Essendon chairman Paul Little is hopeful that ASADA will allow the supplements saga to end once and for all by choosing not to appeal against the AFL anti-doping tribunal’s verdict.
A relieved Little addressed the media alongside James Hird in the hours after the tribunal found 34 past and present Bombers players had not been given performance-enhancing drugs as part of the 2012 supplements program.
“I have no idea whether they will (appeal),” Little said.
“They have 21 days in which to make that call and at this stage we have no indication.
“I’m not going to give ASADA advice (though). As much as I’d perhaps love to do that, it’s a call that they have to make.
“But I would agree with (AFL chief executive Gillon McLachlan) that it is time to move on, definitely.”
While Little said the tribunal’s finding vindicated the club’s position that players had never been given any banned substances, he said it was incorrect to assume that he felt the verdict absolved the Bombers of all blame for the saga.
“We want to reiterate that we will never shirk our responsibility for the events of 2012,” he said.
“A number of times over the past two years I’ve expressed the Essendon Football Club’s sincere regret for the 2012 supplements program and the uncertainty and stress that it has caused our staff and players at the club.
“We’ve learned many lessons and we’re also confident that the actions taken by the club will ensure that our players can never be put in this position again.”
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