Tragedy May strike Australian RL team during WC!
Posted: Tue Oct 15, 2013 8:42 pm
With drug testers descending upon the Australian RL side prior to departure and ASADA's new powers it could be interesting what will happen should players be banned during the competition and may spell disaster!
ASADA wields its latest weapon to compel witness to give evidence
BRENT READ
THE AUSTRALIAN
OCTOBER 15, 2013 12:00AM
THE Australian Sports Anti-Doping Authority has broken new ground by using its freshly-minted powers of coercion to compel a witness to provide evidence as part of the ongoing investigation into supplement use in the NRL and AFL.
The Australian was yesterday told a figure involved with the AFL side of the inquiry had been issued with a request for interview using the new powers, which were enacted on August 1.
Under the ASADA Amendment Bill, the anti-doping body was given the power to compel people to attend interviews and hand over documentation.
Those who refuse to comply face fines of $5100 for each day they fail to co-operate. It is understood the subject of ASADA's interest will comply with the request, thereby avoiding any sanction.
However, ASADA's use of its new power signals the latest escalation in the investigation, which began in early February and is expected to continue until the latter stages of this year, and possibly into 2014. For much of the year, ASADA has focused its energies on interviewing athletes and support staff, all of whom were required to co-operate as a result of their involvement with the AFL and NRL.
As such, ASADA had no need to use its coercive powers. That situation has now changed as ASADA zeroes in on figures on the periphery of the two sports.
Inevitably, questions will be raised over whether ASADA - having signalled its intent to use its coercive powers - will move on sports scientist Steve Dank.
It is understood Dank is yet to be contacted by ASADA despite the investigation centering on the period in which he was involved with clubs across both codes.
Regardless, he has already indicated he will take legal action should ASADA attempt to use its new powers to compel him to provide evidence.
"ASADA is unable to talk publicly about the specifics of its investigation until such time as its legislation permits," an ASADA spokesman said.
"This ensures the integrity of the investigation and the privacy of any individual under investigation is protected."
The latest developments came as ASADA descended on the Australian rugby league team, conducting drug tests only hours before the players were due to leave for the World Cup.
The players were shadowed at their base in Sydney before later departing for the airport and the long flight to England.
The presence of drug testers was a reminder of the shadow which will hover over all sides at the tournament.
Those concerns will be on the table again tonight when tournament organisers hold further discussions over contingency plans should any of the sides competing be affected by the investigation.
Under the rules as they stand, countries are not allowed to replace any players once the tournament begins. That raises the spectre of players being issued with infraction notices and nations being unable to replace them in their squads.
Australia coach Tim Sheens has raised his concerns with those in authority but he declined to discuss them prior to departure.
"My attitude is I am coaching the side," Sheens said. "I am not going to worry about what might or might not happen there."
Meanwhile, the NRL yesterday announced it had appointed Mark Wilson as its new chief financial officer.
Wilson, who will start on October 21, has spent more than 25 years working for some of Australia's leading public companies.
ASADA wields its latest weapon to compel witness to give evidence
BRENT READ
THE AUSTRALIAN
OCTOBER 15, 2013 12:00AM
THE Australian Sports Anti-Doping Authority has broken new ground by using its freshly-minted powers of coercion to compel a witness to provide evidence as part of the ongoing investigation into supplement use in the NRL and AFL.
The Australian was yesterday told a figure involved with the AFL side of the inquiry had been issued with a request for interview using the new powers, which were enacted on August 1.
Under the ASADA Amendment Bill, the anti-doping body was given the power to compel people to attend interviews and hand over documentation.
Those who refuse to comply face fines of $5100 for each day they fail to co-operate. It is understood the subject of ASADA's interest will comply with the request, thereby avoiding any sanction.
However, ASADA's use of its new power signals the latest escalation in the investigation, which began in early February and is expected to continue until the latter stages of this year, and possibly into 2014. For much of the year, ASADA has focused its energies on interviewing athletes and support staff, all of whom were required to co-operate as a result of their involvement with the AFL and NRL.
As such, ASADA had no need to use its coercive powers. That situation has now changed as ASADA zeroes in on figures on the periphery of the two sports.
Inevitably, questions will be raised over whether ASADA - having signalled its intent to use its coercive powers - will move on sports scientist Steve Dank.
It is understood Dank is yet to be contacted by ASADA despite the investigation centering on the period in which he was involved with clubs across both codes.
Regardless, he has already indicated he will take legal action should ASADA attempt to use its new powers to compel him to provide evidence.
"ASADA is unable to talk publicly about the specifics of its investigation until such time as its legislation permits," an ASADA spokesman said.
"This ensures the integrity of the investigation and the privacy of any individual under investigation is protected."
The latest developments came as ASADA descended on the Australian rugby league team, conducting drug tests only hours before the players were due to leave for the World Cup.
The players were shadowed at their base in Sydney before later departing for the airport and the long flight to England.
The presence of drug testers was a reminder of the shadow which will hover over all sides at the tournament.
Those concerns will be on the table again tonight when tournament organisers hold further discussions over contingency plans should any of the sides competing be affected by the investigation.
Under the rules as they stand, countries are not allowed to replace any players once the tournament begins. That raises the spectre of players being issued with infraction notices and nations being unable to replace them in their squads.
Australia coach Tim Sheens has raised his concerns with those in authority but he declined to discuss them prior to departure.
"My attitude is I am coaching the side," Sheens said. "I am not going to worry about what might or might not happen there."
Meanwhile, the NRL yesterday announced it had appointed Mark Wilson as its new chief financial officer.
Wilson, who will start on October 21, has spent more than 25 years working for some of Australia's leading public companies.
