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Essendon call in ASADA

Sport
TheDivaTheDiva    13,246 posts
edited February 2013 Sport
do you really reckon they'd have called in ASADA if they thought there was anything to worry about? I dont. I reckon it will be nothing.


ESSENDON is under siege as it reels from potentially the biggest crisis in AFL history.

Security guards kept fans and media out of the Bombers' new Tullamarine facility as the players trained this morning, less than a day after the club became the subject of an anti-doping investigation.

The Australian Sports Anti-Doping Authority (ASADA) is joining with the AFL integrity unit to look into supplements that were given to Essendon players last year as part of their fitness regime.

If the investigation shows that players were given banned substances, the ramifications are massive.

"The jury is out on this at the moment," former ASADA chairman Richard Ings told FoxSports.

"But if this substance does come back and it turned out to be a prohibited substance, (then) it's a house of cards.
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"This could be very serious for the players involved and extremely serious for the club."

Tim Watson, the former Essendon captain and father of current Bombers captain Jobe, said he was angry when he learnt yesterday about the unfolding story.

He said regardless of what the investigation finds, his old club needed to look hard at its management.

"I was thinking about the gullibility of people who are in charge of a football club," Watson told SEN.

"I understand the naivety of players because that's why they are - they come into the system, they're a bit like cattle, they get told this is what they need to do.

"If a supplement was there, of course they would be thinking 'okay, if the club has given their sanction, then this is okay ... there is nothing illegal or untoward'.

"I'm bewildered that this could possibly even take place in a modern-day, AFL, professional football club.

"It beggars belief, at face value, they have allowed what has been reported to occur."

Watson was asked how he would feel if his son was caught up in the controversy and ended up losing last year's Brownlow Medal.

"As a parent, I'd be devastated for him ... you'd be completely and utterly destroyed," Watson said.

"I'm angry, I'm frustrated as a former player and a parent."

Sports scientist Stephen Dank, who once worked in the NRL, was at Essendon last season and has since left the club.

There are unconfirmed reports that the Bombers have also stood down fitness coach Dean Robinson.

The Bombers went to the AFL with their concerns about the supplements and the league referred the matter to ASADA.

Essendon say they only became aware of the potential problem this week, but rumours had been circulating for months.

Comments

  • forzajuveforzajuve    369 posts
    Not guilty as nothing will happen for 2 reasons.

    If Essendon used banned substances they can not ban the club as they will not have a 15 team league.

    If Essendon used banned substances if shows how there are not enough tests or the drug testers are useless.

    Not a good situation.

    Hack on JJJ before had a bloke on saying other clubs refused to employ the blokes involved as they did not approve of the program
  • SLIPPERGOLDENSLIPPERGOLDEN    7,741 posts
    edited February 2013
    If ever there was a great advertisement for NOT taking performance enhancing 'medication' surely it is Essendon's finishing position last season.

    It isn't performance enhancement sport (and society in general) desperately requires it is the enhancement of morals. Now if only there was a drug for that. :-?
  • forzajuveforzajuve    369 posts
    http://www.crimecommission.gov.au/sites/default/files/files/organised-crime-and-drugs-in-sports-feb2013.pdf

    The report does not name names.

    The more bs they spin the more it looks like Essendon come out before being busted.

    All the bs spin, they have phone taps from years ago & Dale Lewis copped a heap for coming out.

    Still seems like Carey copped alot more for rooting his team mates misses
  • SLIPPERGOLDENSLIPPERGOLDEN    7,741 posts
    forzajuve said:



    The report does not name names.

    The more bs they spin the more it looks like Essendon come out before being busted.

    Agree Juve

  • TheSwooperTheSwooper    1,717 posts
    Their membership catchcry is pretty good. "Whatever it takes"
  • rellecherelleche    99 posts

    Their membership catchcry is pretty good. "Whatever it takes"

    Still got along way to go to beat "were flying high"
  • bradybrady    1,452 posts
    edited February 2013
    forzajuve said:

    Not guilty as nothing will happen for 2 reasons.

