And it continues to roll on. The ‘he said, she said’ of the Essendon Football Club’s drugs scandal.
Who knew what, who should be punished and what exactly happened are all open to speculation as the innuendo and allegations are flying through the media.
Every self-respecting Melbournian has an opinion. Many lunch tables in workplaces all over our great city are in furious disagreement as to just what transpired and what exactly should be done with those involved.
It’s getting very difficult to separate fact from fancy and from separating the personalities involved from their alleged actions, or lack of action.
The long-running drugs saga at one of the oldest and biggest clubs in the competition is beginning to take its toll not just on those intimately involved, but also on fans and onlookers alike.
As we eagerly await the release of the ASADA report into the goings-on at Essendon, it is timely to reflect on just what is at the heart of this issue.
So, what are we really talking about here?
Is the issue the drugs that the Essendon players were injected with are of dubious legality?
Is the issue a broader question of whether athletes should be injected with any substance at all, let alone one that is not approved for human use?
Are we also talking about corporate governance and its apparent breakdown at Essendon?
These are all important questions and there is no doubting the vast array of opinions held by the public in response to them. But sadly, if these have been the things you have been most focused on, you are missing the real point of this whole sorry and sordid affair.
What is at stake in this affair is the notion of creating an environment that allows for the development of a culture of doping in Australian Rules football.
This scandal should be seen as a catalyst for ensuring that the AFL hierarchy learns some serious lessons about how easily a doping culture can pervade a sport.
The AFL need only look to the sport of cycling to see the destructive effects of a doping culture.
For those of you who ever click onto the cycling pages of this website or visit other cycling forums, you will know the hours that are given over to this subject.
We endlessly debate the damaging effects of the drugs epidemic that has strangled cycling and how best to deal with it.
We can’t even watch blue ribbon events like the Tour de France without that nagging doubt at the back of our minds as to the legitimacy of the winners.
With this in mind, let me ask you:
Do you want constant suspicion and cynicism to surround the winner of every Brownlow Medal, Coleman Medal or Grand Final result?
The AFL is in a unique position to confront doping and ensure that the insidious culture of cheating that pervades so many other sports does not take hold in our unique game.
To do so requires moral courage though. It requires the administrators to put aside the greed brought on by the dollar signs of increased revenue at the expense of an honest game and the ability to separate mates and personalities from the corrupting influence of doping.
The AFL hierarchy have been on a fact mission to the US in recent weeks. However, I would like to suggest another type of fact finding mission that does not require leaving the office.
All they need to do is jump on any cycling media website or forum and spend some time ingesting the damage that years of unchecked and allegedly officially sanctioned doping has done to that great sport.
The biggest lesson for the AFL to learn from cycling’s experience is that of the role of sporting administrative bodies in ensuring their sport stays clean of cheating.
There are many allegations flying through cycling that the current UCI administration have, at the very least, some serious questions that need addressing.
There are allegations that cycling’s administrators were so enamoured by the dollars and exposure a certain Texan brought to the sport that any suggestion of dodgy practices and test results were swept under the carpet.
The money was rolling in, the sport was expanding, alleged donations were made and the biggest and most frightening institutionalized doping regime flourished.
We need to ask ourselves if this is what we want to see in AFL.
Will the AFL have the moral courage to put the dollar signs to one side and send a clear and powerful message to those who wish to pump young men full of untested substances, that these sorts of actions and this culture has no place in our code?
Because the frightening thing in all of this is not just what was injected, but the cultural belief that it is okay to do this to young men who put their faith in the club that they are rightly proud to play for.
In some respects, it actually doesn’t matter if the Essendon players who were involved in this took a prohibited substance. The reality, it seems, is that the Essendon Football Club was on a trajectory to developing a culture where injecting players with highly suspicious substances was not questioned; and for all intents and purposes, nobody raised any moral or ethical questions about the practice. For that reason alone, everyone allegedly involved should be punished to the full extent of the rules they have transgressed.
The AFL stands at the precipice.
It can choose to make a stand against doping and its culture of greed. It can choose to punish those whose motives, let alone actions, should fill us with moral disgust. The AFL can send a clear message to its players, staff, fans and the broader community, that such behaviour will not be tolerated.
Only time will tell which way the pendulum will swing.
Phil Maguire
Guest
I don't know about you lot but I read somewhere that the claims of injections were highly exaggerated and that this is mentioned in the ASADA Report. No one knows the facts, and this story, as well written as it is, jumps to a conclusion that is still based on speculation.
Billy
Guest
I can't imagine they will get bans without clear evidence of wrongdoing. Look how hard it was to pin Lance Armstrong down - the only thing that finally did him in was the sworn affidavit of George Hincapie (an unimpeachable witness) which was only obtained with considerable effort and threat. Without records, positive tests, clear admissions of guilt, or the testimony of at least one but preferably two or more lilly white witnesses there is little proof that anything wrong actually occurred. Another example was the trial of OJ Simpson. Innocent until proven guilty is the name of the game and the key word is "proven".
