WADA, the World Anti-Doping Agency, has decided that somehow it makes sense to pursue an increase to Tyler Hamilton’s 8-year ban from professional cycling competition.
Hamilton, 38, agreed not to protest the positive results of a testosterone test in February, and announced his retirement from cycling on April 19.  He said he had taken DHEA as self medication for depression despite knowing that it could trigger positive results for banned substances.
As part of his agreement to accept the positive without pursuing the case (which saved the USADA tens of thousands in legal costs), his “sentence” was limited to an eight year ban…which, at his age, is essentially a lifetime ban from the sport.
Now, WADA has appealed the agreement saying that the eight-year suspension does not constitute sufficient punishment.  Apparently, WADA has more money than sense as they will have to pay for the appeal…must be nice having money to burn in these days and times.
Photo by KWC.org.