Drug tests off target

The AFL says it is aware of only two specific cases where players or clubs may have breached the league's WADA code.

Minister for Home Affairs Jason Clare admits that players have come forward in relation to doping, following the ACC's damaging report.

AFL chief executive Andrew Demetriou and chairman Mike Fitzpatrick answer questions about the ACC investigation. Picture: David Caird Source: Herald Sun

THE AFL has known for several years that random testing of footballers for performance-enhancing drugs has almost no chance of catching dopers using cutting-edge substances.

The revelation means statistics showing players have not tested positive in recent years is almost irrelevant.

AFL Commission chairman Mike Fitzpatrick said on Thursday: "We feel the WADA testing was relatively successful to about 12 months ago, and it's become clear today it's not."

But the AFL's integrity department has known there is little to no chance that single random drug tests will find performance-enhancing peptides in a player.

The AFL has been aware of this for some time, which is why many players are not tested while others are subject to a battery of tests under target testing to form a biological blood passport.

While football codes are under siege, the AFL has been target testing players it suspects for at least three years, using sophisticated analysis, and is promising to catch drug cheats.

That analysis includes intelligence from police bodies including the Australian Crime Commission.

Now wire taps, forced interviews with the Australian Crime Commission and a potential paper trail can form part of a case against transgressors, potentially including in the Essendon case.

It is known a key Essendon figure spoke to the ACC in November last year, with the ASADA inquiry into the club to include seizing documents that may prove what peptides were given to players.

There is growing speculation Essendon consultant Stephen Dank may have been caught on wire taps by the ACC.

The AFL conducted about 1100 tests for performance-enhancing drugs last year, but some players can go several years without testing.

Someone with intimate knowledge of the system said this week: "It's not about the number of tests, because we can't test for peptides. It's about using an intelligence-led approach."

One AFL sports scientist said it was impossible to detect peptides and drugs replicating human growth hormone for several reasons.

Some are in the system for only a matter of hours, while cutting-edge designer drugs have molecules changed so they are indistinguishable in modern testing procedures.

The Herald Sun revealed on Friday that a group of players from a Victorian AFL club had regularly been target-tested in recent years.
 

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Cameron quits Richmond

Craig Cameron has quit Richmond. Source: Herald Sun

RICHMOND football boss Craig Cameron has quit to join the racing industry.

Cameron is understood to have been contemplating the switch for some time and informed the Tigers over the weekend that he will be joining BC3 Thoroughbreds.

The Tigers are confident his departure will not impact the club's start to the new season.

Cameron joined the Tigers in 2007 from Melbourne where he'd been the Demons chief recruiting officer.
 

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AFL urged to name rogue doper

Gill McLachlan, AFL's CEO fronts the press to relay the latest information regarding AFL clubs and players under scrutiny.

The AFL says it is aware of only two specific cases where players or clubs may have breached the league's WADA code.

AFL deputy chief executive Gillon McLachlan confirms Essendon players are being investigated for use of performance enhancing drugs. Picture: Hamish Blair Source: Herald Sun

FRUSTRATED clubs have implored the AFL to come clean with the identity of an alleged rogue drug taker.

Confusion reigned last night after AFL deputy chief executive Gillon McLachlan confirmed multiple Essendon players were being investigated for performance enhancing drug use and revealed an individual player from an unknown second club had been named in the Australian Crime Commission coruption in sport report.

The AFL has sought permission from the Crime Commission to reveal currently classified details from the Operation Aperio report.

The league last night said it was still negotiating with the ACC over what could be released, to whom, and with what conditions.

"We've all just been left hanging because we don't know if it's us," one AFL chief executive said.

"I can't tell you if our club is clean because we haven't been told."

Other club chiefs shared the frustration that while it was known only two clubs had been implicated, the public was open to believe the second club was any one of 17 teams.

Essendon last night said it was "fully co-operating" with an Australian Sports Anti-Doping Authority investigation.

"In this case it is possible that players were administered the WADA-prohibited performance enhancing drugs without their knowledge or consent," McLachlan had said earlier.

Former ASADA Chairman Richard Ings says it will be difficult for the organisation to prove clubs and individuals are guilty of doping.

The mystery rogue player may not even still be at the club in question or in the AFL given McLachlan suggested he was confident of a clean 2013 season.

"The AFL is not aware of any issues, potential use of performance enhancing drugs by any players, on AFL lists coming into the 2013 season," McLachlan said.

"There are some potential historical issues that we are investigating, there are vulnerabilities, but at the moment that investigation will take some time and until we get to the bottom of that the season will go ahead until we have futher information."

In other developments yesterday:

JUSTICE Minister Jason Clare said phone taps had been used to help gather information on those believed to be involved in suspect practices.

MCLACHLAN said a resolution to the saga is likely to be months rather than weeks away.