Billy
Guest
Don't the players have agents? Wouldn't the players with doubts have discussed the new doping regime with those agents - i.e. sought independent advice. I am sure agents are required to be familiar with the doping code as part of their accreditation - I can't believe that all of the agents were ok with EFC's new regime or didn't at least seek clear confirmation and records of what was being injected into their client's bodies (or does the business not reward boat rocking?).
Michael Jenkins
Guest
Thanks graham, interesting that in your last paragraph you mention your boredom, mate after reading your first sentence I was bored, what a lot of syrupy cods wallop . In the Ziggy report, it is damming of the whole EFC and really suggests that what developed was way beyond normal practice, now for young kids entering the system as you mentioned they trusted management but I cannot believe players in their 4/5/6 years at a club would not have suspicions of this new method of shooting up galleries down the road , as suggested in Ziggy's report how out of control it all became, surely some players would know what is going on, you have rose coloured glasses on buddy, I may as you say suffer stupidity but you my friend are the most niave fellow but then again your not alone, now all this is said and done lets get back to playing the game and not the man.... Ok
Lroy
Guest
What interests me the most is will the arbitary rulings of ASADA , WADA and the alphabet soup of doping agencies stand up to common law? What happens if guys get long bans... despite not testing positive to any substance... if they also deny taking any substance?? If they are given bans.. they will probably sue in court for loss of income etc ... the courts will have to rule if WADA sanctions are actually legal under Australian common law...
Graham
Guest
Congratulations.. This is by a long, long way, the most sensible thing I have seen or heard on the subject since February. And yet, sadly, judging by many of the responses (I couldn't bring myself to read them all), it didn't seem to get through to the die-hards. This is not about Essendon, and what they may have done ,or not done. For those that think similar things, if not worse, have not occurred at most professional sporting organisations, I can only say "You're Dreamin' ". Instead of ranting about Essendon, you should be grateful that it wasn't your club that was exposed, at least NOT YET. The problem is the culture that demands success at all costs, and the root of that culture is money. Players are groomed to play AFL football from their early teenage years, gradually being weeded out until, at eighteen, only the best remain. The financial rewards are huge, and you generally get only one chance. Not only do you have to be skillful, you must also fit the physical profile, and when you are injured you must recover quickly. I read somewhere that the average span of an AFL career is five years. What would you do to, firstly, get the chance, then make the most of it? And now, it seems that as well as the skill and the body, you need the wisdom of a middle-aged man, and a PHD in biochemistry. And it's not just the players. The clubs are under huge financial and media pressure to be successful. Just look at the ridicule and scorn directed at the "cellar dwellers", and the financial pressure that results. The rewards for winning premierships are so huge that every little advantage is priceless. How many could resist the charms of the guy who says "look, I can give your players more stamina, I can make them stronger, I can get them to recover in half the time, and best of all its perfectly legal." There is a problem that most of us "average" people have buried inside us. We think that football (whichever code) is a game. At a professional level it is not a game, it is BUSINESS, and anyone who believes that a business won't do whatever is required to be successful (including the slightly dodgy) is once again "dreamin' ". So, Essendon, from the kindest view, turned a blind eye to the practices of someone who "ALLEGEDLY" was of less than perfect moral character, in an effort to improve the performance of their team. Or, more likely, for the same reasons, hired someone to do a job, and like most businesses, let him do it. The players put their trust in people who were supposed to be looking after them. SOME of them were "ALLEGEDLY" given some substances which MAY or MAY NOT have been prohibited. My personal belief is that neither the players nor the management of the Essendon Football Club had any intention of actually "Cheating". The management may have been naïve and the players may have been too trusting, but I don't feel that anyone deserves to be hanged for it. It is obvious that there are a lot of people (many of whom seem to be contributors to this site), whose hatred, bigotry and blood lust, will accept nothing less than the most dire penalties. The media loves you. The most productive thing that the AFL can do is to set in place codes of practice and monitoring procedures to ensure that, at least on a club basis, this cannot reoccur. Unless they remove the rewards, the temptation to experiment will always be there. The trick is to manage it. But of course they have the media and the government, not to mention the Hitler Youth, to satisfy, so there will be punishment, misdirected or not.. I hope it works. I could spend much more time discussing the role of the media in this, or even role of the drug agencies ho seem to operate under a somewhat dubious system, but I am getting bored for now. For Michael Jenkins How about the hypocrisy which prevents a player from using a drug to help heal an injury, or take certain painkillers for a headache, or drink too much coffee, but allows him to be injected with pain inhibiters during a game, to allow him to play on, or if he is an asthmatic, to use steroids which allow him to play. And as for stupidity, your comments show that you are an expert in that area. But be comforted, You are not alone. Thankfully you are entitled to your opinion and not subject to the same restraints that you choose to inflict on others. BTW I apologise for focusing on you, its just that your ridiculous response was staring at me the whole time I was writing this.
