Is a Royal Commission imminent?

[screech]

Now that this whole episode has been butchered by ASADA and dismissed by the AFL tribunal, I get the feeling this may head in a more extreme direction.

By all reports, the investigations have been impacted by Dank refusing to speak. Could the Victorian or Commonwealth government establish a Royal Commission.

The AFL and ASADA's handling of this is likely to impact the ability to win hosting rights to future major sporting events (particularly a FIFA World Cup or another Olympic Games), I cannot see the Australian Government standing by and ignoring it.

 

[Demonalke]

Nah - I don't see it happening.

 

[screech]

Nah

Ok then

 

[compact72]

Now that this whole episode has been butchered by ASADA and dismissed by the AFL tribunal, I get the feeling this may head in a more extreme direction.

By all reports, the investigations have been impacted by Dank refusing to speak. Could the Victorian or Commonwealth government establish a Royal Commission.

The AFL and ASADA's handling of this is likely to impact the ability to win hosting rights to future major sporting events (particularly a FIFA World Cup or another Olympic Games), I cannot see the Australian Government standing by and ignoring it.

Don't expect a royal commission over this.

Waste of money. ASADA haven't corrupted the process or done anything to corruption.

All that is needed is how to improve processes. However, we shouldn't even be in this position.

 

[Oneiros]

You think a failed drug investigation is going to make a FIFA event less likely?

 

[Masto]

The whole thing stinks to high heaven and has left a massive stain on the AFL. Not just Essendon's actions but the actions of the AFL commission and the AFL players association are extremely questionable to say the least. But I can't see either side of politics having an appetite for a royal commission - its far too dangerous and anything could really come out. Perhaps some things are best left buried. The real losers remain the Essendon players and their future health.

 

[Grey Smith Bar]

Can't see a Royal Commission but maybe a Senate enquiry - if for no other reason a government agency has spent a boatload of taxpayers cash and tarnished it's image in the process.

 

[Stan_Darsh72]

Royal Commission into drugs in the AFL could happen.

Lets face it AFL has serious issues

 

[pablo668]

I wish it would.

 

[telsor]

Into this specifically, no.

Into the broader issues of Drugs/Integrity in sport....Well, they've investigated matters with less public interests, and it would be a distraction the government of the day would be unlikely to be blamed for, so maybe, but I suspect it's unlikely.

 

[imperial_oz]

A Royal Commission would be very interesting as it would strip some of the main players of this saga of all of their protections. Dank, Charter , Alavi as well as Hird, Robinson, Thompson, Reid and the AFL and ASADA investigators would all be forced to testify. God only knows what would come out.

Imagine the inside knowledge that may come from Dank, Alavi, Charter, Demetriou....potentially bombshell after bombshell.

But this is never going to happen. There is no political will and never has been any political will to find truth or support principles. Unless there are political gains to made there is never the will to spend the money. No gains means care factor zero.

Even if you could demonstrate huge gains in sporting ethics, there is nothing to attract a politician. Forget principles as justification as only a small percentage of the population has them.

Fun to think about and then reality hits

 

[The_Wookie]

Royal Commission into drugs in the AFL could happen.

Lets face it AFL has serious issues

The AFL is hardly alone.

 

[Lavender Bushranger]

What's there to know?

Reading the snippets from the tribunal, they clearly took TB4.

Due to the nature of the case and the lack of power ASADA has, they couldn't get quite enough evidence to ping them.

Not much else to it really.

 

[the conch]

Don't expect a royal commission over this.

Waste of money. ASADA haven't corrupted the process or done anything to corruption.

All that is needed is how to improve processes. However, we shouldn't even be in this position.

A royal commission would be justified because :
- of the importance of sport in Australia and AFL in Australian society. Public interest.
- the investigation has foundered on the inability of ASADA to get testimony from key players and therefore get to the truth of what really happened and what was injected
- of the unknown lifelong health impact on the players
- an oversight is needed on role of parties involved including politicians, legislators, investigative bodies.
- to negate the obvious corrupting influence of hush money
- from this case alone Australian sport is internationally tarnished and out of step with effective process and regulation

 

[screech]

A royal commission would be justified because :
- of the importance of sport in Australia and AFL in Australian society. Public interest.
- the investigation has foundered on the inability of ASADA to get testimony from key players and therefore get to the truth of what really happened and what was injected
- of the unknown lifelong health impact on the players
- an oversight is needed on role of parties involved including politicians, legislators, investigative bodies.
- to negate the obvious corrupting influence of hush money
- from this case alone Australian sport is internationally tarnished and out of step with effective process and regulation

I would not expect the terms of reference to be limited to just the AFL. Would not be surprised if the Australian government see an opportunity in being perceived as proactive and progressive ahead of the next FIFA or IOC bid.

This whole saga just raises too many questions to be allowed to just simmer in the background. Cannot see any major sporting federation coming anywhere near us in the short to medium term.

 

[Baltimore Jack]

Umm...I'm going with WTF

 

[Ned_Flanders]

Why would any Poli want this?

 

[screech]

Why would any Poli want this?

To deflect from other unpopular policies

 

[Ned_Flanders]

This would attack something voters like though

To divert, you go after something they hate or fear - boat people terrorists invading, evil Chinese buying good Australians out of their homes, evil Chinese selling poison to our kiddies in snack foods

 

[the_interloper]

Royal commissions are expensive and time consuming, i don't see something like this requiring such an investigation.

 

[damochandler]

no i doubt it. senate inquiry most likely.

the 2 royal commissions that are going on now. one really is politically motivated and the other is to find out why such disgraceful acts and heinous acts went on in the church for so long and why they were covered up

would it be worthy it compared to those 2

 

[Oneiros]

This would attack something voters like though

To divert, you go after something they hate or fear - boat people terrorists invading, evil Chinese buying good Australians out of their homes, evil Chinese selling poison to our kiddies in snack foods

The way that Australian politics seems to see The Hollowmen as a guidebook rather than a parody...

 

[screech]

This would attack something voters like though

To divert, you go after something they hate or fear - boat people terrorists invading, evil Chinese buying good Australians out of their homes, evil Chinese selling poison to our kiddies in snack foods

Voters like drugs in sport?

 

[Baldur]

Royal Commissions are tools of government, that is the party in power. Cannot see what any one party would have to gain.

 

[Sydney Bloods]

Can't see a Royal Commission but maybe a Senate enquiry - if for no other reason a government agency has spent a boatload of taxpayers cash and tarnished it's image in the process.

that's reserved for important matters like not enough Victorian teams making finals.