Haga loses CAS appeal.
Yamaha's Noriyuki Haga will not compete in this weekend's season-ending WSBK races at Brands Hatch after the Court or Arbitration of Sport ruled turned down his appeal against his three week ban and 45 point deduction which stems from the first round of the 2000 season in South Africa.
Haga tested positive for ephedrine at Kyalami in April and even though the failure was pinpointed to a dietary supplement the rider used over the winter, the CAS saw it fit to uphold the original decision given by the International Tribunal of Appeal made way back in June.
Yamaha's Noriyuki Haga will not compete in this weekend's season-ending WSBK races at Brands Hatch after the Court or Arbitration of Sport ruled turned down his appeal against his three week ban and 45 point deduction which stems from the first round of the 2000 season in South Africa.
Haga tested positive for ephedrine at Kyalami in April and even though the failure was pinpointed to a dietary supplement the rider used over the winter, the CAS saw it fit to uphold the original decision given by the International Tribunal of Appeal made way back in June.
The decision finally assures Colin Edwards of the 2000 World Superbike Championship as Haga's ban starts from today (Thursday), preventing him from competing this Sunday. Had the decision gone the other way and Haga's 45 points earned in South Africa been restored, Edwards would have been just five points clear of his rival with just two races to go.
Yamaha were not available to make a comment at time of writing and this decision could push Haga towards a future in Grand Prix Racing sooner than expected. The Japanese rider has been growing increasingly dissatisfied with his treatment this year and the situation has grown into something of a farce.
The decision also robs the British fans of a chance to see one of the most spectacular riders in the world and the absence of Haga will certainly detract from the atmosphere of the event.
