AFL Players’ Association chief Paul Marsh has denied Essendon’s 34 past and present players facing show-cause notices are seeking to do deals with ASADA.
Marsh said on Monday the players insist they’ve done nothing wrong.
“The AFL Players’ Association can confirm that the players’ legal team has now spoken to the majority of the 34 players who have been issued with show-cause notices, and will seek to speak to the remainder of the players in coming days,” Marsh said in a statement.
“Contrary to media reports and speculation, the players remain steadfast in their position that they are not looking to resolve this matter through a ‘deal’ with ASADA.
“Players continue to take the view that they have done nothing wrong. And despite numerous requests, players have not been provided with any evidence to suggest otherwise.
“This matter has already severely disrupted two AFL seasons and taken an enormous toll on the players involved.”
Essendon caretaker coach Mark Thompson suggested it was time his players became a “bit selfish”.
“They’ve been hanging around long enough … being polite, fair and reasonable,” Thompson told Fox Footy.
“It’s time for them to get a bit selfish and get on with it, do what they want to do.
“I’m happy to support whatever they want.”
Marsh says the players want the matter to proceed as soon as possible.
“For this to happen ASADA needs to provide the evidence it has and we call on them to do so urgently,” Marsh said.
“There has been speculation that Essendon Football Club or James Hird will seek to appeal the decision made by Justice Middleton. That is a matter for them.”
Essendon and coach Hird went to the Federal Court to test the legality of last year’s joint AFL-ASADA investigation into the club’s 2012 supplements program.
However last week, Justice John Middleton handed down a bombshell verdict in which he comprehensively ruled against Hird and the club.
ASADA is free now to proceed with show cause notices against 34 current and former Essendon players, with the potential for anti-doping bans.
The anti-doping body is yet to confirm how long the players will have to respond to the show-cause notices, but it is understood to be 10 or 14 days.
Fairfax Media reported on Monday some Essendon players were “contemplating a deal with ASADA in a bid to accelerate their return to the AFL”.
Mister Football
Roar Guru
That's correct, although McDevitt stated that he received advice from the Government Solicitor that it was better practice for the allegations to be accompanied with evidence, and that's precisely what they did in the Cronulla case. It seems a fair enough proposiiton, afterall, it's hardly fair that ASADA can point the finger, and the person with the accusing finger pointed at them must then prove their innocence - surely a tiny bit of evidence backing the allegation is not too much to ask.
Mister Football
Roar Guru
Jano half the playing group testified at interview that they believed they were injected with Thymomodulin rather than TB4. What more can the players say now? I put it to you that the onus is on ASADA to prove that the players were given TB4 rather than Thymomodulin.
Mister Football
Roar Guru
ASADA accepted that the Cronulla players were duped into taking two prohibited substances, and those which took the deal effectively got a 3 match suspension. Given that the case here rests on whether it was TB4 or the legal thymomodulin which was administered to the players, and a large chunk of the players testifed at interview that they were assured they were being given the legal form, then one would think there is a stronger case for the Essendon players being duped than there was for the Cronulla players being duped (assuming the Essendon players were actualy given TB4, which is yet to be proven). At the moment, there is a circumstantial case that TB4 may have been used at Essendon, and as a consequence, all 34 players received SCNs, but I seriously doubt that ASADA would have evidence of each of those 34 players being administered with TB4.
Mister Football
Roar Guru
Lamby not sure why you are referring to WADA and US cycling. The only thing which matters here is the AFL anti-doping rules. ASADA might be able to put up an allegation to the ADRV Panel on a bit of a whim, but once it gets to the AFL anti-doping tribunal, I can assure you that ASADA must prove that each of the 34 Essendon players used TB4 to a standard of proof midway between beyond reasonable doubt and balance of probabilities, consistent with the AFL anti-doping rules. Of course, even before we get to the AFL anti-doping tribunal, the AFL must first be satisfied that infraction notices need to be issued.
Jake
Guest
http://m.youtube.com/watch?v=kZ7O9NFKEfY&feature=share Apparently one of the worlds biggest sports associations the NFL has no problems with needles. Not even when players are getting together and pumping themselves full of all sorts of cocktails after matches in their hotel rooms without any doctor supervision. Interesting video!
joe b
Guest
I doubt a lawyer, already on the payroll, is keen to reduce their billable hours, and tarnish their reputation, by saying it is uncontestable. Furthermore, it would be incredibly naive to think ASADA's lawyers aren't savvy enough to have well tested evidence to substantiate their claims of doping.
