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.
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.
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.
Gazzatron
Guest
It's all a dodgy mess to me. From the outside looking in (not an AFL fan) it seems like the players were given some sort of banned substance but there isn't enough evidence to convict the players. I've been around long enough to know that just because someone has been found not guilty of something because of insufficient evidence that it doesn't mean they aren't guilty. When a club administers 15000 injections to players then they know exactly what was being injected. If the club believes they have done nothing wrong then why is there no paper trail or records kept or someone telling them what was actually injected? It all smells incredibly fishy to me.....
Chris
Guest
I guess ASADA will just take the same approach they took with Cronulla, ie: offer the players a 2 hour ban with a guilty plea, or a 17,000 year ban if they fight and lose. Anything to save face.
peteepie
Guest
Um…yes it is banned, and Jobe went on telly and admitted taking it. Time for Essendon to be disbanded and replaced by wet sponge
Bunyip
Guest
Why? They have no evidence.
Bobbo7
Guest
Yes I'm sure the AFL is gutted about this result.
DJW
Guest
The AFL just keeps on sweeping
Darc
Guest
Remember this all started over AOD9064, not a banned substance! ASADA did not have the evidence and had they a shred of decency and intregity the case would never have proceeded! Time from ASADA to be disbanded and replaced by an outfit who can behave in a timely and appropriate manner!
Brett McKay
Expert
ASADA press conference at 11am tomorrow. Surely they'll be appealing this..