THE AFL revealed approximately 1100 performance enhancing drug tests were conducted on AFL players last season. A similar number is planned for 2013.

THE league said despite the Crime Commission implicating two clubs in doping, it was aware of a wider danger of illicit drug use by players across the competition.

MCLACHLAN stated no AFL game was being investigated for match fixing.The Crime Commission has said one match-fixing inquiry is under way in Australia.

The AFL's statement yesterday leaves an NRL match as the most likely subject of that probe.

Minister for Home Affairs Jason Clare admits that players have come forward in relation to doping, following the ACC's damaging report.

While the AFL's net of suspicion was yesterday narrowed to two clubs, the NRL has been told it has six clubs with alleged links to the use of performance enhancing drugs and links with crime syndicates.

Clare said evidence against clubs and individuals specified in the ACC's confidential report had been passed to NSW and Victorian police.

"We're not just talking about evidence that's been collected through coercive hearings, we're talking about documentary evidence that the Crime Commission has got as well as the use of phone taps that corroborate all of the information they've got," Clare told ABC TV.

McLachlan said fans awaiting the investigation's outcome needed to be be patient.

"The reality is it's not going to be as quick as everybody would like," McLachlan said.

"It's not going to be as quick as the club, the players, the AFL, the media, the supporters would like.

"The reality is that the investigators - which ultimately is ASADA in conjunction with the AFL - has to get the right answers and that will take as long as it takes.

"It's more likely to be months rather than weeks."
 

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Watt calls for blood profiles

Olympic silver medallist Mitchell Watt has encouraged the AFL to develop a blood profiling system in order to keep the sport clean. Picture: Phil Hillyard Source: The Daily Telegraph

OLYMPIC silver medallist Mitchell Watt says the AFL may have to build a biological blood profile for all players if it is determined to keep the game clean.

Watt yesterday told the Herald Sun he was tested for performance-enhancing drugs up to 10 times in a two-month European system.

He also has blood taken as often as every six months so the World Anti-Doping Agency can build a blood profile for him.

Watt said football codes would be naive not to think the same problems that were in track and field had not infiltrated their sports.

More than 50 AFL players have been target-tested by the AFL, but many are not tested at all in a season.

"I think anything we can do to help level the playing field people should be all for," Watt said.

"Blood passports involve a two-minute blood test and you only have to do it once or twice a year. I am surprised it's common practice for track and field, but not in football codes.

"I have got my blood taken every year for the past three years, and it measures different kinds of cells and hormones and matches them with the following year's result.

"Everyone in Australian sport is so laid back and you think if someone is a good bloke they wouldn't do it. But there will always be a percentage of people who will cheat. It's naive to think it doesn't happen in football codes."
 

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Edwards discovers his heritage

Richmond's Shane Edwards on the road to Santa Teresa - the place of his ancestors. Picture: Wayne Ludbey Source: Herald Sun

THE bitumen lasts about 10 minutes as the road sweeps south from Alice Springs.

Then it's a vibrating combination of rocks, gravel and red dirt - interrupted by wild horses - before you get to Santa Teresa 80-odd kilometres down the road.

It takes an hour to get there, but for Shane Edwards it has taken a lot longer.

In fact, it has taken the Richmond forward all of his 24 years to truly arrive at this tiny Aboriginal settlement.

Edwards discovered little more than two weeks ago that his family heritage could be traced back to Santa Teresa, a town with nothing more than a store, school, health building and a sandy footy oval.

For Edwards, whose shyness prevented the Tigers and the AFL from becoming aware of his indigenous heritage for the first 18 months of his career, it is the latest piece in an emotional family puzzle he is piecing together with the help of his grandmother, Monica.

"It's just amazing, I can't believe how far back it goes now," Edwards said.

"Knowing what my grandmother had to do to find out where she came from. She's just done it through years and years of work. She was raised through the Catholic church and has just gone back to everyone she knew."

Edwards was born in Adelaide to parents Tara and Greg.

Shane Edwards in action for Richmond against the Indigenous All-Stars in Alice Springs on Friday. Picture: Wayne Ludbey Source: Herald Sun

His grandmother Monica - on his mum's side - is indigenous and his great grandmother Elsie had lived in Santa Teresa before she and her brother were taken from their mum Annie (Edwards' great-great-grandmother).

All hail from the Arrernte tribe, one of the biggest in central Australia.

"They were taken down to Mt Gambier because they were half-caste," Edwards said.

"From there they went across to Adelaide. As long as I've known my grandmother she has lived in Salisbury (a suburb north-east of Adelaide)."

Edwards had been to Santa Teresa once before on a Richmond pre-season camp a few years ago.

But back then he was oblivious to his links to the area as he clowned around with teammates Dustin Martin and Kel Moore and the local kids.

