A report by the Herald Sun identifying 14 former and current Essendon Bombers involved in the ASADA investigation into the supplement scandal that rocked club last season has infuriated Dons chairman Paul Little.
The Herald Sun published the names of 10 current Bombers who allegedly told the Australian Sports Anti-Doping Authority that they suspected to have been injected with banned peptides during the 2012-13 season, which saw the Bombers ousted from the 2013 AFL finals campaign, fined $2 million, stripped of draft picks and coach James Hird suspended for 12 months.
AFL, Essendon Bombers Supplement Scandal Negotiations Revealed
The named players may face lengthy suspensions should ASADA issue infraction notices.
Among the list of players identified by the Herald Sun were captain Jobe Watson, Dyson Heppell, Michael Hurley, Tom Bellchambers, Jake Melksham, Heath Hocking, Michael Hibberd, Kyle Hardingham, Tayte Pears and Alex Browne.
Former Bombers Stewart Crameri, (Western Bulldogs) and Scott Gumbleton (Fremantle) and delisted players Ricky Dyson and Sam Lonergan were also named.
“As previously stated, we believe that our players did not take anything harmful, performance enhancing or illegal during 2012,” Little wrote to members and supporters in an email.
Little described the Herald Sun report as “leaks, mistruths and a lack of ethical and professional behaviour”.
“The disclosure of players names will not change the outcome of the investigation in any way whatsoever, however it unfairly impacts our players, their reputations, their families and our club,” he wrote.
It remains unsure whether ASADA will take further action against the club by chasing up the suspected players, however the authority may face trouble determining what substances were issued to the playing group and whether they were banned at the time.
“I know that they’ve presented something for determination,” AFL football operations manager Mark Evans told afl.com.au about the ongoing ASADA proceedings.
“But they’ll contact us when they’re ready to tell us something further.
“I’d also be surprised whether there’s a full stop on to anything. People would always reserve the right to review things in the future anyway.”
Essendon kicks off its 2014 AFL season against North Melbourne on Friday, March 21, at Etihad Stadium.
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