Essendon face AFL probe/Players found Guilty by CAS

[dwaino]

Love it. ASADA couldn't get him since he no longer works for any Australian sporting organisation, so in Al Capone style getting him on anything they can.

[WilliamPowell]

me too. they dont have a hope in my opinion. Asada have had their evidence and case checked by qcs and I think a former federal court judge. essendon are screwed. the best part will come when players start suing them for wrecking their careers and reputations and future earnings potential from loss of future sponsorship arrangements media and business opportunities. essendon are up the creek IMHO.

Yep, the govt appointed a former Federal Court judge to review the evidence collected in the case and he recommended that show cause notices should be issued

I personally think the players should look at the 6 month option

But they wont, by going to court the EFC are actually looking more guilty than they already do.

Trying to get everything thrown out on a technicality. after they self reported, had Ziggy do an internal investigation, agreeing to the co-operative with the joint investgiation and now that things haven't goen the way they thought they would they go to court... MORONS

[Judge Roughneck]

II would pay to watch a judge reaction:

Your honour -

We do not not know what drugs we injected

But we are one hundred percent sure that none of the injected PED drugs - were not in fact on the WADA banned list

Henceforth you shall see us as not guilty

Hope it goes to court   

me too. they dont have a hope in my opinion. Asada have had their evidence and case checked by qcs and I think a former federal court judge. essendon are screwed. the best part will come when players start suing them for wrecking their careers and reputations and future earnings potential from loss of future sponsorship arrangements media and business opportunities. essendon are up the creek IMHO.

Edit: stick to commenting on the facts as reported not making accusations

[Judge Roughneck]

Afl.com

http://www.afl.com.au/news/2014-06-16/asada-delay-frustrates-afl

ESSENDON coach Mark Thompson says he doesn't know if some of his players will plead guilty to doping offences in order to receive sentence reductions.

Australian Sports Anti-Doping Authority's investigation chief executive Ben McDevitt has stated if Essendon AFL players are prepared to make admissions, they can potentially reduce any anti-doping bans from two years to six months.

Thompson told AFL 360 his players faced one of the most critical moments in their lives.

"I'm not sure," Thompson said on Monday night.

"Some people might think maybe that's the way out. Just get it over and done with.

"Some might just think ‘no I don't want to talk about any guilt at all, I wasn't guilty, I want to be found not guilty, I didn't cheat'."

Earlier on Monday, the AFL said the saga had dragged on too long but conceded there is a possibility it could continue into next year.
 
The 17-month long investigation reached a flashpoint last week when ASADA issued 34 current and past Essendon players with show-cause notices pertaining to the alleged use of banned substances.
 
Essendon chairman Paul Little has already declared his club will fight the notices, filing an application in the Federal Court against ASADA, alleging its joint investigation with the AFL is unlawful and in breach of the ASADA act.
 
AFL chief executive Gillon McLachlan acknowledged ASADA's process could run into 2015.
 
"I hope not. I think it's certainly a risk that everyone would like to avoid. But I think it's a possibility," he said.
 
AFL Commission chairman Mike Fitzpatrick said the League understood the frustrations of those looking for an end point.
 
"This process has gone on too long. I'm extremely disappointed that the players are in this position," Fitzpatrick said on Monday.
 
"The interim report into the Essendon supplement program in 2012 outlined very serious breaches of our rules and it was clear that the program subjected our players to unacceptable risks and one of those risks is playing out now."

Emotional Thompson backs Essendon's legal fight

Fitzpatrick said the League would not give ongoing commentary about the Bombers' legal action but the Commission supported the players' right to explore such options.
 
"The AFL Commission believes the players must be given the space and support to pursue their legal rights," Fitzpatrick said.
 
"We support the role of the AFLPA in offering independent legal counsel for the players and we will continue to be in contact with the (AFL) Players' Association where appropriate.
 
"We understand the frustration of our supporters and the industry that this issue is still going.
 
"We acknowledge that ASADA has a job to do and we'll let that process run its course."
 
When asked whether the AFL had any plans in place to deal with a circumstance where players were banned under the ASADA code, McLachlan replied: "We think we're well prepared for where we are now and feel very confident that all scenarios are covered."
 
Twitter: @AFL_BenGuthrie

Edit: entire link next time!

[froars]

The Drum can confirm that a legal request for prosecution of 11 other AFL clubs has been submitted to the Victorian WorkCover Authority today. Let’s see how quickly the clubs "disenchanted" with Essendon call in the lawyers, writes Tracey Holmes.

According to today's Age, "AFL club presidents have expressed serious disenchantment with Essendon and its chairman Paul Little" because they've had the hide to challenge a flawed investigation into the use of peptides through a court of law.

How dare they.

Today's disenchantment, even rage, is about to scale heights so far not seen.

