The National Rugby League’s technological invasion "is set to take to the sky, with at least two clubs investigating the use of drones as part of their training regime." Melbourne Football Dir Frank Ponissi confirmed that the Storm had studied the technology in the offseason and predicted that "it was only a matter of time before the NRL saw an influx of the airborne devices." Ponissi said, "It will happen." Australian Football League club Hawthorn has also "incorporated the devices" into its training sessions (THE AUSTRALIAN, 2/26). ... Australian Sports Anti-Doping Authority CEO Ben McDevitt suggested that AFL side Essendon and coach James Hird "are to blame for the delays in securing a resolution for the supplements saga" and has warned he is likely to appeal any finding that is not a "reasonable decision." McDevitt "appeared for almost 15 minutes before the Senate estimates committee in Canberra." McDevitt "was guarded in his responses when questioned by three senators, but said he expected Jones to present his decision by the end of March, or early April" (THE AGE, 2/26). ... The AFL "is pushing players for permission to hair-test them for illicit drugs year-round as the league awaits further fallout from the Queensland cocaine scandal." AFL Players Association CEO Paul Marsh "defended the league’s three-strikes policy as world-leading despite criticism from four-time premiership coach Leigh Matthews." But Marsh said that "the league was still pushing for hair-testing in the season, a process which captures three months’ evidence of drug use in the hair strand" (HERALD SUN, 2/26).