    If Essendon used banned substances they can not ban the club as they will not have a 15 team league.

    If Essendon used banned substances if shows how there are not enough tests or the drug testers are useless.




    Not a good situation.

    Hack on JJJ before had a bloke on saying other clubs refused to employ the blokes involved as they did not approve of the program

    Afl players in W.A
    Are tested on a regular basis
    In and out of Season !
  • TheSwooperTheSwooper    1,717 posts
    :-)) :-)) Very good.
  • dungydungy    9,278 posts
    This is only going to get bigger sad day but like most sports we all dont read Dick Francis novels like some fools think who are so stupid to think racing is untouched throw the book at all in sundry farrrk em
  • RIORIO    14,882 posts
    edited February 2013
    it is interesting to hear the authorities saying...if you are involved come forward and help us stamp this out..If you don't and you get a knock on the door from the police the situation will be a lot more serious for you..

    they aren't saying there is an amnesty, but the message that is getting out is that we will leave no stone unturned in their endeavours to find those who are involved ...and......they want to learn HOW it has happened so that they can ensure it never happens again.. shaking the tree to see what falls out. Bet it works

    Is it a big scandal..YES, it is massive...But before they have even gathered all the information they are already working out to ensure that the confidence in their product is protected as much as possible.

    As a comparison, the stench in RWWA has been talked about for years and not once have any statements or attempts been mad to address any concerns..therefore they are undermining confidence in themselves by doing nothing, and allowing the rumours to go unanswered..

    You wonder how long people have been whispering about this in footy??? i bet it wasn't measured in years...I reckon the rumours were probably floating around for a few months and this is the outcome.. Good on them, hope they gather a lot of information, especially the links between betting, drugs and criminals within all sporting arenas
  • SLIPPERGOLDENSLIPPERGOLDEN    7,741 posts
    relleche said:

    Their membership catchcry is pretty good. "Whatever it takes"

    Still got along way to go to beat "were flying high"
    And their song 'Fly Up Up"

  • TiversTivers    7,720 posts
    Corruption definitely in cricket - Chris Gayle has obviously been on the take (to get out) all summer............
  • TheSwooperTheSwooper    1,717 posts
    Perhaps a few bodies (like the AFL) have been asleep at the wheel, so coming out so strongly now is just a tad rich. Having said that, hope they stamp out any funny business quick smart.

  • octaviusoctavius    2,290 posts
    On another note apparently the Indigenous All Stars have lodged a formal complaint with the AFL demanding to play an AFL team next year, not the rabble that is Richmond...
  • SLIPPERGOLDENSLIPPERGOLDEN    7,741 posts
    edited February 2013
    Sport isn't the only form of entertainment that involves such issues. How about an inquiry into Pop Groups, Singers, Actors & TV Personalities who use performance enhancing drugs?
  • TheSwooperTheSwooper    1,717 posts
    Don't always agree with him but yes, think he has nailed this one.
  • forzajuveforzajuve    369 posts
    brady said:

    forzajuve said:

    Not guilty as nothing will happen for 2 reasons.

    If Essendon used banned substances they can not ban the club as they will not have a 15 team league.

    If Essendon used banned substances if shows how there are not enough tests or the drug testers are useless.




    Not a good situation.

    Hack on JJJ before had a bloke on saying other clubs refused to employ the blokes involved as they did not approve of the program

    Afl players in W.A
    Are tested on a regular basis
    In and out of Season !

    Regular basis is a very broad term as it could be once a year, once every 25 days, once a week etc..

    A tester should be testing out of season as that is the time time the drugs are taken & training hard


  • forzajuveforzajuve    369 posts
    Just a bit of info looking at various articles.

    More players have tested positive in WAFL than AFL. - do not know if I believe this

    1 had the comment, this explains explains the over achievement of a small nation descending from criminals

    Match fixing - The Danny Green fight for starters

    Journos promoting themselves as being on the inside & having sources knew stuff all
  • forzajuveforzajuve    369 posts
    Now the journos know which a-league game played in Melbourne had $49 million bet on it.

