hiring of nurses to inject this junkie filth
secret locations ... akin to opium dens
Lance Armstrong has more credibility then this joke of a Club & game....
how could any parent allow their child near this toxic ... vile .. sport
ESSENDON players were taken away from the club and injected with unknown substances by sports science staff last season. Artwork: David
Players injected at secret locations . .
GOLD Coast Suns are bracing themselves for an audit of their physical development programs because of links to the Essendon supplement scandal.. .
Shattered club on its knees
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THE great unknown of what is actually in supplements is the biggest danger to professional athletes.. .
Players face two-year bans
ESSENDON must be casting a rueful eye across its 2013 membership slogan: "We are doing whatever it takes."..
The Herald Sun can reveal the off-site injections will form part of an investigation by the AFL and Australia's anti-doping watchdog into inappropriate use of supplements at the club in 2012.
Sources allege organised crime gangs also have been linked to the scandal.
It is alleged the alarm was raised at Windy Hill midway through last season about the activities of the club's performance scientist, Stephen Dank, who has since left the club.
BELOW: Possible sanctions that could be imposed by WADA and the AFL
Expense forms totalling more than $10,000, including the cost of a registered nurse to perform injections, were regularly submitted by Dank to the club.
Essendon late last night stood down club high performance manager Dean Robinson, pending the outcome of the investigation.
The substances, which have not been identified, were taken orally, by injection and intravenously.
Essendon players were asked to sign waivers, supposedly exonerating the club of wrongdoing in the taking of the mystery substances.
It is understood an Essendon official spoke to an organised crime investigative body about his knowledge of performance-enhancing drugs in football last November.
The AFL is aware that its sport is being targeted by peddlers of illegal substances.
The Herald Sun last night submitted questions to the Australian Crime Commission, a leading law enforcement body in the fight against organised crime. In response, it said: "The Australian Crime Commission does not confirm who it is or isn't investigating."
James Hird
Essendon coach James Hird, along with chief executive Ian Robson and chairman David Evans, talk to the media about inappropriate use of supplements by some players at the club during the 2012 season. Picture: Chris Scott Source: Herald Sun
BELOW: See timeline of club's past three years and snapshot of the Bombers' 2012 season
Sources last night warned at least one more club could be implicated over misuse of supplements.
It is known Essendon's highly respected club doctor, Bruce Reid, became frustrated by elements of Dank's work with the players last year.
But Bombers chiefs yesterday claimed they had become aware of "concerning information" only in the past two days.
More:Who is Stephen Dank?
Axed former Essendon star Kyle Reimers told Channel 9 last night: "They (Essendon) admitted to us that it was right on the edge.
"Speaking to blokes from other clubs, I don't think anyone has ever thought about signing it or doing the stuff we were doing.
"After a couple of months away from it, it does seem pretty odd that, the type of stuff we were taking."
More:Editorial: Drugs menace is a great game
Essendon yesterday stressed the recent departures of football boss Paul Hamilton and chief operating officer Dom Cato were not related to the scandal.
The Herald Sun contacted a number of senior Essendon officials about the allegations on Monday and they strongly denied any wrongdoing by the club last year.
They now fear, however, banned drugs may have been given to their players without the knowledge of senior officials.
The club had late night meetings on Monday and again yesterday before coming forward to the AFL.
More:Players face two-year bans
Bombers chairman David Evans said: "The integrity at the club is critical, and that's why we've moved quickly to contact the AFL.
"The info we gathered over the last 24 or 48 hours is slightly concerning, and we want to dig a bit deeper but we want the AFL to help us."
AFL boss Andrew Demetriou has long made known his dislike for the growing influence of sports scientists in the game.
Last night he said: "They (Essendon) have just started the investigation. They don't know what they have taken or alleged to have taken, they don't know the composition, and they don't even know if they have broken any WADA rules.
"They have come forward so I think they are entitled to the benefit of the doubt."
Bombers legend Tim Watson believes the players’ trust has been abused.
"Players by nature are trusting individuals who think OK, if these people have been accepted into our football club, then we as players, we're not scientists, we don't know the make-up of this supplement," Watson told SEN.
Essendon champion Matthew Lloyd also said the blame couldn't be placed on the players, who he says would have been following medical advice.
"You’re told by a fitness coach or a sports scientist that you’ll get a greater advantage and recover well, be fitter, stronger, and everything is done legally ... yeah you’d just jump onboard and do it," he told 3AW.
Meanwhile, Brownlow medallist and footy commentator Gerard Healy said he made the AFL aware of doping concerns 12 months ago after the issue was raised by an Essendon official at a sports medicine conference, 3AW reported.
Bomb4
Dejected Essendon players depart the MCG after another loss late in the season last year. Picture: George Salpigtidis Source: Herald Sun
ESSENDON’S 2012 IN A SNAPSHOT
- The Bombers soared to an 8-1 win-loss record and are second on the table heading into June. Their premiership odds are crunched as Jobe Watson, Brent Stanton and Dustin Fletcher lead the charge.
- The Dons’ opening nine weeks eventuated despite a spate of early-season injuries and included a stunning 30-point win against Carlton, which is the flag favourite at the time.
- A shock loss to straggler Melbourne in Round 10 lights the fuse for Essendon’s dramatic demise in the second half of the season. The Dons are the first side to lose to the Dees under Mark Neeld.
- Dons chairman David Evans is forced to publicly defend high-performance manager Dean Robinson (“The Weapon”) for the injury curse in August. Essendon’s soft-tissue epidemic claims about a dozen stars, including Michael Hurley, David Zaharakis, Brent Stanton, Paddy Ryder, David Hille and Stewie Crameri.
- Essendon peters out to finish with an 11-11 record, dropping 10 of the final 13 matches to finish 11th on the ladder.
- The Dons record embarrassing losses to Richmond (45 points) and Carlton (96) in the final month of the season.
- Jobe Watson becomes the first player since Shane Crawford in 1999 to win the Brownlow Medal from a non-finalist, polling 30 votes.
- Essendon parts company with sports science guru Stephen Dank in the fallout from their wretched collapse last season.
- Football manager Paul Hamilton reportedly walks out in September, with Danny Corcoran taking charge at Windy Hill.
Press conference
Essendon's big guns (from left), chief executive Ian Robson, chairman David Evans and coach James Hird, front the media yesterday. Picture: Chris Scott Source: Herald Sun
What they said
"I am very disappointed. Shocked, is probably the best word ... I believe we followed processes; we put in place the right kind of processes. My understanding is we worked within the framework that was given to us by the AFL and I am shocked to be sitting here really.'' - Essendon coach James Hird
"I think the investigation takes its course from here and we learn more, as I said earlier I don't have all the answers but as you would agree this is a minefield. It takes experts, we have contacted experts today and we will use them to help us with the findings.'' - Essendon chairman David Evans
"David Evans has briefed the AFL about the matter and we support his actions. The AFL's Integrity Unit already works closely with ASADA and will assist with the investigation.'' - Acting AFL Football Operations Manager Gillon McLachlan
