Australian Crime Commission investigation finds widespread doping

[thrawn]

So the Brownlow medalist in the AFL admits to taking banned drugs - http://www.foxsports.com.au/afl/afl...ong/story-e6frf3e3-1226669049128#.UclYsfnWRuo

Seems as though he is expecting to face no punishment...

Anyhow, looks like he & others at his club are allowed to continue playing despite admitting to taking the substances.

http://www.foxsports.com.au/afl/afl...ion/story-e6frf3e3-1226669610993#.UclYjfnWRuo

 

[heart_attack_man]

So the Brownlow medalist in the AFL admits to taking banned drugs - http://www.foxsports.com.au/afl/afl...ong/story-e6frf3e3-1226669049128#.UclYsfnWRuo

Seems as though he is expecting to face no punishment...

Anyhow, looks like he & others at his club are allowed to continue playing despite admitting to taking the substances.

http://www.foxsports.com.au/afl/afl...ion/story-e6frf3e3-1226669610993#.UclYjfnWRuo

I am a massive fan of AFL (not the Bombers though), but I find the way that the whole of AFL are dealing with this problem just ridiculous. It makes the UCI look like they're professional in contrast.

Everyone just seems to think that the problem will go away. Essendon are in a world of trouble. If you take a look at their statement, you will see how far they have their head up their proverbial...

http://www.essendonfc.com.au/news/2013-06-25/club-statement

 

[Ferminal]

Essendon/AFL were hoping ASADA bottled it. That doesn't seem likely now. I reckon it could absolutely hit the fan if ASADA start handing out sanctions. Anything could happen, including the AFL abandoning the WADA Code.

 

[Dear Wiggo]

No mate. Not defensive.. just correcting some of your factually incorrect statements.

You lumped Essendon in with the NRL. The Essendon player attitute to the investigation couldn't be more opposite to the NRL's players. ASADA didn't need to cancel player interviews with Essendon. Every player that was asked to be interviewed, was interviewed.

The NDA was more about IP than omerta. The players have to sign similar agreements so that they cannot disclose game plans if they are traded.

No player has been suspended, simply because the investigation is still going.

Some players may well be suspended down the track... who knows?

The non-disclosure agreements the players signed are worthless. The players are bound to the club and the AFL's rules. The AFL rules require them to participate in ADADA hearings. On top of that the players are contracted to the Essendon football club and the board (allegedly) had no knowledge of the non-disclosure agreements. That the non-disclosure agreements purpose was to suppress allegedly illegal practices also makes them void.

It's been pointed out you are wrong about the Essendon players. You need to do a bit more research.

Curious how you blokes feel now that the cats are slowly being let out of the bags?

 

[blackcat]

Curious how you blokes feel now that the cats are slowly being let out of the bags?

someone call me?

 

[Nick777]

Curious how you blokes feel now that the cats are slowly being let out of the bags?

My argument wasn't about the guilt or innocence of the players, it was about someone saying that Essendon players rufused to coperate with the investiogation.

I feel exactly the same as I did then, when I said "Some players may well be suspended down the track... who knows?"

 

[observer]

Curious how you blokes feel now that the cats are slowly being let out of the bags?

Personally I'd like to see them all go down. The AFL and its big clubs are full of themselves. The get such a glossy wrap with this stuff in the media, they started to believe it. I'd like to see the club play with zero points for a few years, no draft picks, players serve 2 year bans (I'd accept backdated), big fines.

Hopefully WADA step up to the plate, they have to I guess or they will set a dangerous precedent. Eventually we will see the AFL drop WADA and declare that their own tests are more rigorous than the WADA code and that they don't need that because they are the cleanest sport on earth.

 

[42x16ss]

Personally I'd like to see them all go down. The AFL and its big clubs are full of themselves. The get such a glossy wrap with this stuff in the media, they started to believe it. I'd like to see the club play with zero points for a few years, no draft picks, players serve 2 year bans (I'd accept backdated), big fines.

Please, that will never happen. Watson will get a tap on the wrist, maybe a couple of weeks off, Stephen Dank and a couple of minor coaching staff will get lynched to pretend something is being done and at most Hird will get a big payout under the table - more likely he'll get off after some token pressure from Demetriou.

Hopefully WADA step up to the plate, they have to I guess or they will set a dangerous precedent. Eventually we will see the AFL drop WADA and declare that their own tests are more rigorous than the WADA code and that they don't need that because they are the cleanest sport on earth.

