It is ridiculous to think that Jobe Watson will run out onto Patersons Stadium in Perth tonight as the captain of the Essendon Football Club.
The AFL has abrogated its responsibility in allowing the Brownlow medallist to continue playing.
On Fox Footy’s On The Couch program on Monday night Watson admitted to one of the most serious issues in sport using performance enhancing drugs.
We are told that he made the same admission when fronting the Australian Sports Anti-Doping Authority recently as part of the protracted investigation into Essendon’s radical medical practices last season.
Watson, whilst admitting that he took the banned substance AOD-9604, said “we [the players] have done nothing wrong. I don’t have any feeling of guilt. All I want to see is the truth come out”.
Well, for Jobe Watson, the truth has come out and it was he who supplied it.
The determination that a banned substance was administered to Watson has not come to light through a positive dope test but from his own public admission.
Whilst he may believe he has done nothing wrong those that legislate against doping in sport certainly do.
The WADA Code, the overarching framework with respect to the use of banned substances and practices in sport, sets out the responsibilities with respect to sportspeople in section 2.1.1:
“It is each athlete’s personal duty to ensure that no prohibited substance enters his or her body. Athletes are responsible for any prohibited substance or its metabolites or markers found to be present in their samples. Accordingly, it is not necessary that intent, fault, negligence or knowing use on the athlete’s part be demonstrated in order to establish an anti-doping violation …”
Further to that the president of WADA, John Fahey, has gone on record when asked for his reaction to the Watson revelation, saying “You are responsible for what goes into your system, it’s a strict liability”.
Surely then the AFL must make a stand with respect to Watson’s continued participation in the 2013 season.
Let’s draw a parallel in another sport and event.
Without doubt the most drug-plagued event of recent times is the Tour de France.
The number of riders to have been outed for drug use in the past 15 years is long and shameful, headed up by the one-time seven-time winner of the sport’s marquee event, Lance Armstrong.
Let us suppose a rider who has been selected in one of the 21 teams for next month’s Tour came out publicly and stated that he had used performance enhancing substances last year.
One could only imagine the hue and cry that would erupt if said rider was allowed to take his place in the peloton.
I could not imagine anyone do anything other than cry foul over such a decision yet that is precisely what the AFL has done with respect to Watson.
It is unconscionable to allow a self-confessed drug user to continue playing.
While Watson may be a very affable and likeable person, he has nonetheless broken the rules.
There is an interesting dichotomy currently at play within the AFL.
On the one hand, St Kilda’s veteran small-forward Stephen Milne, has been stood down indefinitely as a result of being charged with sexual assault in respect to an incident in 2004.
I am not for one moment comparing the two cases – Watson’s and Milne’s – in regard to the relevant seriousness of each offence but merely comparing the way the AFL has chosen to deal with them.
Many people have stated that Milne should be regarded as innocent until proven guilty.
The AFL has also strongly argued – and rightly so – that point.
Yet, in the interests of the parties concerned in the Milne case, the public and without doubt the AFL’s own considerations with respect to the reputation of the league, Milne has been stood down.
Milne, through his lawyers, has strenuously denied the charges and says that he will fight them in a court of law.
In contrast, Watson has admitted his wrongdoing with regard to being administered a banned substance.
However, in the AFL’s view this does not warrant being stood down.
All sporting codes do their utmost to uphold their integrity.
The term ‘bringing the game into disrepute’ is often heard coming from the lips of various administrators when something untoward occurs in their bailiwick.
The ASADA investigation is nearing its completion with the final report expected to be received by the AFL by mid-August.
The interviews conducted under the auspices of the ASADA probe have been carried out in camera.
The AFL, and by extension the public, will not be made fully aware of the investigation’s discoveries until they receive the final report.
There is a substantial prospect that more Essendon players will be found to have utilised banned substances.
What we do know at present, unequivocally, is that Jobe Watson has admitted to having done so.
Surely, the AFL must step up and prevent him from playing even though the full investigation is yet to be completed.
Duggy
Guest
All this from 2012 - 2013 has and will further affect: The Draft Positions on ladders Match results Finals Future issues....on & on
Daryl Adair
Guest
From day one of the ACC/ASADA announcement people have wanted details to try to make sense of the claims being made. The investigations have been lengthy and are ongoing. Calls for any player to step down before ASADA has completed its inquiries are presumptuous. Even if a player has consumed or been provided with a substance on the banned list there is a range of appeal mechanisms associated with a defence case. I haven’t the time or space to rehearse them here. They may ultimately prove ineffective, but defendants are entitled to put their case. There is no suspension of athletes before an anti-doping rule violation (ADVR) is made by a WADA-accredited anti-doping body (such as ASADA). So in the case of Essendon, Cronulla and Watson, ADVRs are still to be issued: until then everyone should chill. ASADA are certainly doing just that. In time they will make the appropriate recommendation, after which anyone with an ADVR will have to address the charge and associated penalty. Appeals are rarely successful, but they are allowed to be put. ASADA, in the meantime, is not requiring anyone to stop playing. If penalties are required, they will be served in the wake of an ADRV, certainly not before.
