Fremantle tagger Ryan Crowley’s doping hearing is underway, but a decision on his future isn’t expected to be known for several weeks.
Crowley is fronting the AFL’s Anti-Doping Tribunal on Monday after testing positive to a “specified” banned substance last year.
If found guilty, Crowley faces a ban of up to two years – a situation that would almost certainly end his AFL career.
The 31-year-old has been provisionally suspended since September last year.
Crowley claims he ingested the banned substance through a painkiller he sourced from outside of the club.
If Crowley is found not guilty – or is suspended for eight months or less – it would free him to rejoin Fremantle’s playing ranks immediately.
However, a decision one way or another isn’t expected until later this month or early next month.
The three-person tribunal comprises of chairman David Jones, former judge John Nixon, and Dr Susan White.
Crowley will be represented by his lawyer George Haros.
The hearing is closed to the media and public.
Crowley’s absence has been barely felt by Fremantle, who are two wins clear on top of the table following their 7-0 start to the season.
Dockers coach Ross Lyon says it’s too hard to predict whether Crowley will be able to play for the Dockers this season.
“It’s out of my jurisdiction. I’m sitting here waiting for the outcome like you are,” Lyon said.
“ASADA aren’t ringing me up and saying, ‘We haven’t heard the case yet, but here’s what’s going to happen Ross’.
“Look, he would be stressed.
“He would like it resolved one way or another.
“It’s disappointing he’s found himself in that (situation).
“But he’s worked his way into it, and at the end of the day he’s accountable.
“And he’ll get his opportunity to put his case forward and have a fair hearing.”
Dalgety Carrington
Roar Guru
The way the tribunal goes on this will be very interesting. Will they throw the book at him? How will it compare to other cases? It's quite unique to any of the other cases, as the likely substance (methadone) is not performance enhancing, they probably have a greater scope to vary the penalty according to contextual factors. But given the hysteria about banned substances turning up in illicit drugs that's sweeping the industry (and that it's Crowls we're talking about here) I wonder if they'll go all medieval on his asp, with the idea of a deterrent message to players and possibly giving themselves some breathing space for the Collingwood decision.
13th Man
Guest
The unfortunate thing for Crowls is even if he was cleared he probably still isn't in Freo's best 22. Guys like Sheridan, Clancee Pearce, Sutcliffe and even youngsters such as Blakely and Weller are probably all ahead of him.