It is why, during his second visit to the town last week, he quietly sneaked away for a precious moment of reflection and to take some photos.

"It was so much different this time," Edwards said.

"In one of the classrooms as soon as I said my great-grandmother's last name (Summerfield) the assistant principal recognised it like it was still around.

"I think that's amazing in any area to have a name still lingering.

"I loved saying, 'This is where I'm from'. If I don't, I've got no chance of finding out any more. I'm just lucky that I've got the opportunity to play for Richmond and to actually go to a place like Santa Teresa.

"My brother Kym, living in Adelaide, is just as curious as I am, but he doesn't get the opportunity to go."

Edwards was bestowed the honour of captaining Richmond against the Indigenous All-Stars in Alice Springs on Friday.

Shane Edwards greets some fans and family members after the game. Picture: Wayne Ludbey Source: Herald Sun

After the game, while his teammates let their hair down at Lasseters Hotel and Casino, Edwards was in a separate room meeting 40 members of the extended family he never knew he had.

There were more than a few tears.

Belinda Duarte, director of Richmond's Korin Gamadji Institute at Punt Rd, was there - and has been there throughout Edwards' journey of discovery.

"The one thing people don't necessarily know about Aboriginal and Torres Straight Islander communities is the depth that they want to connect with family given the issues around the stolen generation," Duarte said.

"For Shane, having that in his history and to go back on the weekend and meet his family was really special.

"Seeing him go through that and sharing that with him as an Aboriginal person, we collectively feel that - because it's a part of that connection to home.

"It's the history that we inherit and what I love about our people is seeing the immensity of love and welcome. I'm getting teary just speaking about it.

"Given our history it wasn't a choice for us to experience a disconnect from family, it was a consequence of government policy."

Shane Edwards on the school oval at Santa Teresa - the place of his ancestors. Picture: Wayne Ludbey Source: Herald Sun

Edwards believes the urge to find out more about his family's past has been fuelled by a developing maturity and his status as Richmond's only indigenous player.

His family tree is growing before his eyes and he is growing with it.

"I just said to my family that I wanted to know the finer details about everything. I was getting really curious," Edwards said.

Edwards has come a long way from his early days in yellow and black, when most of his Richmond teammates did not even know he was indigenous.

He wasn't invited to indigenous training camps and was left off official AFL indigenous lists.

He even played in the Dreamtime game against Essendon without being recognised.

He has always been proud of his heritage, but said he "didn't really speak up".

"Apart from not having such a cultured upbringing and that fact that I was pretty shy coming into the system, I didn't really know how to bring it up," he said.

Shane Edwards with the children of Santa Teresa. Picture: Wayne Ludbey Source: Herald Sun

"I guess that shows how much the AFL has improved over the years since, and that was only seven years ago, when it comes to finding people lost in the system.

"Belinda found out and we just started talking. She was like, 'We've got to get you involved' and I was like, 'I want to be'. She was pretty surprised and a bit upset that it wasn't known.

"But I reckon all this has definitely matured me. Just the fact that I now know more about myself and more about my family.

"One side of my family is so pieced together, but this side, it's not until the last couple of years that I've found out about real places and people."
 

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Lake has 'tall gorillas' covered

Josh Gibson says former Western Bulldogs defender Brian Lake will be a welcome addition to Hawthorn's backline. Picture: Nicole Garmston Source: Herald Sun

JOSH Gibson says new teammate Brian Lake will ease the pressure on Hawthorn's tall defenders this season.

Gibson said Lake would change the way he previously had to play the game and said the former Bulldog had already given him invaluable defensive insights.

"Obviously it's another big body to play on some of those tall gorillas," Gibson said.

"It's going to make my job a lot easier as well as some of the other guys...we can flick ideas off one another and work on our little secrets to beat certain forwards.

"He's slotted in really nicely and is going to be a really valuable member of the team this year."

Without Lake to support him, Gibson has already been the AFL's pre-eminent spoiler for the past three seasons, making 125 more spoils than anyone else since 2010.

Asked specifically what Lake's recruitment meant for him, Gibson said: "I might not have to play on some of those taller gorillas. I suppose it will allow me to match up on players more my height."

Youngster Ryan Schoenmakers also stands to benefit from Lake's presence in the backline given he won't be required to play on the opposition's best forward as much as he has in season's past.

"The beautiful thing about having Lakey is that he's really going to help develop Schoey's game and really help him work out how to play certain forwards," Gibson said.

"Schoey's improving all of the time and I think people forget how young he is. He's 22 and he's playing that key defender role which isn't easy.

"I'm sure he'll enjoy having Brian down there just as much as I will."

Despite the hype surrounding Lake's arrival, Gibson stressed the club's defence was not the only area that needed addressing in the wake of last year's agonising grand final defeat.

