This is a good article because I think its the first article I have read by a journo who correctly detailed the whole process. Its worth quoting from it.
March 31 is a guilty or not guilty call — NOT a final determination of penalties. Even if all 34 are found guilty, they most likely won’t be named, as the anonymity provisions in the AFL’s anti-doping code extend through their 21-day appeal period.
Stephen Dank’s guilt or innocence on a range of charges should also be decided.
Dank will get a life ban from being involved in Australian football IMHO.
IF IT’S NOT GUILTY
THE players, now involved with three AFL clubs, are free to play in Round 1 matches beginning on April 2.
ASADA and the World Anti-Doping Authority both have appeal rights — ASADA at the first instance to the AFL Appeals Tribunal and WADA to either that body or directly to the Court of Arbitration for Sport.
IF IT’S GUILTY
IF one or more of players is found guilty, brace yourself for more tribunal hearings.
The possibility that some players will be found guilty and others not is very real — sources close to the tribunal process say the players’ experiences in the 2012 supplements program, and their recollections of those experiences are not all alike.
First, and shortly after the verdict, there will be a directions hearing to work out when and on what basis sanctions hearings will take place. Players’ lawyers will outline what provisions in the AFL Anti-Doping Code they believe should be applied to reduce what are normally inflexible sanctions.
If ASADA, which has not made submissions on penalty so far, and the AFL agree the discounts should apply, sanctions hearings could be mercifully short — a couple of days.
If the sanctions hearings are to be contested, then the merits of each of the 34 individual cases could be up for argument, with hearings taking weeks. If any or all of the players don’t like the final result, they can appeal to the AFL Appeals Tribunal and then CAS.