Not just Essendon: issues with supplement use by 12 AFL clubs (Age)

[one-eyed]

Not just Essendon: issues with supplement use by 12 AFL clubs

   The Age
    October 16, 2013 - 1:39PM

An AFL survey has revealed that there have been several issues with most clubs’ use of supplements, as the league seeks to formalise changes to its anti-doping code.

The survey reveals:
- Players from nine AFL clubs have independently sourced supplements.
- 12 clubs conducted programs with medium or high levels of supplements
- These clubs lacked "a single point of accountability"
- The definition of supplements was not satisfactory
- The selection process of support personnel was flawed.

AFL medical officer Dr Peter Harcourt told a group of more than 200 doctors, physiotherapists and sports scientists of the findings during grand final week.

The revelations follow a season dogged by the Essendon supplements scandal that resulted in coach James Hird being suspended for 12 months and a raft of other sanctions. ASADA's investigation into the use of supplements at Essendon is still ongoing.

AFL medical officer Dr Peter Harcourt talked through the survey to doctors, physiotherapists and sports scientists during Grand Final week.

Harcourt was reported on afl.com.au to say the fallout of last season should be used as an "opportunity for the industry".

As revealed in The Age in May, the revised AFL Anti-Doping Code would include a so-called no-needles policy and the AFL’s own prohibited substances list. A ban on the injection of all supplements and vitamins, except in medical emergencies, is expected to be included.

The list of prohibited substances would complement the list enforced by the World Anti-Doping Agency, but would go further, clarifying any grey areas.

"There's the concept of the no-needles policy, the register of personnel, and the stricter approach to substances that are approved," Fairfax Media was told in May.

The AFL has already said it would force clubs to better scrutinise the qualifications and histories of the game’s sports scientists and other medical figures.

Doctors are already subjected to such scrutiny under Australian law.

Dr Harry Unglik has been working with Harcourt on the revised Anti-Doping Code in conjunction with the AFL's legal team.

Read more: http://www.theage.com.au/afl/afl-news/not-just-essendon-issues-with-supplement-use-by-12-afl-clubs-20131016-2vm11.html#ixzz2hr4XMqJq

[Judge Roughneck]

 

How many of those clubs injection wada banned per drugs?

[one-eyed]

AFL statement on supplement use and treatment of players

afl.com.au
October 18, 2013 5:01 PM

The AFL today wrote to the 18 AFL Clubs setting out the new requirements that will regulate supplement use and the treatment of players from the start of the 2014 Toyota AFL Premiership Season, following approval of stricter guidelines by both the AFL Commission and ASADA among a number of increased integrity moves around the game.

AFL General Counsel Andrew Dillon said the AFL had been examining its guiding principles around the AFL Anti Doping Code through the course of the 2013 season, in the wake of the Australian Crime Commission Report into Sport earlier this year.

The AFL Commission had previously stated it would introduce stricter guidelines around the Supplements and Treatments that would be allowed to be used on AFL Players, as well as professionals allowed to conduct any Treatments on AFL Players, and ASADA and the AFL Commission had now each approved of these guidelines, Mr Dillon said.

The AFL had also again examined a number of its key rules around ‘prejudicial conduct’ and the requirements for the registration of all staff and officials around match-day access to venues.

Mr Dillon said the clubs were notified that all uses of supplements and any treatment for players will broadly cover three areas - AFL Prohibited Treatment List, AFL Controlled Treatment List and AFL Prohibited Provider List - to set out what players, clubs and officials may and may not do around the treatment of players and the use of supplements to prepare for AFL Competition.

"The AFL Commission has approved new guidelines to reinforce standards above that of the WADA Code's already high levels of regulation, and ASADA has indicated its support of our moves to further strengthen the integrity provisions within our game," Mr Dillon said.

“The AFL does not want Clubs to pursue a pharmacological advantage over one another or test the limits of the WADA prohibited list.

“The changes to the Code reflect this approach and also the need for greater monitoring by the AFL and accountability of Clubs, officials and players.

"The increasing evidence for our game is that there is a significant ongoing risk to the AFL competition of new and emerging performance enhancement initiatives and it is necessary for the AFL to increase the formal controls around the existing WADA code," he said.

The major changes to the Code are:
new AFL Treatment Rules will govern supplementation and medical treatments for players above and beyond the requirements of the WADA Code;
AFL Treatment Rules establish the concept of Controlled Treatments and Prohibited Treatments;
Controlled Treatments may be used, but must be approved by the Club Doctor and recorded in a register made available to the AFL;
Prohibited treatments may not be used under any circumstances;
The AFL will develop the Controlled Treatments List and an AFL Prohibited Treatments List in close consultation with Clubs, AFLPA and other stakeholders and these lists will be subject of regular review
no substance is to be administered to any player by injection other than by an appropriately qualified medical practitioner and only to the extent it is necessary to treat a legitimate medical condition. No person may possess needles or injectables other than the Club Medical Officer;
Clubs will have obligations with respect to proper storage and inventory of treatments on their premises;
persons must report approaches or invitations to breach the Code or any knowledge of potential breaches.

The AFL has established an industry group to assist it advise the AFL on the ongoing work required in this area, comprising Dr Peter Harcourt (AFL Medical Director), Dr Peter Baquie (Medical Officer, Collingwood FC), Kylie Andrew (Sports Dietitian, Richmond FC), Dr Andrew Potter (Medical Officer, Adelaide Crows FC), Dr Tim Barbour (Medical Officer, St Kilda FC), Robert Aughey (President, AFL Sports Science Association), Michelle Cort (Dietician, Geelong Cats FC), David Buttifant (High Performance Manager, Carlton FC), Dr Andrew Daff (AFLPA Advisory Board), Dr Mark Fisher (Medical Officer, Port Adelaide FC), Dr Anik Shawdon (AFL Talent Pathway Medical Officer).

Mr Dillon said the policy aimed to explicitly distinguish acceptable nutritional substances and treatments from potentially dangerous supplements and performance-enhancing materials.

"The AFL is seeking to ensure there is no ambiguity regarding prohibited supplements and compliant nutritional programs," Mr Dillon said.

"We seek to ensure there is a reduced risk for decison-making error by players, officials or clubs around supplement use and to build on the standard ethical and professional conduct requirements to better manage player safety in AFL clubs," he said.

Separately, as part of its annual examination of the rules, the AFL has re-written the definition of ‘Performing On One’s Merits’ under Rule 29, to read as follows: ‘To Perform on one’s Merits: means at all times to perform honestly and to the best of one’s ability in the pursuit only of legitimate competitive objectives. For the avoidance of doubt “legitimate competitive objective” includes the development of the team or players or management of player fatigue or injuries but does not include improving a Club’s draft position, improving a Club’s position with respect to a potential Player exchange or manipulating a Club’s position on the ladder for the purpose of improving its draw within the Finals Series.

Rule 30, relating to the registration of Club Officials, has been broadened to cover all employees, directors and agents of a Club and provide for more stringent requirements in relation to these matters. The AFL Commission has approved investment in an upgraded technology system to implement the enhanced registration requirements and this will be implemented during the pre-season period.

In order to implement and enforce the changes to the Code and AFL Rules outlined, Mr Dillon said the AFL has restructured and significantly bolstered its Competition Integrity department, after approval from the AFL Commission. Three further staff will soon be added, comprising two investigators and one administrative staffer. The bolstered Competition Integrity department has been removed from Football Operations and now sits within the broader Legal, Integrity and Compliance area alongside the AFL legal department.

http://www.afl.com.au/news/2013-10-18/afl-statement-on-supplement-use-and-treatment-of-players