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Essendon players cleared: How the supplements saga played out

31st March, 2015
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After more than two years of speculation, the AFL Anti-Doping Tribunal handed down their verdict on Tuesday afternoon, clearing the 34 past and present Essendon players embroiled in the supplements saga.

Chairman of the AFL Anti-Doping Tribunal, David Jones, released the following statement:

The Tribunal today handed down its decision, which was unanimous, and reasons for the decision with respect to the alleged violation of the 34 players of the AFL Anti-Doping Code.

The Tribunal was comfortably satisfied that the substance Thymosin Beta-4 was at the relevant time a prohibited substance under the Code.

The Tribunal was not comfortable satisfied that any player was administered Thymosin Beta-4.

The Tribunal was not comfortably satisfied that any player violated clause 11.2 of the AFL Anti-Doping Code.

The Tribunal’s decision in relation to the violations under the Code alleged against a former Essendon support person will be handed down at a later date, together with reasons for the decision.

The Tribunal’s decision and reasons have been provided to the parties in accordance with the function performed by the Tribunal. That function does not include the provision of the decision and reasons to other persons. Any publication of the Tribunal’s decision and reasons is a matter for the parties.

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How the supplements saga played out:
February 2013 – Essendon chairman David Evans and chief executive Ian Robson self-report to ASADA and the AFL.

April 2013 – Pressure increases on coach James Hird to stand down.

May-June 2013 – Essendon players are interviewed by the AFL and ASADA.

June 2013 – Jobe Watson admits to having consumed the anti-obesity drug AOD-9604.

July 2013 – Paul Evans stands down as power is handed to Paul Little.

August 2013 – Essendon stripped draft picks, excluded from playing finals in 2013 and Hird is suspended for 12-months.

June 2014 – 34 past and current Essendon players are issued with show cause notices alleging they were administered the WADA-banned peptide, Thymosin Beta-4.

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August 2014 – The 34 players are issued infraction notices and they begin their provisional suspensions.

March 2015 – Players holding infraction notices miss the three preseason NAB Challenge matches.

March 2015 – The ‘Essendon 34’ are cleared of wrong-doing.

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