The Pro Appeal Committee has carefully considered your letter of appeal dated June 11, 2007. The findings and decision of this Committee are as follows:
1. After a lengthy investigation, a hearing, and a careful review of the facts in this case, the Pro League suspended you for one-year for violations of the Pro Rules and the Pro Code of Ethics as detailed in its May 29, 2007 letter.
2. The Pro Appeal Committee finds that your conduct is the relevant issue in this case. In your letter of appeal, you raise the issue of disclosure of event documents; however, we find that this issue is not relevant to your conduct and, in any event, cannot be used to excuse your inappropriate and unprofessional behavior at the 2006 Doha Asian Games and your failure to abide by the Pro Rules and Pro Code of Ethics.
3. The Pro Appeal Committee is in agreement with the findings of the Pro Disciplinary Committee formed to investigate your conduct; specifically, that you were dissatisfied with the placings of two competitors you were coaching; that you ignored proper protocol and, via the media, publicly denounced the judging panel’s decisions; that you failed to exercise your right of protest in a courteous, respectful manner following the proper chain of command and, instead, publicly attacked two IFBB officials; and that your conduct was prejudicial in that it reflected negatively on the IFBB, the Pro League and the sport of bodybuilding.
4. The Pro Appeal Committee takes the position that your conduct at the Games can best be described in your own words, addressed to the Pro League on January 24, 2007,
"Unfortunately, in this case, I let my emotions get the better of me. In hindsight, I now realize that my actions were inappropriate and that I should have instead followed IFBB protocol."
5. The Pro Appeal Committee finds that your suspension is a consequence of your conduct and therefore, unanimously rejects your appeal and upholds the one-year suspension imposed on you by the Pro League.
6. You have the right to a final appeal directly to the President of the Pro League. This appeal must be in writing; must be submitted by you; and must be received by the President within ten days of the date of this letter failing which the right of final appeal is lost.
7. This report is signed below by the Secretary of the Pro Appeal Committee on behalf of, and with the approval of, all members of said Committee.
Tony Blinn
Secretary
Pro Appeal Committee
for
Sandy Ranalli
Member
Pro Appeal Committee
Rob Wilkins
Member
Pro Appeal Committee
Jim Lorimer
Member
Pro Appeal Committee
