Full article that Bents has partially posted:
Essendon coach James Hird will fight claim he took substance banned for playersMark Robinson, Jon Ralph From: Herald Sun April 11, 2013 6:56PM
LEAKED text messages allegedly reveal James Hird and Stephen Dank boasting about Essendon's drugs supplement program.
The text messages, shown on Channel 9 tonight, have not been verified, but appear to show a close relationship between the Bombers coach and the sports scientist at the centre of the club's controversial injections program.
Hird has declared he will coach Essendon against Fremantle tomorrow night and the club today stood by him after claims emerged he had been injected by Dank with a substance banned for use by players.
Channel 9 says it has six months' worth of text messages between Hird and Dank, including the following exchanges:
Hird: Good work today mate. The boys were up and about. We have lots to work with.
Dank: IV start next week. And Thymosin and Ubiquinone. We will start to see some real effects.
Essendon coach James Hird and captain Jobe Watson leave Windy Hill today.
Dank: Is (player) in your best 22?
Hird: At his best, yes. Why?
Dank: I am just working out his injections for the year. As an older leaner body I might infuse him more particularly for the recovery. I often IV the older bodies.
Dank: I also know that they (a rival club) are trying everything they can in supplements and recovery modes to win this premiership.
Hird: But not as good as us in that area!!!
Earlier today, AFL chief Andrew Demetriou said Hird would be held to account if it is proven he has compromised his duty of care as Essendon coach.
Demetriou said allegations that Hird was injected with a drug were "very serious".
"I can't think of anything more serious," Mr Demetriou said at a press conference this afternoon.
Demetriou said speculation over whether Hird would stand down should be put off until the ASADA investigation was complete.
"Notwithistanding that, it is very clear that ... if any coach or official puts a duty of care of their players at risk, then they will be held accountable."
"There is no place for them in our game.
"As a parent, and not just as the CEO of the AFL, the issues as reported surrounding the potential use of various substances is something that is disturbing, very disturbing, particularly when we're talking about the health and welfare of young men."
Full article:
http://www.heraldsun.com.au/afl/more-news/essendon-coach-james-hird-will-fight-claim-he-took-substance-banned-for-players/story-e6frf9jf-1226617780563