The Drum can confirm that a legal request for prosecution of 11 other AFL clubs has been submitted to the Victorian WorkCover Authority today.

The landscape has altered irrevocably. Let's see how quickly those 11 other clubs, maybe more, call in the lawyers.

The premise of the notice served is based on an AFL story published on its own website last October. It states that of the "at least 12 clubs" that conducted sports supplements programs "with medium or high levels of supplement use", each of them "lacked a single point of accountability".

That single point of accountability cost the Essendon club a $2 million fine, a twelve-month suspension for its coach and the embarrassment of being kicked out of the finals.

It cost the other 11 clubs nothing. Till now.

Where was the ASADA/AFL joint investigation into those clubs? Where was the outrage that had Essendon appearing in headlines on front and back pages, on national current affairs programs and investigative reports? Where were the cries of concern for the health and safety of these young men at the other clubs?

As published on The Drum late last year, 12 clubs is 66 per cent of the AFL competition - we are talking the norm here, not the anomaly.

The pressure is now on the Victorian WorkCover Authority to investigate as an independent body.

It can ask the AFL to provide the results of their "survey" that came up with these alarming results. It can ascertain which clubs they were and no doubt which athletes were put through a "pharmacologically experimental environment" that is a constantly regurgitated, alarmist line trotted out in the one-sided reporting of the saga.

Let's finally give that description some perspective.

Dr Ziggy Switkowski was brought in by the Essendon Football Club to review "governance processes" after it became clear the focus of the joint ASADA/AFL investigation rested squarely on this one AFL club.

At no time was Dr Switkowski's report about the supplement program, since that would have interfered with the already ongoing ASADA/AFL investigation.

As Dr Switkowski admitted, "performance enhancing and image enhancing drugs, their delivery processes, and legitimacy for elite sportspeople, fall well outside my expertise".

Anyone without experience or expertise in elite sports environments would see them as rather confronting, even shocking. Elite athletes, particularly footballers, are far more familiar with the environment.

Dr Switkowski must shudder every time he hears his report referred to and the only reference is to an area he didn't investigate and admits to having no knowledge of.

Rival clubs hoping to bring forward a crisis meeting in order to bring closure to the drugs saga might find the topic of discussion somewhat changed after today's developments.

Port Adelaide's David Koch, who sits at the top of the ladder-leading club, told The Age, "I want (the world) to see we are absolutely true to our values which supposedly define us."

Hopefully those values include justice, transparency and honesty.

If WorkCover Victoria, and potentially similar organisations in other states, come knocking at club doors, it will be interesting to see which values are adhered to.

Tracey Holmes has focussed her career in journalism on sport and its wider implications. View her full profile here.
http://mobile.abc.net.au/news/2014-06-17/holmes-turning-up-the-heat-on-the-afl/5529760

[froars]

The heat is on

http://www.heraldsun.com.au/news/victoria/workcover-asked-to-investigate-supplements-programs-at-all-victorian-afl-clubs-after-essendon-scandal/story-fni0fit3-1226957776752

THE Victorian WorkCover Authority has been asked to investigate the supplement programs at all Victorian AFL clubs over claims that players’ health has been put at risk.

Documents sent to the workplace authority accuse the clubs of failing to protect players’ welfare. The documents list Carlton, Collingwood, Geelong, Hawthorn, Melbourne, North Melbourne, Richmond, St Kilda and the Western Bulldogs.

The only other Victorian club, Essendon, was already under investigation by WorkCover.

Kate Fawcett, a spokeswoman for the authority, confirmed the request was being considered.

“The Victorian WorkCover Authority can confirm it has received a request under section 131 of the Occupational Health and Safety Act 2004 to conduct an investigation into alleged risks to health and safety involving nine AFL clubs,” she said.

“The Victorian WorkCover Authority is currently reviewing this request.”

WorkCover must investigate requests made in accordance with section 131 of the Occupational Health and Safety Act.

The documents, published by the ABC, state the claim was made after the AFL admitted last year it had concerns about supplements programs at 12 league clubs.

“The conduct of supplements programs under the AFL regulations as they applied during the 2013 and prior seasons, potentially exposed players to risks to health and safety,” the documents state.

“Those risks arose and/or were exacerbated by inadequate record-keeping, sourcing, staffing, and central accountability and oversight.

“The matters ... implicate potentially all of the AFL Clubs in the League. These including all of the Victorian AFL Clubs, each of which is an employer subject to the Act.”

Comment was being sought from the AFL.

[WilliamPowell]

It didn't have to be this way for Essendon and James Hird
Date June 17, 2014 - 6:04PM
Nick Mckenzie and Richard Baker

Can you imagine if James Hird and others at Essendon had taken a different approach when the peptide scandal erupted in early 2013?

