It's hard at times to focus on the fairness of the anti-doping adjudication process. After all the lame excuses, rationalizations and downright dishonesty we've heard from athletes who cheated, it's tempting to say they're getting the system they deserve no matter what inequities may exist.

That's a wrong-headed way to look at things, however. The upcoming Court of Arbitration for Sport ruling on the International Olympic Committee's Rule 45 is a case in point. If it's struck down, fairness will be the winner -- and isn't fairness supposed to be the bedrock ethic of competition?

CAS is expected to issue a decision on or before Sept. 30 in what is commonly referred to as "the LaShawn Merritt case," although that label is inaccurate. The track star is simply the most prominent U.S. athlete affected by the rule, which bars any athlete who receives a doping sanction of six months or more from competing in the next Olympic Games.