The ACC nukes Australian sport

[yob]

ASADA has completed its probe:

http://www.theage.com.au/sport/asada-ha ... 33idd.html

Now they just need to complete it.

[yob]

http://www.theage.com.au/afl/afl-news/s ... 337pi.html

Simon Madden trying to skew the narrative to make the issue appear done and dusted. Now we even have to move on, that's how dead and buried it is.

And then he fluffs his balls about his tireless servitude of the people.



This can only mean something f***ing awesome is going to happen in a few days.

http://www.theage.com.au/afl/afl-news/e ... 33szw.html

Essendon in crisis as players set to be named in banned drugs inquiry

[Simmo79]

Thirteen months after the drugs in sport scandal broke, 12 AFL players are still looking for closure

Michael Warner, Mark Robinson
From: Sunday Herald Sun
March 01, 2014 10:20PM

TWELVE AFL stars including 10 Bombers risk bans after telling anti-doping investigators they thought they had been injected with peptides.

Club captain Jobe Watson, Dyson Heppell and Michael Hurley are among 10 current Essendon players the Australian Sports Anti-Doping Authority says told its investigators they suspected they had been injected with either Thymosin, AOD-9604 or both.


The others are Tom Bellchambers, Jake Melksham, Heath Hocking, Michael Hibberd, Kyle Hardingham, Tayte Pears and Alex Browne.

Stewart Crameri, now at the Western Bulldogs, Scott Gumbleton, now at Fremantle, and delisted Bombers Ricky Dyson and Sam Lonergan also told ASADA they believed or suspected they had been injected with the drugs while at Essendon in 2012.

Essendon players (from left to right): Michael Hurley, Tom Bellchambers, Jake Melksham, H

Essendon players (from left to right): Michael Hurley, Tom Bellchambers, Jake Melksham, Heath Hocking, Michael Hibberd, Kyle Hardingham, Stewart Crameri (Western Bulldogs), Ricky Dyson (Bundoora), Sam Lonergam (Glenelg), Scott Gunbleton (Fremantle), Alex Browne, Tayte Pears, Jobe Watson and Dyson Heppell. HeraldSun

But ASADA faces an uphill battle to make any charges stick, with the players unsure what they were given and questions over the legal status of AOD-9604.

Thymosin Beta 4 is a ban-ned substance, though two other variants of the peptide are legal.

And while the world anti-doping body is adamant AOD-9604 is banned, ASADA has been accused of telling ­Essendon in 2012 that the substance was permitted for use.

Whatever the arguments, the 12 players face an uncertain ­future on the eve of the season.

Bombers coach Mark Thompson said the club was desperate for a resolution.

“Hopefully one day soon there will be closure for (the players),’’ he said on Thursday.

Essendon chairman Paul Little said he did not wish to comment on the ­matter.

He denied making a public statement to members.

Aurora Andruska, outgoing chief of ASADA, told a parliamentary committee last week that investigations were complete and briefs of evidence were being prepared.

Retired Federal Court judge Garry Downes will review the briefs.

If a decision is made to take action, players would then be issued with “show cause’’ letters and given 10 days to make submissions before the Anti-Doping Rules Violation Panel ruled on their guilt.

The AFL would then decide what penalties - if any - to impose. That process is expected to take months.

One of the key hurdles ASADA will have to overcome is the circumstantial evidence surrounding Essendon’s use of Thymosin.

In a text message discovered by ASADA, sports scientist Stephen Dank tells former Essendon fitness boss Dean “The Weapon’’ Robinson in August 2011: “Don’t forget how important Thymosin is. This is going to be our vital cornerstone next year.

“It is the ultimate assembly regulatory protein and biological modifier.”

Stephen Dank has denied giving Thymosin Beta-4 to any Bombers players.


In another text to Robinson, Dank states: “Thymosin is so effective in soft-tissue maintenance.”

The AFL charge sheet against Essendon alleged the texts were evidence “Dank was referring to Thymosin Beta-4” because only the banned type of Thymosin aids in “tissue regeneration and recovery functions’’.

But Dank has denied giving Thymosin Beta-4 to any Bombers players and claims he was referring to the legal variant in the texts.

He has not given an interview to ASADA.

