Watson and 33 other players had their doping ban appeals thrown out by a Swiss court following the AFL club's supplements saga.

Watson, who claimed the 2012 Brownlow, said he gave the medal back out of respect for those who came before him.

“It is with mixed emotions that I have decided to hand back my 2012 Brownlow Medal. It is now up to the AFL Commission at their meeting on Tuesday to make a decision as to what they want to do with it," Watson said in a statement.

“The basic principle behind this prestigious award is to honour the fairest and best. If there is aquestion in peoples minds as to whether the 2012 award is tainted, the fairest and best thing to do is to give it back and honour the history that has gone before me.

"I want to make it clear that today’s decision does not in anyway reflect a change in my personal opinion regarding the merits of the CAS finding, but rather reflects my desire to put to a close further speculation about what should be done with the 2012 Brownlow Medal.

One of the most frustrating elements of this entire process has been my belief that many of the decisions in this matter have been based on perception rather than evidence. I would like to share my thoughts with the AFL Commission, however that needs to be at a time and in a forum that is right for me.”

Watson will play for the Bombers in 2017 after a 12-month ban, most of which he spent travelling the world.