ASADA issues show-cause notices to Essendon players

[Dry Rot]

Re: ASADA issues show-cause notices to Essendon players

Ok, that's the players, so now what penalties does the Essendon club cop? Loss of draft picks?

[Sedat]

Re: ASADA issues show-cause notices to Essendon players

What evidence? Nothing has been proven. Dragging people in front of Star Chambers proves nothing.

Their own words. They are damning to say the least.

[Greystache]

Re: ASADA issues show-cause notices to Essendon players

Reading the transcript of the decision, much of the "strong elements of coercion and deception" were actually conducted by the players themselves.

The natural reaction is to feel sympathy for the players - they are who we recognise and are the ones out there in the heat of battle. But the reality is that they were complicit and active participants in covering up a systematic doping program - this is on a par with the East German athlete doping regime in the 70/80's, the Chinese swimmers in the 90's, Team Armstrong and the BALCO scandal, and the players were in it up to their eye teeth.

If anything the players were given very sympathetic back-dating benefits, especially considering their level of involvement in concealing the doping program (as outlined in today's findings). Ultimately every clean footballer should feel vindicated today, because Essendon weren't playing clean in 2012 (and probably not 2013/4 either due to residual effects/benefits). And remember that only TB-4 was on trial because there was clear evidence linking that drug to the club/players - there were a whole host of other drugs (including AOD, Hexarelin and other assorted nasties) suspected of being taken during that period, but the club's shredders (and the AFL tip-off) took care of any such potential evidence.

As for the AFL's handling of this saga from day one, the less said the better. Whilst they can stage-manage outcomes and control media with regard to tanking, disclosing sensitive game plans, betting, salary cap rorting, when it comes to doping they were hopelessly out of their depth. We should be eternally grateful that the AFL has been exposed by the CAS in this instance, and hopefully it triggers a complete change of philosophy. They are no better than FIFA or the ICC.

Yep, pretty damming.






It shows either willful attempt to avoid discovery, or at the very least total compliance despite being aware something untoward was happening.

ASADA stated they were certain Essendon were injecting Hexarelin but couldn't provide compelling evidence so chose not to pursue it. They strongly believed CJC-1295 was used as well. They are out and out performance enhancing drugs used purely for unfair advantage.

[Greystache]

Re: ASADA issues show-cause notices to Essendon players

Ok, that's the players, so now what penalties does the Essendon club cop? Loss of draft picks?

I don't think they'll receive any further penalties. The club was already punished in 2013 with suspension from finals, loss of draft picks, and a fine, this was about ensuring the players didn't get off scott free.

[LostDoggy]

Re: ASADA issues show-cause notices to Essendon players

Ok, that's the players, so now what penalties does the Essendon club cop? Loss of draft picks?

The real penalty has been meted out for years now and is ongoing.

They're ruined for a long time - not to mention the various fines and lawsuits coming their way.

Whatever the AFL impose will be trifling by comparison.

[Dry Rot]

Re: ASADA issues show-cause notices to Essendon players

Look on the bright side. Carlton vs Essendon should be a cracking game now.

[AndrewP6]

Re: ASADA issues show-cause notices to Essendon players

Outrageous decision. So far away from any sort of justice at all. CAS and WADA ought to be ashamed of themselves.

This isn't justice. It's vengeance.

Can't disagree more strongly. This is and always was the right decision.

[Greystache]

Re: ASADA issues show-cause notices to Essendon players

Outrageous decision. So far away from any sort of justice at all. CAS and WADA ought to be ashamed of themselves.

This isn't justice. It's vengeance.

You're welcome to you view TD but I couldn't agree less. The CAS hearing was the first legitimate process other than Hird's court case and appeal to have evidence suppressed. Everything else was an in house AFL process and history shows us they're about as legitimate as an WWE main event.

[LostDoggy]

Re: ASADA issues show-cause notices to Essendon players

Look on the bright side. Carlton vs Essendon should be a cracking game now.

