THE DRUG SCANDAL: AFL TRIBUNAL DECIDES

[beelzebub 23,390]

Ppl seem to think theres no precedent for teams dropping out of leagues.

To simply no want that at any cost is a quasi faustian deal in itself.

Might i remind us of:

All that is necessary for evil to triumph is for good men to do nothing.

Heads in the sand and la la la is the same thing.

[Cards13 9,117]

I dont think what was proposed is an appropriate solution to address the problem.

And as you point would destroy the game further for the 17 other clubs and the general public.

I agree there are steps that need to be taken to ensure this never occurs again.

But suspending the whole club for 2 years aint one of them.

And like everyone here I am disgusted Hird and Reid are still there and the players cant access medical records to establish what they took.

Cricky don't over estimate it. I still don't get the argument that Ess being out of the comp for any time does damage to the "game". It's a sport for goodness sakes. Cycling is still going and thriving. Baseball still going. Soccer with numerous betting scandels in Italy...

It will be a blip in history. If they do go (they won't) then so be it, contingencies will be put in place, life moves on.

[Cards13 9,117]

disgusted - but don't have any solution other than what's been suggested; though you are quite comfortable about it being a bad idea to sanction Essendon's systematic cheating and defiance of any sort of accountability?

The destroying of the game is not a matter of whether or not we have a bye in the fixture - it's about whether or not the game is riddled with drug cheating. And if Essendon has gotten away with it, every time they win a game we will be one step closer to the pharmacological precipice.

Don't be so naive as to suppose there aren't a whole heap of Danks watching, waiting like vultures who smell opportunity and weakness. What kind of message do you think would be a step effective in ensuring no-one ever tries the Essendon method again?

A bye oh my god the "game" is dead... Hyperbole, the sport continues.

Gees soccer is in trouble and so is rugby league. Salary cap cheaters and convicted drug cheats... Oh they are still going on with no worries.

[Macca 17,120]

Cricky don't over estimate it. I still don't get the argument that Ess being out of the comp for any time does damage to the "game". It's a sport for goodness sakes. Cycling is still going and thriving. Baseball still going. Soccer with numerous betting scandels in Italy...

It will be a blip in history. If they do go (they won't) then so be it, contingencies will be put in place, life moves on.

Spot on Cards ... and often it's far better for justice to be served. Cycling is far better off in the long term because Armstrong was outed. There's no longer a cloud covering the sport for those who love cycling ... those who don't love cycling don't count nor do they matter - the sport is still ridiculously popular and cycling's testing standards, procedures and penalties are just about as good as it gets. I read today that the NBA intend to do blood tests for hgh - it's about time and they will start to catch cheats because of this new action.

I believe Essendon will get their just deserts in the long run. New evidence (or old evidence) will surface and they'll be cooked. The Hunter case may hold the key but the key could come about in any number of ways. Those who have been burnt will end up talking - everyone has their price. And a number of people have been burnt - including numerous players no longer on Essendon's list (all watching the Hunter case with anticipation) Then there's worksafe if they're fair dinkum.

And of course, ASADA and/or WADA might still appeal and win. It ain't over till it's over.

[deefrag 277]

"If you get rid of us the host will die!"
Only EFC apologists and cancer cells would try to sell you that line!

And may I add my considered opinion:

The Essendon FC along with their supporters, paid lackey's and thinly disguised apologists should be thrown out of the sport and forgotten.

Life will go on and for the better!!

[biggestred 5,266]

Dank to appeal apparently

[Red and Bluebeard 2,101]

Dank to appeal apparently

Yeah, he is challenging the tribunal's decision, but I wouldn't say he is appealing ...

Stephen Dank to appeal AFL anti-doping tribunal findings

[DemonFrog 1,359]

Ppl seem to think theres no precedent for teams dropping out of leagues.

To simply no want that at any cost is a quasi faustian deal in itself.

Might i remind us of:

All that is necessary for evil to triumph is for good men to do nothing.

Heads in the sand and la la la is the same thing.

Does the current AFL leadership have any good men?

[Willmoy1947 4,221]

Probably getting paid by bombers and AFL to appeal.....

[beelzebub 23,390]

Does the current AFL leadership have any good men?

Few and far between if any. .

I'm trusting that WADA have some though

[monoccular 17,697]

Trouble is, if nothing is done about drug cheating, the comp is screwed anyway.

While Essendon fans and their cheer squad in the media, plus those who take their cue from them, may be happy, the effect on potential AFL fans must be bad.

why stop at potential AFL fans. This 60+ year VFL/AFL fan is disillusioned by this new trend - using drugs to gain an edge, which I believe Essendon freely admitted doing. Not working their arses off, but rather using injections as shortcuts.

And I have a friend who had what he described as a serious man crush on Hird who now cannot look at anything Essendon or even AFL.

Vlad may have thought that tipping them off was clever, and would help prevent a scandal, but he in fact has made it all far worse.

[La Dee-vina Comedia 17,072]

Just amazing, from The Age.

