ASADA asks witnesses to sign affidavits; move to shore up evidence a sign investigation is moving forward
3 hours ago May 19, 2014 6:57PM
ASADA has asked witnesses interviewed as part of the Essendon investigation to sign affidavits regarding evidence given in the early days of the probe.
The Herald Sun understands the witnesses at least two who are believed not to be players were approached in the past week.
The move from the anti-doping agency to shore up its evidence is a sign the 15-month investigation, which has frustrated the AFL and Essendon over the time it has taken to proceed, is moving forward.
The Herald Sun last week reported Bombers players would receive show-cause notices asking them to explain why they should not be served with infraction notices over the alleged use of peptide thymosin beta 4.
Essendon players are yet to receive any correspondence from ASADA and club chairman Paul Little vented his frustration at the lack of communication on Friday night.
What then should be the message that I pass on to our players, our players families, members and supporters, sponsors and staff? Little said.
Fifteen months on our players are still carrying the heavy burden of continued speculation in the media with no concrete timetable for the ASADA process to conclude.
AFL chief executive Gillon McLachlan said he hoped a decision about whether Bombers players would be issued show cause notices or not would be made in the back end of May.
New ASADA boss Ben McDevitt said he would bring a sense of urgency to closing the case, but warned that he would not sacrifice certainty for speed.
Former Essendon sports scientist Stephen Dank remains the only person involved in the 2012 Essendon supplements program to have been sent a show cause notice, but the Anti-Doping Rule Violation Panel which is independent of ASADA is yet to decide if his details should be put on the Register of Findings.
Dank has denied giving Essendon players any banned substance, and said he would take legal action immediately if the Register of Findings decision is taken.
Former NRL star Sandoor Earl said on Sunday he had told his lawyer to prepare an appeal of his ban to the Administrative Appeals Tribunal although that cant be lodged until he is entered onto the register.
In August last year, Earl admitted the 2011 use of banned peptide CJC-1295 and was provisionally banned by the league.
He did not get a show-cause letter from ASADA until March this year.
News Corp reported Earls legal team would argue his admission to ASADA was coerced and his decision to accept provisional suspension two days later came under duress.
