AFLPA chief Paul Marsh says he is “bitterly disappointed… and shattered for each and every player involved”.
“We have maintained a consistent position that these players did nothing wrong, and today’s decision does nothing to change our view,” Marsh said.
“It is important to note that the players took all reasonable steps to assure themselves that what they were being given was compliant with the WADA Code.”
Essendon midfielder Brent Stanton. Photo: Julian Smith, AAP.
Essendon skipper Jobe Watson will learn in February whether he will be stripped of the 2012 Brownlow Medal, with the player to be given the opportunity to address an AFL Commission hearing.
Watson polled 30 votes to win the 2012 Brownlow Medal by four votes from Richmond’s Trent Cotchin and Hawthorn’s Sam Mitchell.
Marsh said the legal team representing the players “will now conduct a thorough review of the decision, the process which has led to it, and the general applicability of the WADA regime to our game”.
“As it stands, we are struggling to understand how the CAS decision can be so different to that of the AFL Anti-Doping Tribunal [which] so emphatically rejected ASADA’s case,” he said.
I don’t have a great deal of faith in the WADA regime and ASADA is a part of that
“With respect to the sanction, we cannot comprehend how the players have received the maximum sanction under the Code… whilst we have seen no evidence throughout this process that proves the players were administered supplements which were not complian, if this is the case then they have been deceived.
“They are the victims, not the perpetrators. They deserve our sympathy, not our scorn.”
The players’ association wants the AFL to consider a withdrawal from WADA’s anti-doping regime and considers legal action a “very high” likelihood after the handing of year-long bans to current and former Essendon players.
Marsh suggested the bans were an example of catching out “people that are not cheats”.
“I don’t have a great deal of faith in the WADA regime and ASADA is a part of that,” he said.
“I’m sure I’ll be criticised for saying that but I don’t really care.
“It’s something we’ve got to have a really good, hard, long look at because there’s just too many injustices … it’s catching too many people that are not cheats.”
Marsh said the players were “incredibly upset, sad and angry” when they were informed of the sanctions.
The players will consider legal action against the club, which Marsh said had a “very high” chance of proceeding, should talks with the Bombers and AFL not bear fruit.
“I don’t think anyone wants to drag this through the courts and add another few years to this process,” he said.
“I’d like to think we could have productive discussions to try and get to this point.
“If you can’t, then legal action is something that you look at.”
Any decision to remove the AFL from the anti-doping regime is likely to come at the cost of Federal Government support and funding.
Marsh said it was still possible if league bosses wanted to walk the same road as major American sporting competitions.
“In our view, the best anti-doping codes in world sport are the ones that are collectively bargained between the athletes and the sport,” he said.
“In many respects, they’ve got their houses in order so it’s certainly something that can happen.”
-AAP
