Former World Anti-Doping Agency President John Fahey has "backed the establishment of an independent inquiry into whether the anti-doping investigation" into Australian Football League club Essendon was "stymied by political interference," according to Le Grand & McDonald of THE AUSTRALIAN. As Australian PM Tony Abbott issued a "strong denunciation of the previous government's 'sordid' handling of doping allegations" against Essendon, National Rugby League club Cronulla and other athletes, Fahey said that an inquiry was needed to "establish whether the independence of the Australian Sports Anti-Doping Authority had been compromised." Fahey: "They are a statutory body independent of any influence from sport or government. It appears from the evidence last week that independence may have been breached." The details of the inquiry are "expected to be announced after judge John
Middleton rules on the legality of the ASADA investigation, which is
being challenged by Essendon and its suspended coach, James Hird" (THE AUSTRALIAN, 8/19). In Sydney, Jon Pierik wrote the release of the interim report, court statements and documents have "also shed light on the modern investigative tools an AFL player or club could be subjected to." The AFL, for instance, "hired corporate investigator Deloitte to help research the Bombers' computer database," information that was passed on to ASADA. This agreement was raised by Essendon lawyer Neil Young. Regardless, "it showed the depth of what an AFL probe can involve." The
AFL said on Monday that it would "engage Deloitte again for an investigation
of another kind, if required" (SYDNEY MORNING HERALD, 8/18). In Sydney, Pierik wrote in a separate piece Abbott has "labelled the so-called blackest day in Australian sport as an 'absolutely pathetic' attempt by the previous Labor government to deflect attention from its own woes." With ASADA claiming "few significant scalps since, Abbott took aim on Monday at how the Labor government had handled the matter." Abbott: "I'm not saying everything's perfect when it comes to sport and performance-enhancing drugs. But far from being the blackest day for Australian sport, it was a black day for politics, it was a black day for the Labor Party" (SMH, 8/18).
MELBOURNE LOBBIES AFL: In Melbourne, Michael Gleeson reported less than 24 hours after "being belittled" by AFL Greater Western Sydney, Melbourne has "lobbied the AFL for a priority pick in this year's national draft." The Demons "lodged an application with the AFL on Monday for consideration for a priority pick for the second successive season" (THE AGE, 8/18).
SQUASHING SPECULATION: Also in Melbourne, Matt Murnane reported the AFL has "squashed speculation it is planning a major overhaul of the interchange system for next season." AFL Football Operations Manager Mark Evans "dismissed reports that the league planned to eliminate the substitute rule and return to the old four-player interchange system" in '15 (THE AGE, 8/18).
