The World Anti-Doping Agency has decided to appeal the Australian Football League anti-doping tribunal's not guilty verdict on 34 current and former Essendon players, a move that has "'blindsided' the club," according to Calligeros, Lane & Pierik of THE AGE. In March, the current and former players "were found not guilty by the AFL anti-doping tribunal of using banned substance thymosin beta-4." AFL Anti-Doping Tribunal Chair David Jones said that the panel was "not satisfied the players violated the AFL's doping code." Essendon coach James Hird said that he was "surprised by WADA's decision to appeal, after the AFL anti-doping tribunal found that it was not comfortably satisfied that the players had been given banned substances." He said that he was "prepared to go through the process again to prove his players had not done anything wrong." Hird: "We were shocked. I think everyone around the club, everyone around Melbourne thought this wouldn't happen" (THE AGE, 5/12). The AAP reported the decision means that the "protracted supplements scandal will bleed well into a third successive AFL season" as Bombers players once again face possible suspension. Hird "woke up to the news early on Tuesday" and said that he still had very little information about what the next phase entails. Hird said, "Actually we have no information as to the appeal, and we don't even know where it's going to be or when it's going to start, so of course it will be a distraction. It's out of our hands really" (AAP, 5/12).
NOISE COMPLAINTS: In Melbourne, Michael Gleeson wrote AFL CEO Gillon McLachlan said that the WADA decision to appeal the Essendon case would "provide 'a couple of days' noise before the focus returned to the field." McLachlan said that the league was "not a party to the proceedings and it was a matter between Essendon and WADA in a new and different jurisdiction." McLachlan: "I don't know any details, I haven't heard of any new evidence, it will be a 'de novo' hearing, which just means the whole thing will be played again" (THE AGE, 5/12).
