Certified Legendary Thread 34 Essendon* Players suspended for doping violations - No opposition fans. Check OP for thread rules

[RoK]

Just watched last night's Footy Classified , big thanks to The_Wookie for uploading

Thought Bomber was barely coherent a couple of times and a little dazed , maybe had a few steadying ales before the interview. Hope he did better in his ASADA interview as he was all over the shop.

I thought he was real, raw confused and hurt. His name has been run the thru the shit because someone else wanted to do the wrong thing. If he threw the club ander the bus he would have walked away scott free. He stood up and took his hits.

 

[Gavstar]

Trying to figure out the financial wet lettuce leaf

EFC $2M fine payable over 3 years for club with $65M turnover in 2012 and $12M net profit before adjustment.

CFC $0.93M ($1.25M today) fine vs 2002 Turnover? With $1.5M debt.

 

[Gavstar]

I thought he was real, raw confused and hurt. His name has been run the thru the shit because someone else wanted to do the wrong thing. If he threw the club ander the bus he would have walked away scott free. He stood up and took his hits.

He was clear he was never warned about the peptide program unlike Hird.

 

[etsal1]

Texts reveal Dank discussed horse drug

The Herald Sun understands there is a strong possibility doping charges could be brought against players and even officials.

What a shame.

 

[Silvagnis]

Why did Dank use AOD on the Essendon players?

However, the patent application states that they have shown in their trials that while AOD-9604 has a significant effect on repair of soft tissues such as cartilage and tendon, it also surprisingly retains an anabolic effect on muscle, without the negative side effects of HGH use.

The AOD-9604 patent application also states that the substance is suitable for ''treating a condition in which growth hormone administration is helpful'' and for ''promoting or improving muscle, ligament or tendon mass, repair, form or function''.

If 38 Essendon players were administered the drug once a week, one wonders whether its intended use was just to treat injuries. It is unknown when the anabolic property was discovered, and whether Dank or anyone at Essendon was aware of this.

There are a number of conclusions that can be drawn from the patent application. The first is that AOD-9604 is a drug that now appears to fall under both the S0 and S2 categories.

Two things have saved the individual Essendon players from being charged with taking a banned drug. One is the alleged lack of detailed record keeping, which makes it impossible to know which players took which drugs.

Dr Peter Brukner OAM is a sports physician and media commentator.

Why did Dank use AOD on the Essendon players?

AFL’s darkest day is just a whitewash

But the point remains: despite the seeming severity of being kicked out of the finals, fined $2million and their coach and key officials suspended, the result is useful for all of Essendon, James Hird and the AFL. Because although the AFL is seen to have acted strongly, all the penalties have only been on issues of ''governance'' and bringing the game into disrepute. Meanwhile, the true horror of the whole thing – which is using supplements in an effort to CHEAT your way to an AFL grand final win – never truly sees the light.

Peter FitzSimons

AFL’s darkest day is just a whitewash

Hird still king, but in exile

The fact remains that Hird oversaw the most reckless and potentially dangerous drugs program undertaken at an AFL club. Players still are in the dark about substances injected into their bodies and still face suspensions from the anti-doping authorities.

In agreeing to have him back on a two-year deal reportedly going to be worth at least $800,000 a year plus incentives would suggest the club is prepared to place its team on hold for the beloved senior coach.

Caroline Wilson

Hird still king, but in exile

The cheats got off lightly.

 

[thylacine60]

Been said before but come on one more time won't hurt

the.gift.that.keeps.on.giving.

 

[Silvagnis]

I thought he was real, raw confused and hurt. His name has been run the thru the shit because someone else wanted to do the wrong thing. If he threw the club ander the bus he would have walked away scott free. He stood up and took his hits.

IIRC, Essendon headhunted Dean Robinson on advice from Bomber Thompson. Robinson brought in Dank. Whether it was unintentional, he's partly responsible for this mess. AFL didn't fine Thompson for shits and giggles. He's come out of this very poorly.

Carlton had suspicions about Essendon, yet we're supposed to believe that Bomber had no idea what was going on.

Thompson is so Essendon.

 

[GoBlues!]

IIRC, Essendon headhunted Dean Robinson on advice from Bomber Thompson. Robinson brought in Dank. Whether it was unintentional, he's partly responsible for this mess. AFL didn't fine Thompson for shits and giggles. He's come out of this very poorly.

I think Thompson got off lightly with just a $30,000 fine. Coaches almost get fined as much for criticising umpires.

