by Lisa Albergo reporting for AFANA from Chicago
The day after the 34 past and present Essendon players were placed on the Anti-Doping Rule Violation Panel's register of findings, the AFL took the final step prior to Tribunal hearings and issued infraction notices. The notices charge the players over the alleged use of the banned peptide Thymosin beta-4 in 2012. The AFLPA hopes this next step will see the matter resolved quickly. In a statement, AFLPA CEO Paul Marsh said "The decision ... to issue infraction notices keeps this process moving and we look forward to this issue being resolved as soon as possible."
It will now be up to the AFL to convene Tribunal hearings. Those hearings will be run by former county judge and now independent Tribunal chairman David Jones. It is believed a directions hearing will be conducted first to determine how the process will work. The AFL is not averse to the idea of the hearings being open to the media, but this could be blocked due to strict confidentiality clauses. The identities of the 34 players remains confidential.
It remains to be seen what impact the tribunal process could have on James Hird's position as senior coach. Hird and club doctor Bruce Reid are the only two who remain at the club since the whole saga began early last year. Players found guilty face a maximum two year suspension for a first offense. Under the rules, the infraction notices trigger provisional suspensions.
Essendon issued a statement which repeated the club's stance of continuing support for the players involved but referred any other inquiries back to the AFLPA which is representing the players' legal interests.
Source: afl.com.au
Article last changed on Tuesday, November 18, 2014 - 5:16 AM EST
