Pretty sure this is not true.
"Sports must undertake three steps in order to be fully compliant with the Code: acceptance, implementation, and enforcement."
Any team where more than TWO MEMBERS have been found guilty then the ENTIRE TEAM IS SANCTIONED.
So if they are not sanctioned AS A TEAM for any subsequent violations - then the AFL will be in breach of WADA code and no longer compliant.
Basically - either they punish the bombers, or they are kicked out of the code - and become the laughing stock of world sport.
You tell me what they are going to do ?
WADA will hand down their penalties if AFL does not, if they are not applied, AFL is kicked out and Australia as a nation becomes known as a drug cheating nation - however, since our NATION is a signatory - we can not send athletes to other sporting events like the WORLD CUP, OLYMPICS etc.
So in effect what you are saying is that for AFL to protect Essendon and the AFL pretty much every single sporting team and athlete in the country will be thrown under the bus ??
http://www.wada-ama.org/en/World-An...izations/The-Code/Code-Compliance--Reporting/
http://www.wada-ama.org/Documents/W...DP-The-Code/WADA_Anti-Doping_CODE_2009_EN.pdf
Wow - that's some pretty serious sacrifice.
Here's my take on it. The rules are incredibly clear on team doping. Essendon has CLEARLY breached those rules. For them NOT TO BE PUNISHED the AFL and Australia will lose all credibility. Not going to happen.