    The game that is mentioned was played in Adelaide!!



    The game gamblers bet $49m on
    Date
    February 9, 2013
    126 reading nowRead later
    Nick McKenzie, Richard Baker

    Pin Itsubmit to redditEmail articlePrint

    Asia's betting market is increasingly turning to Australian soccer. Photo: Getty Images
    ASIAN gamblers bet almost $50 million on an A-League match between Melbourne Victory and Adelaide in December, a former FIFA executive has revealed.

    Amid the fallout from the Australian Crime Commission's explosive report on drugs and organised crime in elite sport,

    Fairfax Media has been told by FIFA's former head of security, Chris Eaton, that a Hong Kong bookmaker took bets worth $49 million on the December 7 2012 game in Melbourne.

    Mr Eaton said this was $7 million more than placed with the same bookie on that weekend's famed Manchester derby in the English Premier League. It is believed the bets were laid with the Hong Kong Jockey Club.

    Advertisement
    There is no suggestion that the Melbourne Victory and Adelaide United contest, which Adelaide won 4-2, or any other A-League game has been corrupted.

    A Football Federation Australia spokesman on Thursday said: "As far as we are aware, and we have been in touch with VicPol, there is no A-League match under investigation."

    Mr Eaton, who last year became the director of integrity for the International Centre for Sports Security, said the big money for the A-League game highlighted how Asia's betting market is increasingly turning to Australian soccer. Because it is in a favourable time zone, it enables punters to bet just before and during a match.

    “It certainly highlights the vulnerability of Australian sport in Asia,” he said.

    In other developments:

    ■Australia's anti-doping agency is examining intelligence that players from up to five NRL clubs may have taken banned or highly questionable supplements.

    ■AFL chief executive Andrew Demetriou said on Friday that specific allegations had been made by the crime commission against at least one AFL club.

    ■It emerged that the sports scientist at the centre of the Essendon drugs scandal, Stephen Dank, is part of a performance enhancing drug distribution network that has links to Sydney bikies, rugby league clubs and an escort agency.

    ■Australian bookmakers suspended betting on the opening match of the AFL season between Adelaide and Essendon, to be played in Adelaide on March 22.

    ■Fremantle chief Steve Rosich defended the AFL club's reputation as a "clean team", saying the Dockers would only ever inject natural substances such as vitamins.

    ■Cricket Australia said it would consider prohibiting the airing of betting promotions during television coverage of matches.

    ■And Prime Minister Julia Gillard said she found it "sickening" that Australian sporting prowess might have been fuelled by performance enhancing drugs.

    It is believed Essendon, Geelong and the Gold Coast are the AFL clubs being investigated by the crime commission.

    The five NRL clubs under scrutiny have been named in intelligence gathered by anti-doping agency ASADA.

    It is understood it raises suspicions about whether the supplement regimes used by individual players or advisers linked to small groups of players may be in breach of anti-doping rules.

    Fairfax Media is not naming the five clubs believed to have been referred to ASADA.

    But in a separate development this week, auditors from Deloitte, working for the Australian Rugby League Commission's in-house investigation, visited the headquarters of the Manly Sea Eagles and Cronulla Sharks to seize supplement registers ahead of the release of the crime commission's report. The auditors also visited Penrith and Newcastle this week.

    Asked to comment, NRL media and communications director John Brady said: ''Due to legislative restrictions placed on the NRL we are not in a position to divulge any content from any briefing we received from the ACC.''

    Stephen Dank has previously worked with Manly, Cronulla and to a lesser extent, Penrith. He was also deeply involved with Essendon Football Club's training program last year.

    Mr Dank is under investigation over allegations he may have exposed Essendon players to banned peptides while he worked at the club last year.

    He has strongly rejected allegations his work at Essendon and NRL clubs involved banned substances.

