running investigation and hearing, has actually handed down.

“She can’t come back to competitive swimming until July next year (after the 2020 Tokyo Olympic Games).

“But look, in the end, her career has been saved.

“One of the things that was noted in that decision was that she didn’t try to float these wild theories about how it got into her body.

“She just was up front and honest and said ‘I don’t know’ and that’s what the court’s ruled on,” he said.

The original decision for Jack to receive a four-year suspension was recommended by the Australian Sports Anti-Doping Authority (now Sport Integrity Australia).

Sport Integrity Australia said in a statement it remained satisfied that “it was appropriate to recommend a sanction of four years”, with chief executive, David Sharpe, also said the agency will “consider the decision in greater detail before making any further comment.”

The former head of the Australian Sports Anti-Doping Authority, Richard Ings, however, claimed Jack accepting the ruling as a declaration of her innocence in a statement on Instagram was similar to US President Donald Trump claiming he had won the US election after it was announced Joe Biden had won the presidential election.

“I see Shayna Jack has instagrammed she is “innocent”,” Ings said on his Twitter.

“A bit like Donald claiming he won the election…

“Ms Jack you broke a fundamental rule of sport.

“You had a banned substance in your system, and you had significant fault for its presence.

“You received a global two-year ban from any and all sporting competition.

“It isn’t the maximum ban but it’s a significant ban for a significant breach of rules.

“Your actions may not have been deliberate, but your conduct contributed to the size of your global ban.

“I’d suggest acknowledging your fault in this,” he said.

Jack’s post on Instagram that Ings was referencing began with the phrase “innocent” in capital letters.

Jack said: “In my case, I have proven that I have not ever cheated, nor used prohibited substances intentionally or knowingly.”

“I will still incur two years out of the sport in which I love.

“I cannot change the rules and the rules will remain as they are for the time being.

“Therefore, I accept this decision with a positive attitude and with gratitude that my career as a swimmer will resume next year.

“I have never doubted myself for a minute throughout this ordeal and I have never allowed my integrity to be compromised.

“I walk a little taller tonight with the fact that this ordeal is finally over,” she said.

Following the result of the CAS ruling, Sport Integrity Australia was given 21 days to lodge an appeal, with the World Anti-Doping Agency and swimming’s international governing body, FINA, also given the chance to appeal the court’s decision.