Whether bans could be pursued over AOD-9604 use is also unclear.

In its Drugs In Sport report last year, the Australian Crime Commission determined it was not banned.

But the World Anti-Doping Agency has consistently stated AOD-9604 was illegal from January 2011.

ASADA investigators conducted interviews with every player on Essendon’s 2012 list in April and May last year.

All Essendon players signed medical consent forms at the start of 2012 in the belief the drugs they were being given were approved by WADA.

The maximum penalty for doping is a two-year ban, but given the unique circumstances surrounding the supplements program, any players found guilty would expect to get significant discounts.

The Sunday Herald Sun also contacted Western Bulldogs, ­Fremantle, Lonergan’s manager and Ricky Dyson, but none wished to comment.

————————————————————————————————————————

The full list of substances allegedly used by Essendon players in 2012, according to ASADA:

Amino acids: Molecules that can build muscle, improve performance, help recovery.

Amino-Bol: Muscle-building supplement for workouts.

AOD-9604: Anti-obesity peptide used to increase power and rehabilitate soft-tissue injuries.

Arginine: Amino acid that helps heal wounds.

Caffeine: Stimulant of the central nervous system.

Cerebrolysin: Experimental peptide made from pig brain, and given to Alzheimer’s and stroke patients as it is said to improve cognitive performance.

Coenzyme: Used to treat muscle pain.

Colostrum: Derived from cow’s milk. Increases strength and endurance, builds muscle mass.

Comfrey: Herbal cream used for cuts, wounds and bruising.

Creatine: Bodybuilding supplement that provides energy to the muscles and helps recovery.

D-Ribose powder: Carbohydrate molecule that helps recovery and increases energy.

Glycogen: Substance deposited in bodily tissues as a store of carbohydrates.

Glutamine: Tasteless substance that reduces muscle breakdown.

Glutathione: Antioxidant that helps increase strength and endurance.

HMB: Bodybuilding capsules or powder supplement.

Humanofort: Supplement that encourages muscle growth.

Hydration shots: Electrolyte energy tablets

Interleukin: Helps regulate immune system

IV immune boost: Intravenous therapy that delivers vitamins, minerals and amino acids to the body

Last-Away: Antioxidant drink that helps fight fatigue and boost performance

Melibol: Branched chain amino acids designed to assist soft-tissue repair and recovery.

MP50: Weight-gaining, mass-increasing protein milk supplement.

Multi-vitamins: Supplements used for overall health.

Nitrovol: Pre-and post-workout powder shake used to build and refuel muscles.

Platelet-rich plasma: Injections of a players’ own blood used to treat musculoskeletal injuries.

Protein: Powder supplement used to build muscle and assist recovery.

Thymomodulin: Peptide derived from thymus glands of young calves. Helps boost the immune system. Not banned.

Thymosin: Peptide that assists muscle regeneration. The banned Thymosin Beta 4 is often used on racehorses.

Traumeel: Used in treatment of musculoskeletal injuries.

Tribulus: Herbal extract used for erectile dysfunction and low libido. Increases testosterone levels.

Ubiquinol: Anti-oxidant that helps increase energy.

Ubiquinone: Anti-oxidant that helps increase energy.

Vitamin D: Improves bone strength and muscle function.

http://www.news.com.au/sport/afl/thirte ... 6842446681

[yob]

Essendon is running its membership ad on Foxtel, addressing the controversy by ignoring it and urging fans to... "don the sash."

Shades of Mad Men - "Everyone else's cigarettes cause cancer. Ours are toasted."

Except I'm pretty sure ASADA isn't the "greatest marketing opportunity since cereal." Not with such a punchable face like Jobe Watson's all over it.

[yob]

BTW of that list in the article, I've got 5 in my pantry, my body gets 3 more of those from food, and one of them is made by my skin in sun light.

[yob]

The outrage!
http://www.afl.com.au/news/2014-03-02/dons-outraged

"Our club is by no means in any crisis but we are particularly frustrated and disappointed that the Herald Sun has been unable to show the same level of professionalism and integrity as our players have done throughout this process."

When a journalist outs Jobe Watson as having taken AOD-9604 it's rewl unprofshnl.



