‚CAS Clears Japan’s Olympic Silver Medallist Ikeda of Doping, Overturns Ban‘ – Brett Larner – Japan Running News

It is almost unheard of for an athlete to successfully fight a biological passport suspension as Ikeda did, making this a highly significant case. The CAS‘ press release about its decision stated:

„The Panel stressed that the Athlete did not merely assert his position on the ABP abnormalities but adduced very extensive evidence in support of his explanations. In this highly complex case, the evidence brought during the CAS proceedings was far more abundant and specific than during the first instance proceedings with the WA Disciplinary Tribunal, implying the CAS Panel had further elements of assessment.“

If Ikeda was able to produce adequate evidence countering the ABP violation claims in time for the CAS case but not in time for the initial Disciplinary Tribunal hearing then it would seem to raise questions about the rate at which initial decisions against athletes are being made. It also raises questions about the ability of athletes without the substantial financial resources of a major corporation like Asahi Kasei backing them to adequately defend themselves against the panel of experts involved in ABP cases. As such Ikeda’s case seems to cast a shadow of doubt on the inherent fairness of the current system.