I can see the AFL ditching WADA, that is certainly on the cards. Can't have high profile players disgracing the league now can we

 

[observer]

Please, that will never happen. Watson will get a tap on the wrist, maybe a couple of weeks off, Stephen Dank and a couple of minor coaching staff will get lynched to pretend something is being done and at most Hird will get a big payout under the table - more likely he'll get off after some token pressure from Demetriou.

I can certainly see the AFL ditching WADA though, that is certainly on the cards.

Oh I know it won't happen. This was blind hope only.

 

[Nick777]

The AFL and its big clubs are full of themselves.

This may be true of some individuals, but isn't the case for all.

 

[EatMyStoke]

The AFL desperately needed to try and keep this under wraps until the end of the season, to give them time to figure out their stance. Watson's admission has completely and utterly blown that for them.

Be interesting to see where they go from here. Sanctioning mid-season is not ideal for any party, but it was done by the NRL when Melbourne Storm were caught breaking the salary cap. Obviously a completely different offence, but it shows it can be done.

You think if bans were to come it would have to be a blanket ban on all players, as it sounds as though they part of a medical regime that involved banned substances. This, I guess, would see them withdraw from the competition.

One thing's for sure, I'd guarantee this will not results in a two-year ban for any player. Maybe Dank will get a hard ban, but the players and coach James Hird are way too important for them to go missing for two years.

And cycling is the one with the doping problem.....

 

[42x16ss]

Breaking the salary cap is the most heinous of sporting crimes, as it unbalances the entire league and must be rooted out at all costs. Just ask the Canterbury Bulldogs or Melbourne Storm.

League wide doping on the other hand, well that's a totally different kettle of fish.

 

[thrawn]

I'm guessing they will be handed token bans that last from October - March.

If my memory serves me well, the federal government several years ago mandated that all of the sports sign up to the WADA code or they would no longer receive federal funding. Not sure if the AFL would be willing to go down this path unless the government changed their mind.

 

[42x16ss]

Does the AFL really need it?

Crowds are at an average of well over 30k, they are about to broker a massive new TV deal and the expansion clubs are starting to play some pretty good footy. Their marketing and promotion is excellent and the commentary and coverage is much better than the rugby codes.

Maybe they feel that the league is self sustaining? If the next TV deal is big enough I'd say the AFL will run the risk.

 

[blackcat]

Breaking the salary cap is the most heinous of sporting crimes, as it unbalances the entire league and must be rooted out at all costs. Just ask the Canterbury Bulldogs or Melbourne Storm.

League wide doping on the other hand, well that's a totally different kettle of fish.

all teams manipulate the salary cap to a degree when they are in the top few on the ladder and they have strong blueblood business ties. carlton, collingwood, west coast etc

dont see any difference really

 

[blackcat]

I'm guessing they will be handed token bans that last from October - March.

If my memory serves me well, the federal government several years ago mandated that all of the sports sign up to the WADA code or they would no longer receive federal funding. Not sure if the AFL would be willing to go down this path unless the government changed their mind.

Does the AFL really need it?

Crowds are at an average of well over 30k, they are about to broker a massive new TV deal and the expansion clubs are starting to play some pretty good footy. Their marketing and promotion is excellent and the commentary and coverage is much better than the rugby codes.

Maybe they feel that the league is self sustaining? If the next TV deal is big enough I'd say the AFL will run the risk.

they are only under the ASADA remit, because of the grants from Canberra and the Australian Sport Commission for the NAB auskick, and things like indigenous programs and multicultural programs.

they should withdraw from WADA/ASADA imo. $2 mill per annum, is water off ducks back for the AFL. for starters, you can save that $2 mill, by taking it off Demetriou's 2mill per salary, and get rid of the Boston Consulting commission.

 

[M Sport]

Curious how you blokes feel now that the cats are slowly being let out of the bags?

My comment wasn't about their guilt, any clown could tell after the fist week they were guilty. My comment in it's original form is below. It was calling sittingbison out on fabricated comments. Numerous times in the week prior to his comment Essendon players were on tv and radio commenting and talking about the ASADA interviews and the investigation. That also continued after his comment and my post.

James Hird and Stephen Dank forced all Essendon players to sign non-disclosure agreements or be sacked, so it would appear the players are unable to say anything to anyone.