    Mr Demetriou said he could not provide details about the allegations against at least one AFL club without breaching a confidentiality agreement he and other administrators had signed ahead of a briefing on the commission's investigation.

    ''We have been given broad information that would lead us to believe that we have to work with ASADA to investigate some of these broad informations that we have received,'' he said.

    Fremantle's chief executive Mr Rosich acknowledged a previous relationship with supplement supplier Danny Pavlovich - whose company was fined $3.1 million last year for importing unregistered substances.

    But he said he was confident no banned substances had been supplied to his players.

    Mr Eaton said it was no surprise that Australian sport was exposed to doping and corruption given the huge amount of money being bet on games across the region.

    ''Australia cannot work in a bubble. This issue needs to be confronted on an international level. It is a totally global activity …'' he said.

    With AAP, CAROLINE WILSON, NICK RALSTON, ALEISHA ORR, CHRIS BARRETT

    http://www.theage.com.au/national/the-game-gamblers-bet-49m-on-20130208-2e433.html
  • bradybrady    1,452 posts
    edited February 2013
    forzajuve said:

    brady said:

    forzajuve said:

    Not guilty as nothing will happen for 2 reasons.

    If Essendon used banned substances they can not ban the club as they will not have a 15 team league.

    If Essendon used banned substances if shows how there are not enough tests or the drug testers are useless.




    Not a good situation.

    Hack on JJJ before had a bloke on saying other clubs refused to employ the blokes involved as they did not approve of the program

    Afl players in W.A
    Are tested on a regular basis
    In and out of Season !

    Regular basis is a very broad term as it could be once a year, once every 25 days, once a week etc..

    A tester should be testing out of season as that is the time time the drugs are taken & training hard


    It's definitely not once a year it's all year round including off season ?
  • dungydungy    9,278 posts
    octavius said:

    On another note apparently the Indigenous All Stars have lodged a formal complaint with the AFL demanding to play an AFL team next year, not the rabble that is Richmond...

    =D> =D>
  • TorpedoPuntTorpedoPunt    1,891 posts
    All stars have won 6 outta 7 of these games with an average margin of 51.85 points.

    Only ever lost to the Bombers in 2009 and given recent reports it's no wonder why! :))
  • TheDivaTheDiva    13,246 posts
    I heard this morning that the other club being bandied around is Geelong.....
  • JordanJordan    1,827 posts
    edited February 2013
    image

    Anzac Day Clash 2013
  • octaviusoctavius    2,290 posts
    The Diva said:

    I heard this morning that the other club being bandied around is Geelong.....

    That makes sense because thats where Dank, or was it the Weapon came from, brought by Thompson, and Thompson seems to have stayed very low in this whole affair, physically not even going to the club in the first week, because of some ailment??
  • VillageKidVillageKid    2,275 posts
    edited February 2013
    octavius said:

    The Diva said:

    I heard this morning that the other club being bandied around is Geelong.....

    That makes sense because thats where Dank, or was it the Weapon came from, brought by Thompson, and Thompson seems to have stayed very low in this whole affair, physically not even going to the club in the first week, because of some ailment??
    With all these "supplements" the Bummers coaching staff are allegedly taking i'm surprised he would "come down" with any sort of ailment!!

    :-\"
  • goosegoose    1,628 posts
    Thompson is the only one who has denied taking them Hird was flying in his last year played some great games.
  • forzajuveforzajuve    369 posts
    http://www.watoday.com.au/afl/afl-news/watson-cant-escape-doping-violation-exasada-boss-20130625-2ouew.html

    Looks like Watson is gone.

    I can't remember if it was the Sydney or Greece Olympics where the 15 or 16 year gymnast lost her gold medal due to her doctor giving her drugs & the I did not know defence did not work.
  • bradybrady    1,452 posts
    Why would you sign a consent form if you thought
    The supplements where approved by the Afl or
    Legal to use ?
    Idiot !
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