Danny D
Guest
34 players is basically the whole 2012 playing list bar 6 or 7 players! Can eliminate D. Zaharakis as he conceded that he didn't take part because he doesn't like needles and common sense would suggest fletch probably also didn't take part. 4 or 5 left ... Probably from the rookie list and first years such as your Gregory's, Hunter's et cetera
Jack Smith
Roar Guru
a)Only way I can see an out for the players is that they were actually deceived. What I mean by this is, they asked what was taken, was given label/receipt etc of what drug was. Then took drug. There may be a case to argue there. b)Otherwise...there needs to be proof that nothing illegal was taken. Which the amount of evidence for is in debate. I just want justice to be done. For justice, the truth needs to be found out. And in this case, I am not sure if it can be found.
Jack Smith
Roar Guru
Does anyone know whom the 34 players are? This is a legitimate question. If someone could link me an article (if one exists), I would be grateful. If there is not such evidence, well...
Mark
Guest
TB4 increases the naturally occurring peptide LKKTETQ. It is detectable in both plasma and urine. If a player is tested without TB4 and then again with TB4, the LKKTETQ level should be increased for the latter.
Mark
Guest
I can assure that the US Cycling team would not bother with TB4 because it is not performance enhancing.
joe b
Guest
The players have all signed contracts stating they must comply with WADA anti doping practices and regulations as part of their AFL contracts. ASADA believes these players have taken prohibited substances, and believe they have compelling evidence. The players and the club don't know, or are not telling, what the players took. The players ignorantly, or innocently, did not sufficiently question the injection regime. It is very possible, and seemingly probable, that the players are, as you put it, drug cheats... but not intentionally. There must be a player willing to test the waters, in an effort to move forward.
Mark
Guest
Already heard all this Lamby. This is last years news and EFC suffered heavily because of it. What do you say about the other 11 clubs that the AFL investigation found to no know what their players were administered? Turn a blind eye on them?
IanW
Guest
The players decide if they are going to answer the SCNs. Then the players decide if they are going to plead. Then we all find out if ASADA can hit a level of proof beyong reasonable doubt that the drugs taken in the SCNs were taken. If they can, and theres no deals, then the base penalty is 24 months.
Pope Paul VII
Guest
That's the best they can hope for to get leniency.
IanW
Guest
The only current est for TB-500 is a urine test. And it works on horses. Hong Kong Jockey Club developed it. Might work on humans. And has to be done soon after administration.
Lamby
Roar Rookie
"It’s ASADA that’s making the accusations – players don’t have to do anything – it’s up to ASADA to prove they were administered with TB4." Only if it were a criminal case! These are drugs in sport laws designed to create a level playing field. You need to think in terms of world sport. Let me give you an example of why ASADA do not need to prove 'beyond reasonable doubt' (or 100% proof): - WADA have evidence that the US Postal cycling team have paid for some banned drugs - say TB4. - WADA have evidence that the drugs were delivered to a place where US Postal have admitted to being treated medically. - The injection schedule records have not been recovered (US Postal know they have been cheating so destroyed them or did not keep records). If this was a murder case they would all get off as we do not know 'who did it'. But WADA have the powers (and this is why they have the powers) to ban all members of the team.
Darren
Guest
The show cause notices are not required to be backed with 'evidence'. This is the step that basically says "We think you did something, tell us why you think we shouldn't charge you". Nothing to do with evidence. That comes later with the infraction notices.
Jano
Guest
An article in The Australian today states that the AFLPA's lawyers were able to sight a 100 page document given to the ADVRP by ASADA earlier this year, through their being "interested parties" in EFC and Hird's failed court case. The document is said to contain a summary of the evidence gathered by ASADA up to that (undisclosed) date. The AFLPA's lawyers noted the absence of a "smoking gun", and assessed the evidence in the document as "shaky". So it seems the evidence HAS been seen... What now?
josh
Roar Rookie
"Can I see the label." It's still the athlete's responsibility. It's like trying to argue speeding is ok because my boss said I had too.