ASADA Lawyer Says Presence Of Key Witnesses Will Benefit Essendon Players

The lawyer acting for the Australian Sports Anti-Doping Authority said that "issuing subpoenas to compel two key witnesses to attend the Australian Football League anti-doping tribunal is also in the interests" of the 34 AFL side Essendon players involved, according to Daniel Cherny of THE AGE. Dan Star, acting for ASADA, told the Supreme Court on Wednesday that having biochemist Shane Charter and compound pharmacist Nima Alavi "appear next week" before an Australian Football League anti-doping tribunal not only helped ASADA, but also gave the players a "fair" chance to hear the witnesses' evidence, "so they can cross-examine them." ASADA, along with the AFL, is "seeking subpoenas to compel Alavi and Charter to appear before the tribunal." Justice Clyde Croft indicated during the afternoon session that a decision in the matter "was likely on Friday, which is crucial given the tribunal hearings are set to commence across the road at the County Court on Monday" (THE AGE, 12/10).