Bunny Boy Marty
Guest
Judy, you raise a great point, based on logic. Problem is that logic goes out the window here with pro athletes. To illustrate my point, allow me the use of an extreme case (professional bodybuilding). A recent survey of pro bodybuilders asked a hypothetical question. Faced with the choice of taking a pill that would allow the bodybuilder to win their ultimate event (mr Olympia) but then DIE the next day, 70% said they would take the pill! The sad thing is that many of these "experimental" therapies that have filtered down to our footy codes came from the murky world of pro bodybuilding. I think that an honest survey of our 20 something year old footy players would see a majority accept a supplement that took some time off their life if it guaranteed them a grand final win. Sad I know, but there you go. I think we're facing a tipping point here with some gut wrenching decisions to be made. But tough calls need to be made. There are many young men who have died pre-maturely in the pro BB circuit. Now we have questions over Jon Mannah's death.
deanp
Guest
won't somebody please think of the children!!
Johnny Howard
Guest
Thanks for the research Ian, it will be interesting to see how this plays out.
Broken_chairs
Guest
Yep it was atrocious. "i just can't believe the crowd is booing a player who has just admitted to taking a banned substance and really has no right to being out there tonight. "I've known him for some time, he's a stand-up, good sort of bloke, that's enough to exonerate him right?" "He's an absolute legend of the game and sounded really confident. he'll definitely get off." i seriously wanted to vomit.
Bruce Lee
Guest
Another clear case of the Bomber getting away with murder. Has this club got complete immunity. Competely unfair Jobr was allowed to play against WCE. Reminds me of the Bazza Hall fiasco in 95 that somehow allowed him to play (even after he admitted h shouldn't hav been) cost us the flag ( as well as th Kennelly bear hug on sampi) just like h 4 points tonight and Jobe acts disbelieve to the crowd ..... Disgraceful!!
On The Fence
Guest
Milne was stood down by the St Kilda FC. Not the AFL.
Micko
Guest
past a joke
On The Fence
Guest
Can you show me any evidence where its say's the drug in question is performance enhancing? I think not. Have a read of the Australian Crime Commission website where it states that "AOD9604 is not currently a WADA prohibited substance."
Emmo
Guest
Anthony, your logic problem here is that you are responding people who simply want some blood. Glenn Mitchell wants to be recognised as an expert and influence the AFL. Most responses here are from people who would just like to see Jobe Watson taken down because, well they just want an opponents players taken out. Most have no interest in due process, just give them a rope, a tree and someone to hang... Jobe as a professional sportsman had his instructions from the sporting body and followed them. But hey, why stick to facts when you can bay for blood? As for you Glenn, Holier Than Thou mate?
Avon River
Guest
I tend to ponder the professionalism of any Aust agency and ASADA has struggled for relevance as its expensive testing has proven a waste of money. John Fahey as WADA boss probably needs scalps out of this for his international reputation. But if WADA & ASADA have been putting out mixed messages or confusing info and then try to claim it as black & white after the fact then perhaps accountability might be a 2 way dtreet.
Cam Larkin
Roar Guru
The AFL is a joke.
AnthonyDarcy
Guest
Well said!
Micko
Guest
How can anyone take this AFL competition seriously unless the AFL pulls it finger out quick smart. Channel 7 commentators we appalling tonight. Apologists for Essendon and Jobe. It was sickening.
Bill Larkin
Guest
Pity Essendon's win tonight will count for nothing....
Simoc
Guest
So by WADA its ok and by ASADA it is not ok to inject this substance. Seems like Glenn misses the crucial part. Whatever this needle injecting of substances should be banned. The idea is to enhance performance by injecting substances into your body. So Essendon thought that it was ok to inject kids last year. Flow on effect to schoolkids is that this is the way to go, just don't tell anyone. Pretty average for all involved at all the clubs involved whatever the substance. Like heroin addicts they are then druggies.
Moe Green
Guest
Stam, I think your on the money. Short odds Dank got word from ASADA saying it wasnt on the banned list. Essendon have relied on this and gone ahead and used it. Someone from ASADA and the ACC have probably been roasted.....major balls up.
Bill Larkin
Guest
Great article Glenn. Did I hear on the radio today that Demetriou is on leave? Isn't there enough off-season time for him to do this? I think Watson made his statement deliberately and with club approval. Why? Because I think the club wants the whole issue to be resolved quickly so it can take its medicine now, in a year it won't win a premiership, which clears the decks for a serious tilt next year and the one after. If this isn't the case, Bombers management is culpable for allowing its captain to say what he did. Media Management 101.
Buckets74
Guest
Well written as always Glenn. I can only presume that the AFL are hoping for this to all settle down, but there is quite the contrast. Ben Cousins admitted using illicit drugs, and despite never returning a positive test, was banned from the game. For Jobe to come out and admit taking a banned substance IS NO DIFFERENT! Double standards by the AFL continue to dilute what once was a truly mighty sport.