When Jobe Watson outs Jobe Watson as having taken AOD-9604, that's rewl profeshnl. Look at those big round puppy dog eyes. That's rewl profeshnl how he takes orders from a publicist.

Manipulative wankers. Tell your stories walking champs.

quack quaaack

[Simmo79]

Richard Ings tweeted that Danny Weidler has reported on Ch9 that Dank has been issued with 34 "show cause" notices.

https://twitter.com/ringsau

Are we still near the end of the beginning or are we moving into the beginning of the end? The answer is maybe.

[yob]

http://www.theage.com.au/rugby-league/l ... hvif9.html

IMO the most effective defense would be 34 pages of scientific formulas, the 20th page left blank without a note saying the page has been left intentionally blank, and a cover letter written in a doctor's handwriting.

[yob]

More details have emerged of James Hird's punishment:

http://www.afl.com.au/news/2014-03-13/a ... mmons-dank

Suspended Essendon coach James Hird and his family are off to Paris where Hird will study at an elite university.

Hird spoke publicly for the first time since being handed his 12-month suspension to coach Essendon on Thursday night.

"I'll be back coaching towards the end of this year. I'm looking forward to helping the club in any way when I come back," Hird told Channel Nine's The Footy Show.

"I'll be back at the club. Look, Bomber's the coach for 2014, and I'll be coming back as the coach in 2015.

"It's up to what Bomber really needs (whether he returns to the coach's box).

Hird's trip, which will be part-funded by Essendon, was part of an agreement which saw him sanctioned for his involvement in the 2012 Essendon supplements saga.

He was offered international education that will see his family visit Singapore, France and Russia.

"We are looking forward to getting over as a family, it should be good," he said.

Your membership $$$ at work.

[Boba Fett]

More details have emerged of James Hird's punishment:

http://www.afl.com.au/news/2014-03-13/a ... mmons-dank

Suspended Essendon coach James Hird and his family are off to Paris where Hird will study at an elite university.

Hird spoke publicly for the first time since being handed his 12-month suspension to coach Essendon on Thursday night.

"I'll be back coaching towards the end of this year. I'm looking forward to helping the club in any way when I come back," Hird told Channel Nine's The Footy Show.

"I'll be back at the club. Look, Bomber's the coach for 2014, and I'll be coming back as the coach in 2015.

"It's up to what Bomber really needs (whether he returns to the coach's box).

Hird's trip, which will be part-funded by Essendon, was part of an agreement which saw him sanctioned for his involvement in the 2012 Essendon supplements saga.

He was offered international education that will see his family visit Singapore, France and Russia.

"We are looking forward to getting over as a family, it should be good," he said.

Your membership $$$ at work.

When you get paid to go off and "study" all over the world for a year, I'm not sure that "punishment" is really the right word.

[yob]

ASADA to serve up some cannon fodder before the real stuff in Supreme Court.

http://www.theage.com.au/afl/afl-news/a ... 35ywa.html

[yob]

Oh dear.

http://www.theage.com.au/afl/afl-news/a ... zqt25.html

[Simmo79]

Not good. Not critical either. The relevant Minister needs to pull their finger out and sign the submissions appointing the 4 new panel members ifthisgovernment'sconductisanythingtogobyinthestoriespublicservantstelleachother.

[yob]

New AFL CEO GM on Essendon. Quotes from same article, but 2 points to be made here.

''In the end, what we would like to happen – and doing things to make that happen – because we think, and are very clear on, [it is] the right thing for the competition, I'm not sure can come at the expense of transparency and a visibility about where things are at,'' he said.

Really. Just what the f**k? Welcome to the next 10 years of this sh*t. Bureaucrat with a capital WTF.

McLachlan suggested it was highly unlikely that a situation could arise whereby Essendon could not field a team because of a glut of suspensions, but he said every contingency was being planned for.

''We have no role or impact in the decision; what we have to do is plan for it,'' he said. ''You have to cater for every scenario.''

Looks like the league has Essendon's downside risk covered nicely. Blow your own club up, if you're busted we've got you covered.

[Inspector Rex]

http://www.theage.com.au/afl/afl-news/d ... 383xn.html

D-Day looming for up to 40 Bombers