by Lisa Albergo reporting for AFANA from Chicago
With the CAS (Court of Arbitration for Sport) hearings set to begin soon, Essendon has been hit from another front, this time in the form of work safety violations in relation to the supplements program. The club is facing two charges which basically state that the club failed to provide and maintain a working environment and a system of work for employees that was safe and without health risks. WorkSafe Victoria (the Australian equivalent of OSHA), also investigated the AFL but could not verify any breaches "to the standard required".
Essendon released a statement which said that the club had been cooperating with the investigation and agreed to the charges saying it all went back to their "governance failings" which were detailed in the Switkowski report of 2013 and for which the club had previously accepted responsibility and initiated changes.
A court date has yet to be determined but the club could face fines of several hundred thousand dollars.
Source: afl.com.au, sen.com.au
Article last changed on Wednesday, November 11, 2015 - 8:45 AM EST