"The tribunal on Friday revealed that it had cleared him of administering thymosin beta 4 to the players but chairman David Jones was "comfortably satisfied" that the biochemist was guilty of attempting to traffick hexarelin "to third parties, namely to Essendon athletes and support persons of the club" and "assisting, encouraging and aiding, abetting and covering up" use of the drug contrary to the anti-doping code.

He was also found guilty of a charge relating to an official at the Carlton Football Club and involving Australian baseball.

Dank was also found guilty on two of three charges of attempting to traffick to Essendon players humanofort, a cocktail of drugs, including insulin growth factor 1, insulin growth factor 2, mechano growth factor, fibroblast growth factor, follistatin and thymosin beta 4."

How does an AFL Tribunal make a finding about Australian baseball? If I were the AFL I wouldn't want a tribunal of another sport getting involved in my affairs.

[sue 9,235]

How does an AFL Tribunal make a finding about Australian baseball? If I were the AFL I wouldn't want a tribunal of another sport getting involved in my affairs.

A good point. And again demonstrates why there should be an independent tribunal above all sports. Perhaps bodies like the AFL should have the right to make a presentation to it when it is considering a case involving one of their players, but that is it .

[Lucifers Hero 40,563]

Just announced that ASADA will NOT appeal!

Futile to do so really. More of the same.

Only plausible path is for WADA to do its thing with CAS.

Let's hope they pick up the ball and run with it now.

Edit: Just saw this in the Age: "ASADA chief executive Ben McDevitt hinted at a lack of trust in the AFL system by saying any appeal by ASADA would "ultimately serve only to delay consideration of these matters" and deny WADA an immediate chance to take the case to the international Court of Arbitration for Sport."

Game On!

[rjay 25,347]

Just announced that ASADA will NOT appeal!

Futile to do so really. More of the same.

Only plausible path is for WADA to do its thing with CAS.

Let's hope they pick up the ball and run with it now.

Well, that's interesting but not surprising I guess.

[Willmoy1947 4,221]

Does any body have to be publically advised that the case is going to be investigated by WADA and what powers do they(WADA) have?

[Buffalo 203]

Makes sense - who knows how long it would take for the AFL to convene an appeals tribunal...anything from 4 to 6 months would be my guess. By then the season would be over and Essendon get their way yet again.

[binman 44,695]

Lets see if the big bad WADA wolf has any thirst for a fight and if does any teeth.

By the by love that Dank is threatening to appeal after not cooperating at all in the process thus far, including not bothering to give evidence to the tribunal. I assume he would have to do so (ie go on stand, cooperate etc) in order to appeal. Too funny.

Also made me laugh he is threatening to sue the people who told lies about him to the tribunal. Speaking of teeth, if he was a tiger he'd be a pretty toothless one.

[daisycutter 29,914]

given wada's budget of $20M i doubt they will pursue it for a non-international game

they might make a bit of noise and hiss a bit but that's about all

city hall obfuscation and vested interests will win again

makes me sick but what can you do

[jackaub 1,402]

The whole sorry affair is probably finished and will gradually slip from view.

The AFL wern't fair dinkum and manged the fallout and ASADA only played politics and wern't fair-dinkum

Essendon Football club have got away with it. Hang your heads in Shame AFL Your govenance is just a sick joke

[deefrag 277]

Congratulations Dopers you are now officially in the "Big League"! Please be introduced to the WORLD ANTI DOPING AUTHORITY!

[Bluey's Dad 3,419]

given wada's budget of $20M i doubt they will pursue it for a non-international game

they might make a bit of noise and hiss a bit but that's about all

city hall obfuscation and vested interests will win again

makes me sick but what can you do

That's their budget?

Sigh.

[sue 9,235]

Congratulations Dopers you are now officially in the "Big League"! Please be introduced to the WORLD ANTI DOPING AUTHORITY!

If WADA's budget is indeed that low, I fear they won't expend limited resources on such a low profile parochial sport as ours. Internationally, croquet ranks higher.

While WADA may agree with the concern that EFC's conduct is a DIY guide to cheating, they may decide there is not much benefit to them to appeal in the AFL case and that they can jump on it when a high profile international sport tries and maybe tighten their rules in the meantime. Bummer if correct sadly.

[sue 9,235]

If you want evidence of what ASADA thinks of any AFL Tribunal process, look no further than McDevitt's statement today:

"I am also aware that appealing any of these decisions within the AFL framework would ultimately serve only to delay consideration of these matters by the World Anti-Doping Agency."

Ed to add: Though in contrast to my gloomy earlier post, maybe that means he is confident WADA will appeal.

[robbiefrom13 894]

given wada's budget of $20M i doubt they will pursue it for a non-international game

they might make a bit of noise and hiss a bit but that's about all

city hall obfuscation and vested interests will win again

makes me sick but what can you do

I'll tell you what I can and will do. If Essendon gets away with it, I will walk away.

There's plenty else in life that doesn't reek of lies, cheating, money and corruption.