News EFC asks AFL and ASADA for probe into own training regime

[The Prosecutor]

I still don't know that WADA/ASADA handle sanctions against organisations.

Only source I can find is how the reaction to Operation Puerto went in cycling back in 2007. Individual cyclists were certainly banned by WADA. However, teams were not. Astana ended up not being banned under WADA regs, but they instead weren't invited by event organisers to compete in events; thus Contador was unable to defend his TdF victory.

I think any sanction against the club itself is actually handled by the AFL. That said, if it's damming the AFL would have no choice at all - to have the players smashed and the club walk would be a PR disaster. You'd almost have to be draft-penalised so you didn't "benefit" from being at the bottom of the ladder due to the loss of all your players; that's as a minimum.

I was reffering to players in that. At which case the discretion is left with WADA/ASADA.

Prosecutor

I doubt very much that the worse case scenario will occur if EFC are found guilty. And the WADA provisions have flexibility in their enforcement.

It would wreak to much havoc on the AFL competition and EFC.

But whatever the outcome heads need to roll.

They have very, very little flexibility in their enforcement.

WADA/ASADA couldn't give a shit what damage it could do to the AFL/EFC, they will ban any player and official found to be involved in the administering of illicit substances.

 

[Andronicus]

I don't know about the rest of you, but after practically reading about this for the past 10 hours, I still have no idea what to think of it all. One minute I'm confident we'll come out of it fine, then the next I'm shit scared of the possibilities.

This.

Somehow I am both supremely confident, while at the same time terrified at what might be.

 

[Chambo]

Even if we are proven 100% innocent and this is regular practice in the AFL (Obviously best case result), reputation of the Essendon Football Club would be damaged for many many many years to come. Any success that we have will be tainted by the trolls and opposition supporters!

 

[Wosh]

I actually really really feel for Essendon supporters, especially the ones who have been members for many many years, older people don't understand all this bullshit going on in the world today, we can all joke about it but when the club you love and have supported since you were a kid gets pulled apart like this, it hurts..it really hurts. I hope for the supporters sake that this doesn't turn out to be as bad as it's all reading right now.

Good luck guys.

 

[lmaohelp]

I'm seriously worried. Like a few have already said, even if we somehow get out of this with just a slap on the wrist, our brand will be tarnished.

When reading articles like this one -> http://www.heraldsun.com.au/afl/mor...ty-essendon-club/story-e6frf9jf-1226571185543

I think to myself why would the EFC hire someone like this in the first place?!

 

[daffo]

I'm sad. The more I read the worst it sounds.

 

[daffo]

I'm seriously worried. Like a few have already said, even if we somehow get out of this with just a slap on the wrist, our brand will be tarnished.

When reading articles like this one -> http://www.heraldsun.com.au/afl/mor...ty-essendon-club/story-e6frf9jf-1226571185543

I think to myself why would the EFC hire someone like this in the first place?!

Don't have a digital pass. Can you please copy and paste?

 

[Ben the Gooner]

Even if we are proven 100% innocent and this is regular practice in the AFL (Obviously best case result), reputation of the Essendon Football Club would be damaged for many many many years to come. Any success that we have will be tainted by the trolls and opposition supporters!

And to that I say, **** them. The AFL website crashed last night from all the minnow supporting arsehats who want us to fail. Use the hate, the hate spawned of jealousy, suck up everything they throw at you and then when we win our 17th flag shove every ****ing bit of it back in their faces.

We're the ****ing Essendon Football Club and we will come out of anything with our heads held high.

Clubs like St Kilda or North dream of this sort of attention.

 

[Old Campaigner]

The articles in The Age probably the more useful thing to read right now. The Hun seems to have gone into a meltdown out of excitement that they finally broke a story this off-season. It's funny that the Age is going on about presumption of innocence in this case when they are all out accusing the Dees of tanking. I'll take that as a sign of hope.

The way The Age is reporting it, it seems like the management were looking over a list of supplements taken last season and realized one of them is possibly illegal - maybe a related chemical to one on the banned list or something. It also seems that the sports science department had a pretty free reign to do what they felt was necessary and the FD may not have been aware of everything going on at the time. So hopefully they can take the fall if the rest of the FD has done what they are supposed to have and there was no 'turning bind eyes' to illegal activity.

Of course if people were knowingly taking PEDs and people in the FD knew about it then the board needs to go through like a dose of salts and get rid of anyone even slightly associated with it. I don't mind if players come back after serving their ban but any off field staff involved need to never set foot on EFC premises again.



The fact that the players were taken to a private practice for jabs isn't really anything special unless they did it off site to conceal what was being injected. A lot of the doctors they employ would likely have private practices that they worked in prior to working at the club and it would make sense for them to use the facilities there instead of moving heaps of stuff to to Windy Hill.

