Bombers scandal: charged, <redacted> and <infracted>

[Macca 17,034]

ASADA, WADA and the ACC have wide reaching power. The thought of criminal prosecution has been known to make people talk. Remembering that a lot of these PED's have come into the country illegally.

In other words, if the promise of a more lenient sentence is in the offering, then many might choose to take the lesser of 2 evils. We saw it in the Armstrong case. Many of the cyclists that Armstrong was involved with took a '6 months' sentence (reduced from 2 years) and by doing so effectively created more evidence against Armstrong. In the end Armstrong had to come clean. He had no choice.

The same thing in theory could happen at the Bombers (if illegal substances are involved) ASADA, WADA and/or the ACC only have to 'break' one person and that can create a domino effect. Considering there are so many involved it's quite feasible that at least one person will 'talk'. (assuming of course, that illegal substances are involved)

[Guest José Mourinho]

The mood was lightened?

[jabberwocky 2,301]

Anecdotal evidence that DEPS have been used by some Demonlanders for some time. (thread.. case in point)

[monoccular 17,575]

Whether the players consented and knowingly took PEDs or not is largely irrelevant in my view -- if they have them in their system it creates an uneven playing field, and other players at other clubs cannot be expected to have to compete against players with an unfair advantage.

Ipso facto, if the players have been administered PEDs, knowingly or not, they must be suspended, and if the minimum is 2 years, so be it.

And that I understand is the law as it stands.

[Macca 17,034]

If WADA and ASADA can follow the timeline of dosgy sports scientists work places all should be revealed. Much like Bonds and Clemens in baseball the testimony of these scientists could damn them all to hell.

That's the point in a lot of ways 'cfh'. What will the 'Sports Scientist', Mr Ageless and 'The Weapon' say to WADA, ASADA and the ACC? It's been reported that 'The Weapon' won't return to his former position at Essendon which means none of them have any ties to the Bombers going forward.

Those high up at Essendon should be plenty worried. If any one of the 3 aforementioned happen to 'Strike a Deal' then the proverbial will hit the fan (that is of course, if there were any illegal substances injected into the players) Sounds awful doesn't - bit like "The Island of Doctor Moreau'

[Whispering_Jack 30,674]

I can't understand why everyone is yabbering on about WADA, SHMADA, ASADA and SHMASDA - they all mean nothing. We've all seen, heard and read that Bomber coach James Hird has looked grim and ashen faced and, as the wise heads in the media tell us, that is enough to establish a person's guilt. On that basis Essendon surely must be guilty and the investigation is justified. Heads will roll!

[Guest José Mourinho]

Good thing Bomba Thompson's face has been conspicuously hidden throughout this saga -- he might just make their predicament worse!

[mjt 640]

I can't understand why everyone is yabbering on about WADA, SHMADA, ASADA and SHMASDA - they all mean nothing. We've all seen, heard and read that Bomber coach James Hird has looked grim and ashen faced and, as the wise heads in the media tell us, that is enough to establish a person's guilt. On that basis Essendon surely must be guilty and the investigation is justified. Heads will roll!

just like next week, your in for a world of hurt.

[cowboy_from_hell 2,390]

just like next week, your in for a world of hurt.

And you aren't? Who's side are you on?

[Satan 2,881]

Thinking the impending ACC report triggered The Bombers announcement, and the ACC report was released to take other stories ( think NSW ICAC) off the front the paper.

[daisycutter 29,743]

And you aren't? Who's side are you on?

i love rhetorical questions

[Tatu 416]

Do you think that he will admit to this?????....He would be cutting his own throat......I can't see this going anywhere without proof.....

How do you know that they were very close to the edge??????

How will WADA find out what happened if no body admits guilt????

I'd say that WADA and ASADA are well into this investigation..... I doubt essenbong came clean, just because they saw irregularities..... It's not a coincidence that australian sport is being investigated at the same time, for the same thing....... Essenbong has herd footsteps coming up behind them fast, so they jumped..... It's now up to detectives to join the dots.... Who else is going to jump....

[Soidee 1,496]

Dandeeman - do you always have to be a smartarse?

[old dee 23,872]

You learn something new every day.

I did not realise they were around in the seventies

[Guest José Mourinho]

Dandeeman - do you always have to be a smartarse?

You make a really poor attempt at humour... then try to take yourself too seriously?

Relax mate.

Your intention was good, execution needs some work.

Cest la vie.

[Macca 17,034]

Maybe Danks has prepared a concoction of 'vitamins'. Given his involvement with a business that imports and sells all sorts of chemical substances it could well be that the players signed on for something and they got something else. Just sayin....

Unless they have stored some of it which they can use for testing it is going to be hard to prove I'd imagine.