For those of us who grew up with footy in the 70s, 80s and 90s, imagine if you had've been told in 2000 that, by 2016 Essendon and Carlton would have 0 flags between them and would be utterly humbled and the worst 2 teams in the competition. You'd have been incredulous. That would've been almost as sweet as knowing Dogs flags were imminent.

[LostDoggy]

Re: ASADA issues show-cause notices to Essendon players

What evidence? Nothing has been proven. Dragging people in front of Star Chambers proves nothing.

Mate, you really need to read the judgment in full.

[Sedat]

Re: ASADA issues show-cause notices to Essendon players

Bit of gratuitous code point-scoring, but this is a neat summation from Roy Masters of the difference between the Cronulla and Essendon doping programs:

http://www.theage.com.au/afl/afl-news/essendon-cas-verdict-why-the-bombers-penalty-was-so-different-to-cronullas-20160111-gm3v7n.html

Also did anybody listen to Paul Marsh from the AFLPA just now? The likes of Robbo, Hird and others are going to have to be on their game to beat those levels of weapons-grade stupid:

http://www.aflplayers.com.au/article/essendon-players-victims-not-perpetrators-marsh/

[Topdog]

Re: ASADA issues show-cause notices to Essendon players

Essendon didn't reject anything. They accepted the deal the AFL and the government came up with in the first instance. Then Cronulla arked up because they wanted the same deal.

You are talking about this deal?

http://www.heraldsun.com.au/sport/afl/more-news/essendon-board-rejects-afl-soft-bans-deal-for-players-over-supplements-probe/news-story/95f83e8deac9a746934bc392f9b4796e

which they did reject.

Im talking about the open offer from ASADA to reduce penalties for players that help the process along and admit guilt.

It's also referenced in this article

http://www.smh.com.au/afl/afl-news/essendon-cas-verdict-why-the-bombers-penalty-was-so-different-to-cronullas-20160111-gm3v7n.html#ixzz3wzR9CCSi

ASADA did offer Essendon a three-month penalty – the same as one quickly accepted by Cronulla – but it was rejected and Bombers coach James Hird initiated legal action against the AFL and ASADA, thereby removing the lighter sanction from the table.

So again I'm not sure why you think there is special treatment going on.

[Topdog]

Re: ASADA issues show-cause notices to Essendon players

Also did anybody listen to Paul Marsh from the AFLPA just now? The likes of Robbo, Hird and others are going to have to be on their game to beat those levels of weapons-grade stupid:
http://www.aflplayers.com.au/article...trators-marsh/

Oh man some of that is pathetic. I'll just pick apart the conclusion.

Not only did you take all reasonable steps to assure yourselves that what you were being given was compliant with the WADA Code

Incorrect. Asking the person that is giving you the drugs is not taking all reasonable steps. Players could/shouldhave gone to ASADA/WADA

but you cooperated fully with the AFL, ASADA, WADA and CAS at all times.

They lied to ASADA during the season saying that they weren't receiving other supplements or drugs.

They lied to ASADA, AFL, WADA and CAS saying that Dank wasn't at away games.

[Jeanette54]

Re: ASADA issues show-cause notices to Essendon players

The ramifications to the EFC could be enormous. In fact their future may well have been placed in jeopardy by this decision.

If, and I stress if, the individual players choose to sue for loss of earnings associated with their penalties; then estimates are being thrown around of thirty to forty million in total. Give the circumstances wouldn't think any insurer would be coughing up for that.

It isn't just the current AFL crop of players, but ex players may have post AFL coaching and playing jobs.

There may also be a loss of club sponsors, depending on their contract conditions.

There would also have to be some concern regarding how many members might sign up for next season, given a bleak immediate future, and a cloudy long term outlook.

It may be years before the damage from the fallout of this decision will be quantified.

[Topdog]

Re: ASADA issues show-cause notices to Essendon players

Does anyone else find it a little bit funny that the lying was caught by an SMS yet the wonderful AFL couldn't retrieve sms's for our case.....