ASADA issues show-cause notices to Essendon players

[jeemak]

Josie I'd think the 6th month ban would be entirely conditional on the deal. If WADA was to knock back the concept then I assume it would mean all bets are off and nothing is admissible from an evidence or concessionary point of view.

It would be back to square one, i.e. the point just before the six months was offered.

[westdog54]

Josie I'd think the 6th month ban would be entirely conditional on the deal. If WADA was to knock back the concept then I assume it would mean all bets are off and nothing is admissible from an evidence or concessionary point of view.

It would be back to square one, i.e. the point just before the six months was offered.

I wouldn't have thought WADA knocking back the 6 months deals would throw out the entire investigation. Players would still be free to contest a doping charge, it would simply be a matter of overcoming the evidence.

[jeemak]

Sorry if I wasn't clear, but I used the term square one and qualified it by saying that would essentially be where we are now.

[Twodogs]

WADA are even more out of control than ASADA. I wouldn't be putting my future in their hands.

[bornadog]

AFL denying there is an offer on the table.

[Sedat]

The whole purpose of ASADA 'offering' the 6 month ban to the players is to shake the tree and get some of the players to turn on the club and give evidence that fingers key personnel. Does anyone really think that WADA is going to allow 6 month bans, most of which to be held out of competition, to stand? Unless there are players that do significantly assist the investigation (Crameri and Monfries, you know what to do).

Let's all remember one thing - in pre-season 2012 Essendon knowingly implemented a fast-tracked program to significantly increase the strength of the playing group, which more than likely involved the use of banned PED's. It was a systematic 12 month program involving the injections of thousands of syringes of substances into the players, most of which were mysteriously done off-site and behind the back of the club doctor. Most likely, this is coordinated doping on the scale of East Germany in the 70-80's, China in the 90's and the cycling world in the 90-00's. Everything else about court cases, joint investigations and other fluff is white noise designed to stop the investigation being completed and the findings to be released.

Essendon are rooted and they know it. So does the AFL and so do most media pundits, some of whom are doing their absolute best to smother the story, as their meal ticket is the AFL and the game will be significantly damaged by the likelihood of a foundation club being brought to its knees (through self-inflicted actions and continued arrogance) and unable to field a team for 2 seasons.

Just as Paul Keating used to goad John Hewson in parliament question time in the early 90's, ASADA are going to "do Essendon slowly"

[whythelongface]

Cronulla players have been offered 12 month bans backdated from November 2103 that come into force immediately. Thus effectively giving them a 3 month ban. I find it strange that they can backdate a ban yet during that period (9 months) they have been able to train and play as normal. Weak decision IMO.

[The Bulldogs Bite]

Cronulla players have been offered 12 month bans backdated from November 2103 that come into force immediately. Thus effectively giving them a 3 month ban. I find it strange that they can backdate a ban yet during that period (9 months) they have been able to train and play as normal. Weak decision IMO.

Agreed.

All bark no bite.

[Topdog]

Cronulla players have been offered 12 month bans backdated from November 2103 that come into force immediately. Thus effectively giving them a 3 month ban. I find it strange that they can backdate a ban yet during that period (9 months) they have been able to train and play as normal. Weak decision IMO.

and captain their state to a State of Origin win.

[Before I Die]

Cronulla players have been offered 12 month bans backdated from November 2103 that come into force immediately. Thus effectively giving them a 3 month ban. I find it strange that they can backdate a ban yet during that period (9 months) they have been able to train and play as normal. Weak decision IMO.

Isn't this due to the inordinate delays in the NRL investigation due to the AFL and the Pollies bringing pressure on ASADA to bring forth an interim report in the AFL case before the finals. If there in no clear justification for this deal (which I think stinks) then surely WADA will step in.

[Hotdog60]

With that as a player you would take that deal and close the book on the whole saga.

There has been little news on the chemist that is at the bottom of all this. What's he up to?

[bornadog]

With that as a player you would take that deal and close the book on the whole saga.

There has been little news on the chemist that is at the bottom of all this. What's he up to?

Asada pushing for a life ban

[Sedat]

Asada pushing for a life ban

Think he's talking about Nina Alavi, the compound chemist, and not Dank. Alavi has sung like a canary, as has Charter. Essendon are rooted.

[Scorlibo]

The speculative 6 month ban is the same as was proposed upon the release of show cause notices, and it leans upon an independent panel ruling each player guilty/innocent. If the players had shown cause, they may well have been found innocent, and even if they hadn't, they would have received a discount for complying with the notice. They didn't, and now the offer is for them to plead guilty (according to this article) and receive the same discount. I'm not as skeptical as some about WADA allowing this, and think that the players would be mad not to take ASADA up on this as soon as the finals series is out.

Re: Cronulla, I'm left scratching my head also. The back dating makes zero sense.

[bornadog]

The speculative 6 month ban is the same as was proposed upon the release of show cause notices, and it leans upon an independent panel ruling each player guilty/innocent. If the players had shown cause, they may well have been found innocent, and even if they hadn't, they would have received a discount for complying with the notice. They didn't, and now the offer is for them to plead guilty (according to this article) and receive the same discount. I'm not as skeptical as some about WADA allowing this, and think that the players would be mad not to take ASADA up on this as soon as the finals series is out.

Re: Cronulla, I'm left scratching my head also. The back dating makes zero sense.

A few of the Olympians have come out and really criticized this today, and rightly so.