But then again I guess the AFL figured suspending Thompson would make it harder for Essendon to find an interim coach while Hird is on his 12 month break.

 

[thylacine60]

"Hey, I can see your place from here, Pauly".

 

[thylacine60]

http://www.theage.com.au/afl/afl-news/advice-for-little-start-with-a-clean-slate-20130828-2sqxb.html

 

[Thrawn]

That picture in that article is scary! Almost screamed in horror. Yikes!

 

[thylacine60]

Just a touch Fritz Lang...

 

[thylacine60]

 

[Malifice]

The cheats got off lightly.

Wait until ASADA and WADA finish with them.

There is no way in hell that ASADA and WADA will sit back and allow systemic doping of an entire sporting team to be swept under the carpet. Literally no way.

From my reading of the AFL charge sheet (and bear in mind this contains only a fraction of the evidence gathered so far) ASADAs case is already proven. They're simply waiting for the AFL and NRL finals to conclude before forwarding names to the ADRV panel for infractions.

The reason they're waiting? Its likely a negotiated settlement in response to AFL assistance in the investigation just like the 'timely' release of the Interim report a few weeks before the finals and right in time for a commission meeting. They also want to use their new powers to have a little chat to old Danky boy, and don't want to scare Cronulla into silence by smashing the Dons too early.

Conclude the investigation, chase up every loose end, and then 'bang'.

I'm fully expecting 38 infraction notices to be handed out, each one triggering penalties of 6 months to 2 years out of the game. The club will then face a class action from the AFLPA seeking compensation to the value of around ten million dollars. Add in loss of revenue, sponsorship, members and players leaving in droves and the inability to field a side for up to two years.

I'd go so far as to stake my legal reputation infraction notices will be handed out.

Once those infractions are handed out, the *cheats wont exist as a club anymore.

 

[OldBlueFan]

I'd go so far as to stake my legal reputation infraction notices will be handed out.

Once those infractions are handed out, the *cheats wont exist as a club anymore.

I wish I shared your confidence Mal.

Clearly there is enough evidence, but the amount of weasel-words being used in relation to this debacle worries me. "Uncertain status" about AOD, "no records available" about which players/what drugs, "no clear evidence" about individual players ... etc etc.

I reckon the media are preparing the ground for a whitewash.

 

[kingkingston]

Stephen Dank discussed giving Essendon players a "new polymer" tested on American racehorses
On August 5 last year, Mr Dank and the pharmacist appear to discuss mixing Thymosin, the anti-obesity drug AOD9604 and an unnamed cell-repair agent, and giving it to players.
August 5, 2012
Dank: I need some help with this football team.
Pharmacist: Don't worry buddy. We can start them on the cocktails next week. When is there (sic) next game?
Dank: Next Sunday against North Melbourne.
Pharmacist: How are the soft tissue injuries looking?
Dank: S--. 2 more.
Dank: I know the mechanism.
Dank: Can the AOD and the Thymosin be mixed?
Pharmacist: I can test it out. Also, is there a problem with giving them an anaesthetic in the muscle? I have discovered a new polymer which will provide a slow release system while repairing damaged cell walls. Intramuscular injection.
Dank: No problems with that all.
Dank: Is it efficacious?
Pharmacist: Very much so. It's amazing and being used in the USA for elite horse racing. I can even put the thymosin and AOD in it.
Dank: Perfect let's get going.
Dank: Have we tried it on anyone yet?
Pharmacist: Few dental injections for periodontal sockets but not for sporting.
Dank: Did they go all right with efficacy?
Pharmacist: Yep it did the job. Amazing repair properties
Dank: Let us test a couple of players.
Pharmacist: Sounds good buddy. Speak soon.
http://www.heraldsun.com...y-fni5f6kv-1226706049266

 

[Malifice]

I wish I shared your confidence Mal.

Clearly there is enough evidence, but the amount of weasel-words being used in relation to this debacle worries me. "Uncertain status" about AOD, "no records available" about which players/what drugs, "no clear evidence" about individual players ... etc etc.

None of those weasel words has come from ASADA or WADA who have both expressly stated that AOD is a prohibited substance, and was a prohibited substance when the Bombers were taking it.

And they're the only ones that matter here.

As a consequence there is no way a player who is found to have taken the shit wont be infracted by ASADA (and WADA if the AFL try and block it).

Its not a question of 'if' players are infracted - its a question of 'when' and 'how many'.

Those players might be able to raise a defence before the CAS but its highly doubtful that the defences I have seen (compounding chemist, S2 only applies not S0, and ASADA told us it was OK) will hold any water before the CAS.

