Ahmed Saad hopes to get a second chance in the AFL next year, with St Kilda saying it is "open-minded" about giving him another chance after the AFL dismissed the Australian Sports Anti-Doping Authority's appeal against his 18-month suspension for taking a banned substance.
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While the World Anti-Doping Agency is still able to challenge the AFL appeal board's findings through the Court of Arbitration for Sport, Saad was told on Wednesday that the league had thrown out the appeal made by ASADA, which was seeking a two-year penalty.
Saad was suspended for 18 months on November 26 last year, having returned a positive drug test after one of his 13 games for St Kilda last year.
The ASADA appeal was lodged in early December and heard on April 23, meaning he had to wait more than a month for the verdict.
The 24-year-old, who continued training with the Saints after last season but was not drafted onto the club's rookie list, said he was relieved his wait was over.
"It has been a very long and hard 10 months on myself and everyone around me," said Saad on the website of his management company, Blue Rock Sports.
“I’ll continue training hard to give myself the best opportunity to come back next season.”
Saad will find it difficult to work his way onto a new AFL list, given his ban will extend into the early part of next season, but St Kilda said it would consider redrafting him later in the year.
"St Kilda Football Club is pleased that Ahmed will have the opportunity to play football again in 2015,” said the club's head of football Chris Pelchen.
“We are open-minded to the possibility of him returning to the Saints, but like all players available in the draft we will make the appropriate assessment later in the year. Until that time, we will continue to support his welfare, as permitted."
Saad's manager, Paul Koutoufides, said he considered the initial 18-month suspension harsh and was pleased with the appeal board's decision.
"The ongoing process has been tough for everyone and Ahmed has endured a lot," he said. "He is an extremely resilient young man. I can’t wait to see Ahmed get another go and get back into the AFL.”
Saad returned a positive drug test for an ingredient in the pre-workout protein powder methyl synephrine HCL – banned for use on game day.
He had used the product – Viking Protein's "Before Battle" – regularly but was unaware it was not permitted for use on match days.
The small forward joined St Kilda at the end of 2010 and kicked 28 goals in an impressive 16-game debut season.
He kicked 17 goals in his 13 games last year until he was suspended after round 19 pending his first appearance before the AFL tribunal on November 6.
His lawyer, George Haros, said the appeal decision was the right one.
“I think what this decision demonstrates is that, despite the strict liability imposed by the AFL anti-doping code, the code does have scope to find decisions which are both fair and accord with common sense," he said.
