FORMER St Kilda forward Ahmed Saad views the Australian Sports Anti-Doping Authority's decision to challenge his 18-month ban as career-ending if it is successful.
Saad was told on Wednesday night that ASADA would push to extend his ban to 24 months, leaving the 24-year-old devastated and jeopardising his chances of playing in 2015.
AFLPA slams ASADA decision to appeal Saad ban
The maximum two-year ban would prevent Saad from playing until August 2015, effectively ruling him out of the AFL system for an extra 12 months.
His current suspension would have allowed him to start training in January 2015 and be available for the start of that season.
It is understood Saad's camp has not been told by ASADA on what grounds the anti-doping body wishes to challenge or if any new information has come to light.
The small forward and his management haven't decided if they will fight ASADA when it pushes the AFL Appeals Board to extend his ban.
Saad recently admitted to using banned substance methylsynephrine unwittingly on match days before he returned a positive test earlier this year.
He consumed the sports drink 'Before Battle', produced by Viking Protein, which is banned on match days but not during the week.
It is the same substance to which world champion sprinters Tyson Gay and Asafa Powell, among others, tested positive earlier this year.
Saad said he took the product because it was given to him by a trusted mentor and didn't seek approval for the energy drink.
He spoke recently about taking the long-road into the AFL as a mature-age recruit and his hunger to return in 2015 re-energised.
"It's devastating and it does crush me, but it's only put some fuel in me to come back better," he told radio station SEN.
"I don't think it's an end now, I don't think my career's over.
"I'm going to work hard to make sure I'm back … and hopefully I can get picked up again."
Saad failed a post-match drug test in July and started a provisional suspension in August.
His admission this week on SEN that he had consumed 'Before Battle' on match days in the past could have prompted ASADA's appeal.
St Kilda has been committed to helping the small forward handle his suspension and the club has been open to the possibility of re-drafting him, granted he is currently eligible to play in 2015.
