Jack to receive fresh appeal on doping ban

The downgrading of Shayna Jack’s two-year ban for doping will be appealed by the Australian anti-doping body, Sports Integrity Australia.

The decision to appeal comes after the Court of Arbitration for Sport (CAS) slashed Jack's initial four-year ban in half, with its judge deciding that Jack didn't intentionally ingest the banned substance ligandrol, and considered that she had discharged her onus of proving that the anti-doping rule violation was not intentional.

Having her ban halved meant that Jack could have returned to the sport next July, but the SIA appeal within the 21-day period has thrown her swimming future into jeopardy once again.

SIA chief executive David Sharpe said a statement of appeal was lodged with the Court of Arbitration for Sport on Monday and was based “on the need for clarity in the application of key anti-doping legal principles.”

“Sport Integrity Australia will always act to ensure a level playing field for athletes,” Sharpe said. “In order to protect athletes and sporting competitions, we must have clarity and consistency in the application of the World Anti-Doping Code.”

Jack tested positive for the anabolic agent ahead of the 2019 world championships. An Australian sports tribunal previously recommended a four-year ban before CAS took on the case.

The 22-year-old Jack, a four-time medalist in relays at the 2017 world championships, denied doping and said the positive test was caused by a contaminated supplement. The burden of proof is on athletes in anti-doping cases to show exactly how and when any contamination happened.

Jack tested positive in an out-of-competition test in June 2019. The freestyle specialist was suspended from the Australian team and sent home from its pre-worlds training camp in Japan.

SIA was established in July, taking over management of the former Australian Sports Anti-Doping Authority.