The non-disclosure agreements the players signed are worthless. The players are bound to the club and the AFL's rules. The AFL rules require them to participate in ADADA hearings. On top of that the players are contracted to the Essendon football club and the board (allegedly) had no knowledge of the non-disclosure agreements. That the non-disclosure agreements purpose was to suppress allegedly illegal practices also makes them void.

And as all players in both codes have been advised by their Players Association lawyers to say nowt, ASADA has had to cancel player interviews..

TIt's been pointed out you are wrong about the Essendon players. You need to do a bit more research.

 

[sittingbison]

Fabricated comments?? Despite me supplying links to various newspaper articles?Semantics!! Now Jobe Watson has publicly admitted to knowingly taking at least one prohibeted substance not fit for human consumption (not even considering the other gear) throughout 2012 but cannot see what he did wrong, but he is still playing and still has the 2012 Brownlow. WTF?

So what precisely did he tell ASADA? If he told them what he told Fox TV they would have no choice but to immediately sanctioned him, ban him for two years and strip him of accolades. Do you really believe the players told ASADA everything they knew? Including who and what they saw while recieving their 40+ injections?

 

[rata de sentina]

Fabricated comments??

I agree with M Sport. A lot of your posts on this topic are just made up with little foundation. So maybe you are quoting some article by an ignoramus or more likely your getting your info from the crazed comments underneath. If you back off on the hyperbole maybe we can have a reasonable discussion on this topic.

For me essendon have supplanted collingwood as my #1 hate team, I love to see them lose. Unfortunately, it's taken a year or too for the physiological changes initiated by these drugs to kick in and now they're reaping the benefits

As I see it the players are basically dimwitted dupes. Can't believe Hird is still in the job, he is morally culpable. Wasn't he a merchant banker before? that might explain his poor grasp of ethical issues. At least their president fell on his sword.

You shouldn't paint all AFL too broadly I think there is quite a lot of pressure behind the scenes from other clubs on this issue. Quite a lot of people are really furious with essendon. The bulldogs president was very straightforward basically saying that irrespective of whether the substances were banned trying to gain a pharmacological advantage was unethical. Which is true and really the essence of the matter IMO.

 

[Nick777]

I agree with M Sport. A lot of your posts on this topic are just made up with little foundation. So maybe you are quoting some article by an ignoramus or more likely your getting your info from the crazed comments underneath. If you back off on the hyperbole maybe we can have a reasonable discussion on this topic.

For me essendon have supplanted collingwood as my #1 hate team, I love to see them lose. Unfortunately, it's taken a year or too for the physiological changes initiated by these drugs to kick in and now they're reaping the benefits

As I see it the players are basically dimwitted dupes. Can't believe Hird is still in the job, he is morally culpable. Wasn't he a merchant banker before? that might explain his poor grasp of ethical issues. At least their president fell on his sword.

You shouldn't paint all AFL too broadly I think there is quite a lot of pressure behind the scenes from other clubs on this issue. Quite a lot of people are really furious with essendon. The bulldogs president was very straightforward basically saying that irrespective of whether the substances were banned trying to gain a pharmacological advantage was unethical. Which is true and really the essence of the matter IMO.

I don't know what it could possibly be, but Essendon are convinced they have a card up their sleeve.

 

[rata de sentina]

I don't know what it could possibly be, but Essendon are convinced they have a card up their sleeve.

Do they? I dunno what they are thinking but they've already a history of wishful thinking. After all they swallowed the bullsh*t spouted by Dank in the first place.

Basically it depends on the level of knowledge of their management/coaches of what was going on. Evidence suggests so far that the Hird embraced it fully, if so then he needs to go.

 

[Nick777]

Do they? I dunno what they are thinking but they've already a history of wishful thinking. After all they swallowed the bullsh*t spouted by Dank in the first place.

Basically it depends on the level of knowledge of their management/coaches of what was going on. Evidence suggests so far that the Hird embraced it fully, if so then he needs to go.

Yeah.. they do.

 

[Alex Simmons/RST]

For me essendon have supplanted collingwood as my #1 hate team

For the non aussies, there perhaps needs to be an analogy to explain how serious this is

 

[One Eyed Aussie]

For me essendon have supplanted collingwood as my #1 hate team, I love to see them lose.

I haven't gotten there yet but the twisted rationalisations of the Essendon hierarchy, their supporters and the AFL defy all logic.

 

[peterst6906]

Article in the British Journal of Sports Medicine by the AIS CMO, linked to the Crime Commission investigation:

http://m.bjsm.bmj.com/content/47/11/661.full