What if Hird and other senior staff had not only made it clear that Dank had conned them into believing that his ‘sports science’ regime was safe and sound? What if the coach and his team had gone on to take full responsibility for failing to apply the due diligence needed when exposing players to a new drug regime?

In conceding fault, Hird, doctor Bruce Reid and others could still have pointed to the efforts they had made to reign Dank in. But, critically, they would also acknowledge that they ultimately failed to do enough and, despite their efforts, players were still injected with possibly banned (as ASADA claims) or unsafe drugs.

Now, stay with us for a few more moments. What if this public admission by Hird included comments that his failure to not push harder to protect his players should serve as a wake up call for the rest of the AFL to pay extremely close attention to everything that goes into their players, as well as those doing the injecting.

Had Hird made such concessions early on, accompanied by an appropriate punishment accepted with grace and genuine contrition, it is a fair bet that his once stunning reputation would still be intact.

And, more importantly, Hird would have helped build the ‘no fault’ case that his players could rely on if ASADA came knocking.

If senior club officials had admitted to failing to protect players, how could it be argued that the players were responsible?

If you are open to the idea that Hird and others could, or should, have gone down this path at the earliest possible juncture, it is not unreasonable to also believe that this may have reduced the amount of time that players have been left to linger under a doping cloud.

If the club had reached an earlier agreement with the AFL to not play in the 2013 finals, players could have immediately fronted ASADA and accepted six-month bans (reduced through the no fault and co-operation provisions).  And the 2014 season may not have been the train wreck for the Bombers that it is now.

Of course, Hird and the club have taken a different path, one of legal challenges and of blaming others, including the AFL and ASADA.

It is certainly Hird and the club’s right to stand up and fight what they say is an unfair process and plenty in the media have cheered them on. But the cost of doing so has been immense. And now it is being born by the players themselves, who are those with arguably the least amount to answer for. Given that is the case, it is hard not to wonder what could have been if different decisions had been made by the senior clubs officials who are meant to put the players interests before their own.

Read more: http://www.smh.com.au/sport/it-didnt-have-to-be-this-way-for-essendon-and-james-hird-20140617-zsawi.html#ixzz34skfCGgs

[Judge Roughneck]

AFLPA

EFC players won't take deals

 

[Judge Roughneck]

an Prendergast is a fog

"There is nothing to say the players will receive penalty

What a load poo

[tony_montana]

No sympathy when they cop their full whack then

[julzqld]

ESSENDON chairman Paul Little says the club asked ASADA to hold off on issuing its players with show-cause notices over doping until after Sunday's clash with Melbourne.

The request was to allow the Bombers to properly prepare for the game.

Little also blasted the anti-doping body for irresponsibly using the media "by intimidating and attempting to negotiate with our players".

Read more at: http://www.afl.com.au/news/2014-06-15/dons-wanted-asada-delay

 

Why not postpone the season

[DCrane]

EFC says that this has been dragging on too long, yet have just lodged a case against ASADA in the Fed Court that could take 2 years to fight.
EFC says it has the best interests of the players at heart, yet is willing to roll the dice and risk 2 years instead of the 6 mths that appears to be on the table at the moment.
EFC is adamant that James Hird, who instigated the supplements program, will be coach of the club next year.
Essendon are an embarrassment to the AFL and fair minded football fans.
They should be thrown out of the comp and replaced by a Tassie All Star team until they get their house in order ie full admin and coaching cleanout.

[Judge Roughneck]

EFC says that this has beragging on too long, yet have just lodged a case against ASADA in the Fed Court that could take 2 years to fight.
EFC says it has the best interests of the players at heart, yet is willing to roll the dice and risk 2 years instead of the 6 mths that appears to be on the table at the moment.
EFC is adamant that James Hird, who instigated the supplements program, will be coach of the club next year.
Essendon are an embarrassment to the AFL and fair minded football fans.
They should be thrown out of the comp and replaced by a Tassie All Star team until they get their house in order ie full admin and coaching cleanout.

If you have a court case that goes for 5 years -

Almost everyone will be retired by the time they get two year bans.

More so - lawyers, pr people etc. Will be paided via afl equalisation ie.Richmond members anyway.

From the drug cheating perspective - it is the best course of action. When you have morons like Ian Prendergast sprouting verbal poo like a sprinkler, why would you not choose this course of unethical action?

[one-eyed]

ASADA has granted an extension in the time given to 34 current and former Essendon players to respond to show-cause notices.

The anti-doping authority has told players, who originally were given 10 days in which to respond, they now have until July 11.

http://www.afl.com.au/news/2014-06-19/asada-grants-extension

[one-eyed]

http://www.3aw.com.au/blogs/breaking-news-blog/hoons-rip-up-bombers-turf/20140620-3aibm.html