The criminal gangs line is just sensationalism. If an illegal substance was used, it would have to be obtained and imported illegally by someone, making them a criminal by definition. Using 'gangs' doesn't convey any additonal useful just creates hype.

The WADA don't believe ignorance is an excuse.

Sentences can be reduced or avoided if players are not found to be negligent, for example if they are told what they are taking is legal but in fact it isn't a legal substance. That is not to say that you can get away with making no effort to find out if the supplement is legal or not, but if you have asked for a description of what is being taken and someone in charge (i.e. Dank) shows the MSDS for a legal supplement then you might avoid sanction.

I think this is the only way Essendon can get out if this if a banned substance has been used.

Malifice on the main board seems to believe that any sort of injections are illegal by the AFL drug code without an AFL medical officers approval.

Yes but if they had approached the medical officer saying we want to inject [legal supplement X] I'm sure it would have been approved. If something else went into the needle as well, who would know?




http://www.theage.com.au/afl/afl-news/dream-teams-nightmare-20130205-2dwkc.html

Dean Robinson, the highly paid ''Weapon'' whose three-year, $1 million-plus contract so infuriated the AFL and its doctors, has been suspended by the club - his removal directly linked to Tuesday's revelations.

Read more: http://www.theage.com.au/afl/afl-news/dream-teams-nightmare-20130205-2dwkc.html#ixzz2K3yApJXJ

Does anyone know more about this? I never realized the AFL had it in for Robinson. Not that it is really relevant to this (I don't think they AFL is framing it's least favourite sports science guru), but what business is it of theirs who clubs employ?

 

[Childish Gambino]

My main concern is that, IF we are actually found guilty, how harsh the consequences will be.

Was listening to SEN on the way to work and a few "supporters" were calling in saying they were not going to renew their memberships. F*** off if that's how you feel. We don't want you to be part of the club anyway.

I'll be standing by Essendon right until the end. Obviously if the allegations turn out to be true I along with most supporters will be shattered and feel betrayed by the club but I still think it is important we stand by them.

 

[LuKe2428]

Hey guys, As much as I hate Essendon being a Richmond supporter I hope this works out alright for you's all. I followed my club for alot of year's and if I was in your shoes now I would be totally pissed off. In regards to your punishment (if any) because I doubt they will so be confident, They couldn't suspend all players who used it s you may not have enough to run out onto the field with injuries and stuff going on aswell. All the AFL thinks about is money so they wouldn't want you to forfiet a game because of not having enough players through suspension, Usually thats what happen's re.Cousins and T.Tuck. Good luck for the outcome, See you all at Dreamtime.

 

[lmaohelp]

Don't have a digital pass. Can you please copy and paste?

Just google " Allegations of possible use of banned drugs, systematic cheating, secret injections rock mighty Essendon club " and you can read it

 

[Old Campaigner]

Don't have a digital pass. Can you please copy and paste?

Copy the headline into google, it bypasses the paywall.

 

[Childish Gambino]

Also, Dermott Brereton confirmed himself as one of the biggest w***ers in the game on SEN this morning by taking joy at our situation.

I think I can speak on behalf of every Essendon supporter when I say "Go F*** yourself, Dermie."

 

[Malifice]

If this is the case, and it's not on a banned list then we'd have to be scot free?

Sadly no mate.

The banned list isnt exclusive. Its a guide only, with the named substances being examples.

Apparently there is a legal or 'inert' from of peptide. All the active peptides are banned (either expressly or implicitly).

Reading between the lines, this appears to be the issue here. It may have been one of the banned peptides that was used and not the inert sort.

Which is really really bad juju.

 

[Thurlo]

I still don't know that WADA/ASADA handle sanctions against organisations.

Only source I can find is how the reaction to Operation Puerto went in cycling back in 2007. Individual cyclists were certainly banned by WADA. However, teams were not. Astana ended up not being banned under WADA regs, but they instead weren't invited by event organisers to compete in events; thus Contador was unable to defend his TdF victory.

I think any sanction against the club itself is actually handled by the AFL. That said, if it's damming the AFL would have no choice at all - to have the players smashed and the club walk would be a PR disaster. You'd almost have to be draft-penalised so you didn't "benefit" from being at the bottom of the ladder due to the loss of all your players; that's as a minimum.

No offense but I would read very little into that. Contador is a different type of fish altogether.

The problems with Operation Puerto is certain countries don't want to know about it - ie Spain.
Certain sports do not want to know about it - Tennis, Soccer, etc.

The way in which the cycling systems work as very complex and diverse compared to the AFL, too many different federations, governing bodies, race organizes etc.

Similar to a football player who recently got done by the ASADA they hit him with a two year ban with little consideration of the fact that he didn't know what he was taking contained banned substance.
I guess its comes down to how much knowledge and intent there was among the team/players/managers.

 

[LeverPuller]

No offense but I would read very little into that. Contador is a different type of fish altogether.

