Sport shouldn't just represent people who are lily-white, sweet-natured, and who look good on - a cereal box

Melbourne barrister Paul Hayes thinks WADA might be transforming itself into "Big Brother" with a little too much enthusiasm. The following is excerpted from an interview which appeared in the Australian press.

''Sport shouldn't just represent people who are lily-white, sweet-natured, and who look good on … a cereal box.

''Everyone is entitled to play sport and often sport is a path to redemption for people who have made poor life choices. What we don't like in sport is cheats. But the current WADA code goes beyond protecting the integrity of sport from those seeking an unfair advantage.

''Someone who out of season and out of competition might have to answer a case in criminal law certainly should not be dealt with by WADA unless the conduct is in some way geared towards cheating. What Stokes is alleged to have done has nothing to do with his preparation to play football or had any effect of enhancing his performance and he should not be subjected to the WADA code in these circumstances.

''He should be dealt with by the courts and the courts alone.''