doctorj wrote:
Let's put it this way, they will hibernate until the appeals process is done. If Al wins the appeal, NOP will resurrect like a zombie with a different name with Al Sal as head coach again. If Al Sal does not win, then NOP stays buried forever and something else will be worked out on the sides (as if they have not began that process, duh!).
I believe it is more significant than that. Basically Nike have cut Salazar adrift and I doubt he figures in any of their go forward plans. I expect Nike will create a new entity out of the remnants of NOP, new name, new staff, new ethics etc. but Salazar will be airbrushed from the history of Nike.
Regarding a potential appeal by Salazar: He could go to the CAS but his chances of getting the decision overturned are slight. You must remember that the judgment was not that of the USADA but rather the AAA, the American Arbitration Association. To quote the AAA: "Arbitration—the out-of-court resolution of a dispute between parties to a contract, decided by an impartial third party (the arbitrator)—is faster and more cost effective than litigation. " If Salazar appeals then he is effectively saying "I don't like the decision of the first impartial third party so I want a decision from a second impartial third party." It's unlikely the CAS will say the AAA screwed up.
Also the AAA judgement was very satisfying for the USADA and Nike. The USADA got him banned for four years. Nike can say their central figure in T&F athletics was only guilty of being over enthusiastic. This allows Parker to say nice things about Alberto while removing him and his signature project from their records.