Former Essendon coach Mark Thompson admits the AFL club’s controversial supplements regime was ethically questionable, but insists it was not illegal.
On the day that ASADA decided not to appeal the AFL anti-doping tribunal’s findings against 34 Essendon players, Thompson said James Hird was also innocent.
Thompson was Hird’s main assistant coach in 2012 when Stephen Dank ran the supplements program at the club.
In February 2013, the AFL and ASADA started a joint investigation that led to the landmark anti-doping tribunal verdicts against the 34 current and past players.
While ASADA will not appeal, WADA has three weeks to decide if it will challenge the not-guilty findings.
The tribunal found Dank guilty of 10 charges and he will appeal against those verdicts.
In an extensive interview on Fox Footy’s Open Mike program, Thompson became emotional when asked about Hird and the supplements regime.
“It’s grey – should systematic injection programs be put in place at clubs? No,” Thompson said.
“But were there rules against it? No.
“So ethically wrong to have it? Yes.
“Broken rules? No.
“Anything illegal taken? No.
“Was he (Hird) totally responsible for that? When you think about the law, he’s not – he’s not even in the top 20, believe it or not … responsibility for compliance and governance.”
Asked who he thought was the biggest victim in the supplements saga, Thompson replied “Hirdy”.
Thompson added that authorities had tried to divide the players, but failed.
“They really didn’t have anything .. they were just hoping,” he said.
“They (threw) that many lines out to try and hook the players and I think they were probably impressed by their resilience and their strength as one.
“No-one broke from the pack and I think they were waiting for it to happen.”
Thompson also partially defended Dank, but added the sports scientist put too much faith in his own methods.
“He’s a likeable guy, he believes in what he does – he’s passionate about his industry,” Thompson said.
“He’s not the devil – he’s not a devil of a man – I think he just believes in his products a bit too much and was able to convince people … he’s a salesman.”
In August 2013, the AFL hit Essendon with heavy penalties over the supplements saga.
Those included a $30,000 fine for Thompson and he does little to hide his bitterness.
“The night before the charges came out, I wasn’t charged,” he said.
“My solicitor all along said I shouldn’t have anything to worry about.
“(Former Essendon chairman) David Evans told me that may not even interview (Thompson).
“In the end, they needed to get a scalp and my head probably matched up perfectly.”
Thompson was caretaker coach at Essendon last year as Hird served his 12-month AFL suspension.
Thompson left the club at the end of the season in strained circumstances.
Doc Disnick
Roar Guru
Not necessarily AR. All player contracts are with the AFL, not the clubs themselves. Therefore one could deduce that if Workplace safety was breached then the Govt would have to take it up with the employer - the AFL in this instance.
pjm
Roar Rookie
Mate it doesn't matter. Every signatory to WADA around the world will hear about what the AFL have done.
AL
Guest
The impression I get when Mark Thompson and James Hird speak about this matter is that they are not telling everytrhing, So something happen BUT it didnt happen???????
Mikey
Guest
Ant - Are you saying that just because Hamilton was General manager of Football Operations or do you know for a fact that he was the driving force and made a unilateral decision to ignore the concerns raised by Bomber/Reid? And are you also saying that Hird definitely wasn't part of the decision to push on with the injections after concerns were raised? We know Hird was aware of Dr Reid's concerns so I assume that you have some evidence that Hird was also expressing concern or was pro-actively trying to stop it and wasn't a(the) driving force as has been strongly suggested throughout this saga? Because what Hird said under oath seemed to suggest otherwise where he stated that he did not agree with the clubs decision to sel-report and did not agree with all the findings in the Ziggy report. Those aren't really the comments you would expect from someone who had serious concerns or was not directly involved in the management of the program.
Keen Observer
Guest
He's not the devil...he's just a very naughty boy!
Ant
Guest
Mikey- Bloke named Paul Hamilton. Not J. Hird
Mister Football
Roar Guru
Although that might be a bit unclear given the ambiguity of player contracts (recalling ASADA's failed supreme court action).
Mikey
Guest
Since Bomber went to great lengths to say he was against the Supps programme, the question should have been asked "Then who was driving it?" Bomber claims that he tried repeatedly to stop it - so who was over-riding/ignoring his concerns? If concerns were being raised by Bomber and Doc Reid, there must have been someone there in a position of power that wasn't listening. Who was it?
Mikey
Guest
"He's not the devil...he's a saleman" Wasn't he supposed to be a Sports Scientist?
Pot Stirrer
Guest
Why has no one taken the players to task over allowing themselves to be injected with unknown substances, Seems to be Professional atletes of all codes generally get a free pass from the media. I have a suspicion that its becuase if they start asking uncomfortable questions from more than one or two players no players will talk to them infuture meaning they wont have a job. But yet they get on TV and want us to think they (the journalists) are whollier than thou.
AR
Guest
"I assume this breaches Workplace safety laws, but I can’t see a bunch of spineless Govt employees standing up to the almighty AFL." Standing up to the AFL..? If WorkSafe conducted an investigation, charges would be directed at the EFC, not the AFL.
Don Freo
Guest
So, Bomber was against it all...but was happy to stay in that culture because there was a job...and spat the dummy when there was no job. What integrity!! I'd believe everything he says...not. I don't think he is well.
Davo
Guest
What a great interview. It shows a further insight into poor mgmt culture. The biggest victims are the players, who were injected with a substance nobody is willing to acknowledge. Yet Thompson thinks that James Hird is the biggest victim. He also thinks he's a victim. Not proven guilty by an AFL appointed tribunal who is not willing to release all documents to the public. I assume this breaches Workplace safety laws, but I can't see a bunch of spineless Govt employees standing up to the almighty AFL.
Jack Smith
Roar Guru
I feel Bomber is too much of a nice guy to go dobbing in on people. *sigh*. May never get to the bottom of what happened at Essendon.
Franko
Guest
“They (threw) that many lines out to try and hook the players and I think they were probably impressed by their resilience and their strength as one. “No-one broke from the pack and I think they were waiting for it to happen.” ... Sounds more like a motorcycle club than a football club.
Lazza
Guest
AFL is a boutique domestic sport so WADA probably won’t bother.
PartTimeZombie
Guest
No-one comes out of this whole affair looking good, and I imagine WADA are furious. They even managed to convict Lance Armstrong with every power broker in the cycling world trying to stop them.
onside
Guest
"Thompson admits the AFL club’s controversial supplements regime was ethically questionable, but insists it was not illegal" A fine line of distinction, because it couldn't be proved. The fact is that Thompson has no idea what the players were injected with.