Jobe Watson was less forthcoming today. All he said he won't comment any further and he's waiting for the ASADA investigation to be made public. Essendon will make an official statement later tonight on the Bombers' website.
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AFL says Essendon captain Jobe Watson will be allowed to play this week despite drugs admission Mark Robinson and Carly Crawford
From: Herald Sun
June 25, 2013 2:11PMTHE world anti-doping body says there are no "ifs or buts" about banned substances.
WADA boss John Fahey was firm in his stance there are no excuses for taking performance-enhancing drugs after Essendon captain Jobe Watson revealed he had taken a substance he believed to be AOD-9604, a peptide banned for use by athletes.
The AFL will not stop Watson playing this week despite his admissions on Fox Footy's On the Couch last night.
Watson's public revelations were already known to the AFL via the joint ASADA-AFL investigation, and the AFL knows how many players have taken the anti-obesity drug.
The AFL maintains its stance the process of the investigation must be completed before ascertaining if any penalty on a player or on the club is required.
The Bombers face West Coast in Perth on Thursday night.
Fahey told the Herald Sun today nothing had changed since the global anti-doping body issued a statement clarifying that AOD-9604 had been banned since January 2011.
"I'm sure ASADA has noted what's been said overnight (by Watson) and I'm sure that will be factored into the current investigation and they'll deal with it appropriately at the appropriate time,'' Fahey said.
Watson spoke briefly to reporters outside his home this afternoon.
"The investigation with the AFL and ASADA is ongoing and I look forward to that investigation and it's findings being made public," he said.
"But I can't comment more on the specifics of the investigation."
Fahey would not discuss Watson's admission to using AOD-9604 specifically, but said anti-doping rules were clear.
"Ninety-five percent of athletes blame someone else,'' he said.
"There's strict liability here, there are no ifs or buts - if it's in your system, you take the consequences.
"The moment it's in your system, you're gone, full stop.''
Mr Fahey said it would be up to an individual sporting body -- in this case the AFL -- to decide whether to strip away Watson's Brownlow medal.
"Medals are taken off athletes all the time. Lance Armstrong lost his bronze medal from the Sydney Olympics it's going on all the time,'' he said.
Fahey said WADA would only become involved in the Essendon doping probe if they thought there had been some sort of injustice.
"If we believe someone did not deal with the case appropriately, we've got a right of appeal on behalf of the sporting body or on behalf of the athlete,'' he said.
Essendon is expected to clarify Watson's comments this afternoon by declaring the club has not conceded banned drugs were administered to players.
The Bombers' stance centres on whether the anti-obesity drug is a banned substance.
The club believed that AOD-9604 was not a prohibited drug, and that they had documentation to prove it.
There is also a possibility, despite years of clinical trials, that the weight-reducing peptide may not work.
Former ASADA boss Richard Ings said today he doubts the Bombers will be cleared by the ASADA investigation but Watson's comments could result in a reduction in the standard two-year ban for using performance enhancing drugs.
"I just can't see how this PED (performance-enhancing drug) use, even if not deliberate, can avoid some sort of individual or team sanction,'' Ings said today.
Ings, who was boss at ASADA for five years, took to Twitter to shed light on the development.
He said Watson's admission could reduce any possible sanction.
"I can't guess the PR strategy but any player(s) being open, honest and cooperative likely to receive lower sanctions,'' Ings tweeted.
"while of course it is better not to have taken PED's, admissions &; coop will see that player best placed to minimise penalties.
"Taking AOD9604 is a doping offence. The penalty can vary based on the players fault and critically the players cooperation.
"reality is if there was no intent by a player and he fully cooperates then 6 month ban is realistic.''
- with Eliza Sewell
http://www.news.com.au/sport/afl/afl-says-essendon-captain-jobe-watson-will-be-allowed-to-play-this-week-despite-drugs-admission/story-fndv8gad-1226669557254