Players only hope is to get the 2 years reduced to 6 months via the 'no significant fault or negligence' clause.

Also; dont forget the Thymoisin Beta 4. The circumstantial evidence that was taken as well is overwhelming.

Im all over the laws on this one mate, and the Bombers are utterly ****ed.

The supporters dont realise it yet; but barring AFL propping them up for the next decade, theyre goneski.

 

[Wickzki]

http://www.heraldsun.com.au/sport/a...-across-25-weeks/story-fni5f22o-1226706054751

The AFL formalised a weighting formula that breaks clubs into three brackets - positions 1-6, 7-12, 13-18 - when considering return games.
Clubs in the top bracket have two or three double-meetings with top-six sides and only one or two with bottom-six sides.
Clubs ranked 7-12 have one or two double meetings with top-six sides, while those ranked 13-18 have no more than one meeting with top-six sides.
It means Essendon's draw will be easier than it would have been had they played finals.

At the moment it doesn't mean squat -- Richmond and Collingwood are ahead of Essendon on percentage so Essendon would be in the second group. However, should Essendon beat Richmond they should be given a draw reflecting that sans-penalties they would have finished fifth (if Collingwood also loses) or sixth (if Collingwood wins).

 

[Gavstar]

Malfice, ACC referred 5 doctors to APHRA for administration of "substances" to 22 players via IV drip.

Be very difficult to plead down use of a banned method even if it was for vitamins.

No TUE for this means likely 12 month ban.

Easiest one to prove I'm sure given that such vitamin administrations are usually around 500ml well beyond te 50ml limit.

 

[JuddFevGoal]

Just saw this old clip again and was reminded of how similar the black knight's behaviour is to Essendon's. Utter denial. Ironically, he's also wearing red and black.

 

[JuddFevGoal]

None of those weasel words has come from ASADA or WADA who have both expressly stated that AOD is a prohibited substance, and was a prohibited substance when the Bombers were taking it.

And they're the only ones that matter here.

As a consequence there is no way a player who is found to have taken the shit wont be infracted by ASADA (and WADA if the AFL try and block it).

Its not a question of 'if' players are infracted - its a question of 'when' and 'how many'.

Those players might be able to raise a defence before the CAS but its highly doubtful that the defences I have seen (compounding chemist, S2 only applies not S0, and ASADA told us it was OK) will hold any water before the CAS.

Players only hope is to get the 2 years reduced to 6 months via the 'no significant fault or negligence' clause.

Also; dont forget the Thymoisin Beta 4. The circumstantial evidence that was taken as well is overwhelming.

Im all over the laws on this one mate, and the Bombers are utterly ******.

The supporters dont realise it yet; but barring AFL propping them up for the next decade, theyre goneski.

And on top of that they have now stitched themselves up with Hird being paid a fortune to coach the five remaining players in 2015.

 

[Malifice]

Malfice, ACC referred 5 doctors to APHRA for administration of "substances" to 22 players via IV drip.

Be very difficult to plead down use of a banned method even if it was for vitamins.

No TUE for this means likely 12 month ban.

Easiest one to prove I'm sure given that such vitamin administrations are usually around 500ml well beyond te 50ml limit.

Dont forget the 'Lube all plus' (vet medicine) the Mexican crapola and the blacked out/ redacted drug on the list of substances taken by the Bombers.

ASADA cant not infract them for gods sake. There is literally no wriggle room for ASADA here (or the players thanks to 'strict liability').

And if having every player infracted and stood down for 2 years wasnt bad enough, god help them if they get done for team based doping.

In no way am I under-stating this when I say this is almost certainly the end/death of the EFC. I cant see a way out for them here (barring ridiculous support and assistance from the AFL).

The supporters havent dawned on just how massive this is yet. Theyre not just in denial; its surreal.

 

[Malifice]

And on top of that they have now stitched themselves up with Hird being paid a fortune to coach the five remaining players in 2015.

He'll never coach again. That decision just cost the EFC a million bucks for nothing.

Even Hirds teflon coating wont save him once the infractions start raining down and it finally dawns on EFC supporters and members just what he exposed his players to.

 

[DIG]

I hope they're wrong but the buffoons on 360 reckon no charges will ever come from ASADA/WADA.

 

[Malifice]

I hope they're wrong but the buffoons on 360 reckon no charges will ever come from ASADA/WADA.

Based on what?

The law couldnt be clearer!