Cycling: Cycling Australia & Australian Sports Commission Joint Media Release

Cycling Australia & Australian Sports Commission Joint Media Release

French suspended for two years

9 June 2004

Cyclist Mark French has been suspended for two years and fined $1,000 after the Court of Arbitration for Sport (CAS) found he had breached the anti-doping policies of the Australian Sports Commission (ASC) and of Cycling Australia (CA).

On 9 March 2004, the ASC and CA made an application to CAS for a hearing to determine whether a breach of each organisation’s anti-doping policy had occurred and if so what sanctions should be imposed on Mr French.

After hearings last week and on Monday of this week, CAS handed down a partial Arbitral Award yesterday, 8 June 2004.

In the partial award the CAS Arbitrator, Mr Malcolm Holmes QC found that: ‘…there was a breach of both policies and that an appropriate sanction for this course of conduct would be a suspension of two years and a fine of $1,000.’

CAS ruled that the two-year suspension will take effect from the date of the award, Tuesday, 8 June 2004 and that the fine must be paid within 28 days.

The Court said the decision is a deemed a partial award because it has yet to rule on the question of costs.

Mr French has the right to appeal the finding within 21 days.


[Edited on 9-6-2004 by Ocelot]