Stop this scurrilous mongering: Demetriou

The CEO of the AFL, Andrew Demetriou, has today come out in defence for the Essendon Bombers. The embattled club has been at the centre of an investigation by the Australian Sports Anti-Doping Authority (ASADA) into allegations that its players have been using illegal supplements.

Andrew Demetriou
(Source: afl.com.au)

Media attention has lately been focused on an admission from the club's former sports scientist, Stephen Dark, that players had been given now banned anti-obesity drugs. The club is said to have approved the use of the drug based on a document supposedly from the World Anti-Doping Authority (WADA) which approved of the substance’s usage. The problem is, the drug was never approved and Dark appeared to ignore WADA’s request for him to consult Australia’s own anti-doping authority (ASADA) for more information on the drug.

Even if you haven’t been following the saga, chances are that you have at least heard about it on the news bulletins. The Bombers undefeated start to the season has been mostly overshadowed by the ASADA investigation. However, Demetriou suggests that some of this commentary is in fact being generated by Essendon’s rivals in what appears to be an attempt to further demean the club.

"The sooner some of our clubs, not all, but a small few, stop this sort of scurrilous mongering, the better. Because it's not doing anybody any good at all," he said.

"I remind people, they are fully co-operating. They came forward. They are not running away. They are part of this and they know it's going to take a while and we need to let it run its course."

Listen to the interview on radio 3AW here: http://www.youtube.com/watch?feature=player_embedded&v=iSDOoPSCdkk

The Bombers are likely to claim their sixth straight victory against winless Western Sydney tomorrow afternoon.

Enjoy the weekend of footy!

-          Lachlan Lewis