The problems with Operation Puerto is certain countries don't want to know about it - ie Spain.
Certain sports do not want to know about it - Tennis, Soccer, etc.

The way in which the cycling systems work as very complex and diverse compared to the AFL, too many different federations, governing bodies, race organizes etc.

Similar to a football player who recently got done by the ASADA they hit him with a two year ban with little consideration of the fact that he didn't know what he was taking contained banned substance.
I guess its comes down to how much knowledge and intent there was among the team/players/managers.

Contador is different because of Spain, yes, but it's never been WADA punishing teams. When a team has been thrown off the cycling tours because of the drug charges, it's been the UCI rather than WADA; these teams aren't being destroyed by WADA.

That said, there's never been a case like this in world sports.

 

[eth-dog]

I just have a feeling that there's something wrong. I don't know what it is, but it just feels off to me...

 

[Towno78]

Yeah... he said:

hopefully it's just something like creatine, which AFAIK is still legal. Promotes muscle gain but often leads to muscle tears (sound familiar?)

Nathan Buckley loved the stuff, hence his continued hammy issues

Comprehension not your strong point?

We are talking about a situation where Essendon has come forward and said we may have taken substances which are not legal. Whilst he is stating that as far as he knows creatine is legal, by saying that hopefully that is the substance in question in this case, he is, very clearly, suggesting that there may be some question marks over it.

But hey, I said as much in the last post, seems I just needed to spell out a little more for you. Comprehension is not your strong point I'd suspect.

 

[Zach Package]

I just have a feeling that there's something wrong. I don't know what it is, but it just feels off to me...

I have that same feeling as well. I'm definitely worried, but some aspects of this don't make a lot of sense

 

[Whispering_Jack]

And to that I say, **** them. The AFL website crashed last night from all the minnow supporting arsehats who want us to fail. Use the hate, the hate spawned of jealousy, suck up everything they throw at you and then when we win our 17th flag shove every ******* bit of it back in their faces.

We're the ******* Essendon Football Club and we will come out of anything with our heads held high.

Clubs like St Kilda or North dream of this sort of attention.

I agree, I don't care about "the trolls" or opposition supporters having a crack at us down the track if we are found innocent, I only care about whether we WILL be found innocent or not.

Also, on supposed "Essendon Supporters" not renewing or cancelling their membership because of this before we even know the facts (and even after we know the facts for that matter), I got news for them, WE DON'T WANT OR NEED YOUR SUPPORT. WE ARE ESSENDON, WE will get through this, guilty or not. If Guilty, throw the book at those to be found at fault, if innocent then I don't care what the trolls or supporters of other clubs say. Either way, my I will continue to bleed RED and BLACK...

 

[DapperDon]

The AFL website probably crashed because it is cheap and they are rightfully covering what could be a huge story.

Your last line is indicative of why so many people are lapping this up - stupidity and arrogance, hallmarks of most of your supporter base.

GFYYEC.

Ask your coach of his time as Brisbane.

kthanksbye

 

[Ben the Gooner]

The AFL website probably crashed because it is cheap and they are rightfully covering what could be a huge story.

Your last line is indicative of why so many people are lapping this up - stupidity and arrogance, hallmarks of most of your supporter base.

GFYYEC.

Jog on champ, I think there's a working bee at Arden St you can put your mind to.

 

[Jade]

Ok.

So.....

The feeling I get is that, like most clubs, Essendon flies as close to the letter of the law as they can.

It also appears that the three men presented to the media genuinely believed that nothing untoward was happening. However by the look of all three I'd say they are now extremely concerned that it may not be the case.

Reports in the Herald-Sun today indicate that Essendon 'believed' what was being given was legal; but that what was ACTUALLY given may not have been.

At the very least, the club is guilty of monumental stupidity. Obviously I hope that is the only thing they are guilty of.

I remarked sometime ago that a repeat of deliberate salary cap cheating would be the only thing I could see occuring that would cause me to abandon my membership, financial donations and support of the club in general. I like winning - but not by cheating.

If the club is proven to have deliberately cheated by administering PEDs (and this is the worst posible result obviously); I don't believe I could continue to call myself an Essendon supporter.

 

[Kenzie101]

No offense but I would read very little into that. Contador is a different type of fish altogether.

The problems with Operation Puerto is certain countries don't want to know about it - ie Spain.
Certain sports do not want to know about it - Tennis, Soccer, etc.

The way in which the cycling systems work as very complex and diverse compared to the AFL, too many different federations, governing bodies, race organizes etc.

Similar to a football player who recently got done by the ASADA they hit him with a two year ban with little consideration of the fact that he didn't know what he was taking contained banned substance.
I guess its comes down to how much knowledge and intent there was among the team/players/managers.

he didn't even get done for taking it just for importing it. His defence was that he didn't know it contained steroids .