Ads
Guest
Well said.
Michael Jenkins
Guest
I get confused about the hypocrisies of the drugs situation, one player drinks a sports drink and will get punished, the Essendon players sign consent forms and they don't question the " abnormal" activity in the supplements programme even if it involves going to some clinic down the road to have their injections? WTF, if anything comes from this they should be banned from playing based on their stupidity. The charges would be " bringing the human race into disrepute" . As a member of the general public I'm saddened to think the EFC have tarnished this game and because of this any great performances will be looked on with scepticism. The AFL have got to come down heavily on all those involved in saga.
Kate Smart
Expert
Thanks Mark. I do agree that a lack of governance has been in this issue. What I'm most concerned about though is that it seems a culture has developed that says 'winning at any cost' even if that means ignoring the moral questions behind your actions is the culture of the Essendon Football Club. Thanks again for your comment.
Kate Smart
Expert
Thanks Micko, you're right about the flags being raised and no action taken. I think this scenario has been allowed to develop in other sports and the results have been disastrous. I do hope that the lessons that are here to be learnt are. Thanks for your comment.
Kate Smart
Expert
Thanks Australian Rules, I really hope you are right about the AFL peering over the edge and reversing. I have to say that I do agree, that Essendon should be severely punished, which I think makes me the only Essendon supporter in Melbourne to hold that opinion! Thanks again for the comment.
Micko
Guest
Great article Kate. So many red flags would have been raised and yet no one took any action, or was it a simply - Im head coach, we are going in this direction and we are going to do whatever it takes. Surely not... Please not.
Avon River
Guest
And Mick Malthouse told him via the press to keep out of club affairs. I wonder whether Malthouse would respond thst way now.
Judy Morris
Guest
If the AFL doesn't deal with this before the finals and somehow Essendon win the flag, where does that leave the competition.?No-one will accept that they won on their merrits only. What if Watson wins the brownlow this year again? [ BEST AND FAIREST}This is an insult to every other player and supporter of every club.The AFL has had a free hand to do anything that suits their pockets for years.The fans supply that money.They should take some of the blame for this mess,as in the past there has been no scrutiny to check on club practices.This no comment business is garbage.If they were honest with the supporters no one would be guessing or people wouldn;t be leaking information.As a Victorian supporter, now following an interstate team thanks to the AFL they are ruining the history of our game.We used to be proud of OUR game.Are we now????????
Australian Rules
Guest
We'll wait and see on your last point Nathan, I think it's coming. And to be fair, such was the unprecedented scale of this supplements program (and such was the lack of a smoking gun like a failed test) that it required a full ASADA investigation to work out what went on and who to punish.
Nathan of Perth
Guest
If we didn't like what we saw, you couldn't tell from the paucity of punishments being handed out. There are only two non-expendables to a club - senior coach and playing group and we seem to completely lack the intestinal fortitude to do what needs to be done.
Anthony
Guest
Has anyone remembered the much-maligned Andrew Demetriou warning us against so-called sports scientists 2 years ago? The AFL has been way ahead on this issue - it has just taken the Essendon affair to wake us all up. Most of us footy fans are happy with the things - but this has shaken our casual & relaxed view of the sport we love. The AFL will deal with this & footy will be the better for it. Essendon will be punished & we will have a more sober view of things. But we will all be at the game this w/e & counting down to the Finals.
mark
Guest
Sort of agree, i actually hope Essendons penalty is not that severe, it is purely a lack of governance for mine, a very unfortunate situation, i don't actually blame Hird, but no doubt he will have to take some sort of unpleasant medicine. History will repeat, and this will not be the last time we hear about drugs, but hopefully the clubs and players get a big wakeup call, and are more diligent.
Australian Rules
Guest
I don't agree that the "AFL is at the precipice of a doping culture". I *do* agree that Essendon took us all to the precipice... and when we, the AFL and even they, peered over the edge...no-one liked what they saw. As a result, *everyone* has learnt Essendon's lesson. No team will ever engage in the dangerous and unethical practices that the Bombers did. The standards to which every club & individual must adhere (according to the new AFL laws enacted as a result of this scandal) will be higher than ever. Essendon will be punished and I hope it is severe...not because I hate Essendon (far from it), but I hate what they did to our game and to themselves. Rather than being at the precipice of a doping culture, I think the game of Australian Football has peered over the edge and is reversing from it at some speed.
Tim
Guest
Yep, I have workmates referring to EFC as Syringy Hill and arguing that Jobe's 2012 Brownlow will forever have an asterix against it, regardless of the outcome of the ASADA investigation. EFC has invited skepticism and drug speculation into our sport and the time will soon come where we see if the AFL is resigned to keeping these uninvited visitors or will take decisive action to turf them out.