If the Authorities are 'told' that the injections contained illegal substances that might be enough. The anti doping agencies can be utterly ruthless. In many ways it's out of the AFL's hands. Think I'm right in saying that Warnie couldn't play any sort of organised cricket in the year he was banned. All for a slimming tablet (apparently) Not sure that CA would have given him a year off if it was purely their decision.

The thing about the anti doping agencies is that they are nothing but consistent. And they will pursue until they get a result. As I've stated earlier, I'm hoping that Essendon are cleared. Part of me wants them to go through a fair bit of pain (and they probably will anyway) but that's purely based on my hatred of them and the fact that we've endured a fair bit in the last 7 months. Overriding all this is that our sport doesn't need Essendon to be guilty. The repercussions are enormous.

The cynic in me reckons the media would love the Bombers to be guilty. But of course they do what they do based on the almighty dollar.

[Guest José Mourinho]

I did hear James Clare, head of the ACC, say on the 7:30 Report that the ACC does not have the power to prosecute anyone themselves - they merely gather information and hand it over to the appropriate authorities, who then gather evidence themselves and prosecute as they see fit.

Part of this is because a lot of the ACC evidence, to my understanding from what he said, is acquired through coercion and phone intercepts, which can't be used as evidence.

It just arms them with the knowledge to gather evidence.

I imagine in this case, it'll be a case of "we know you're doing this and that, and we will have you prosecuted on it, but you can cut a deal and get a lighter sentence if you give evidence on this person and that person, and what you've been recorded saying was in those vials".

There will be a lot of leaning on witnesses to bring down the big fish.

Unfortunately for the players, they will be unable to cut much of a deal, since competing with an advantage will be out of the question.

*Pure speculation on my behalf.

[dee-luded 2,959]

Today the MFC have been accused of using DEPS

Otherwise known as De-Enhancing Performance Substances.

Sorry folks had to lighten the mood.

Everyone is Gassed on entry to the Northern stand with it, & they all think its the AirCon.

Thats why no one can stand on DeeMand. Or for the Mexican anthem.

Unfortunately it effects our players as well, & turns them into instant gentlemen.

After 4 doses, their immune from any aggression for 8 months.

[Red and Bluebeard 2,101]

be interesting to see if all consent forms can be found

and whether the player got to keep a copy of all forms they signed

Good point. I know if it was me or my son involved, I would insist on keeping a copy for myself.

[Brian Wilson 331]

And you aren't? Who's side are you on?

i love rhetorical questions

Who doesn't?

But who is 'who's'?

[keep13alive 78]

I enjoy watching EFC and others squirm and would thoroughly enjoy CFC involved.But at the end of day I don't want to see any Victorian team destroyed.I'd much prefer the AFL's love children to be guilty of all infractions and [censored] off

Oh and western sydney wanderers kicked GWS out of the ball park

Edited February 9, 2013 by keep13alive

[skills32 229]

I did hear James Clare, head of the ACC, say on the 7:30 Report that the ACC does not have the power to prosecute anyone themselves - they merely gather information and hand it over to the appropriate authorities, who then gather evidence themselves and prosecute as they see fit.

Part of this is because a lot of the ACC evidence, to my understanding from what he said, is acquired through coercion and phone intercepts, which can't be used as evidence.

It just arms them with the knowledge to gather evidence.

I imagine in this case, it'll be a case of "we know you're doing this and that, and we will have you prosecuted on it, but you can cut a deal and get a lighter sentence if you give evidence on this person and that person, and what you've been recorded saying was in those vials".

There will be a lot of leaning on witnesses to bring down the big fish.

Unfortunately for the players, they will be unable to cut much of a deal, since competing with an advantage will be out of the question.

*Pure speculation on my behalf.

Yeah, Clothier et al tried this on ex MFC people.

Dunno if it works.

Let you know in a week or two.

[Whispering_Jack 30,674]

In a strange move the AFL is apparently going to dispense with the policy applied in previous investigations and will widen its anti Essendon drugs enquiry to other clubs. Gold Coast Suns and Geelong now in the gun

AFL vows to investigate The Weapon's former clubs

What happened to the one club at a time policy they applied to alleged "tanking"?

[Straight Sets Simon 23,113]

Can anyone tell me, if hypothetically one player is found to have used a banned substance in a year his team won a flag, would that be enough to strip the team of the flag?

[Josh 1,420]

Can anyone tell me, if hypothetically one player is found to have used a banned substance in a year his team won a flag, would that be enough to strip the team of the flag?

Interesting question. I would imagine no but that just raises the next question, what if it was 2 players or 3 or 4. Where do you draw the line?