"I don't think it all comes down to our defence, there's plenty of areas all over the field that we want to improve on," he said.

"Marking those key forwards is one of the pieces of the puzzle and he's going to be really good for us in that sense, but we're not putting all of our eggs in one basket and just worrying about our defensive work and nothing else.

"Every year the game evolves and you've got to keep evolving with it."
 

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Gibson has faith in club medicos

The AFL says it is aware of only two specific cases where players or clubs may have breached the league's WADA code.

Minister for Home Affairs Jason Clare admits that players have come forward in relation to doping, following the ACC's damaging report.

Josh Gibson says all AFL players need to be able to trust their club's medical staff. Picture: Wayne Ludbey Source: Herald Sun

HAWTHORN defender Josh Gibson says AFL players need to be able to trust their club's medical staff.

Gibson said he has no worries about anything he has taken throughout his AFL career, insisting he has complete confidence in Hawthorn's medical practices.

"Definitely. You've got to have faith in those systems," Gibson said.

"We have a bit of protein powder after weights or a skills session and some guys take multivitamins, which are pretty common.

"We don't take a lot of supplements."

Gibson said he wasn't sure if players would be subjected to more drug testing following the scandal currently engulfing Australian sport.

"We've got two massive companies that test us for drugs and I'm sure that they'll put the right procedures in place to make sure that when they test us they pick up the things that they need to pick up," he said.

 

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Cats back drug detection regimen

The AFL says it is aware of only two specific cases where players or clubs may have breached the league's WADA code.

Minister for Home Affairs Jason Clare admits that players have come forward in relation to doping, following the ACC's damaging report.

In an open letter to Cats fans, Geelong chief Brian Cook says his club has nothing to hide despite past links to suspended Essendon fitness coach Dean Robinson. Picture: Peter Ristevski Source: Geelong Advertiser

GEELONG has told its fans the club's "robust" sports science processes will stand up to any examination.

The Cats are seething that they have been tarnished by association given Essendon's suspended high-performance manager Dean Robinson worked at the club during its premiership wins in 2007 and 2009.

A letter from president Colin Carter and chief executive Brian Cook was sent to members yesterday addressing the drug scandal that has rocked Australian sport.

"Our club has been drawn into the public discussion because one of our past employees is being mentioned and this is prompting questions about how we have conducted ourselves in recent years," it read.

"Let me assure you that we have nothing to hide.

"Our processes are robust and we are confident that they stand up to any examination.

"However, we know that this will not be enough for some people who will doubt the legitimacy of the game and are disillusioned.

"And so we believe it is important the story of a club that did everything by the book and achieved great success through hard work, professionalism, team work, unity and commitment should be celebrated. We owe that to everyone who contributed."

The Cats have welcomed the widening of the AFL and Australian Sports Anti-Doping Authority investigation with a forensic team set to look over the club's procedures in coming days.

Several other clubs will also be looked at, including Gold Coast where Robinson worked after leaving the Cats in 2010.

"This will take some time, as it should, and it needs to be thorough to ensure that the integrity of our club is confirmed," the Geelong statement read.

"We believe our protocols are best practice and that is why we are confident in our position. We know these are difficult times for supporters.

"But we are confident that when the dust settles on this investigation, we will be seen as we have been in recent years - a successful club that goes about its business in the right way."
 

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No second-year blues for Zorko

Brisbane Lions midfielder Dayne Zorko wants to "take the bull by the horns" in 2013. Picture: Mark Calleja Source: The Courier-Mail

DAYNE Zorko worked far too hard to play one season in the AFL to fall victim to second-year syndrome.

So Zorko, the Lions cult figure, is ready to take the bull by the horns in 2013.

The mature-age rookie was a revelation for Brisbane in 2012 after making his long-awaited senior debut in Round 7 against Collingwood at age 23.

The former NEAFL/QAFL star quickly became a crowd favourite at the Gabba and finished the season with the impressive numbers to match.

Zorko also polled six Brownlow Medal votes and finished equal seventh in Brisbane's best-and-fairest count.

Once considered too short, at 175cm, and too slow for the top level, the Gold Coaster showed that he belonged.

But given he fought so hard for his crack at the big time, Zorko is not about to get complacent.

He sought out teammate Daniel Rich, who suffered from second-year syndrome in 2010 after a stunning debut season that earned him the NAB Rising Star award in 2009.

Lions coach Michael Voss told Zorko that he should not have extra expectations of his second season.

"I've been fortunate to have Richy here at the club. He struggled a bit in his second year so I've learned a lot from him," Zorko said.

"We've had quite a few chats about it and Vossy has been really good too."

Zorko is giving himself every chance of at least replicating his heroics from last year.

The midfielder/forward missed a large chunk of Brisbane's pre-season training program last year through injury, but has been front and centre throughout the summer slog this time around.

"I'm well past that now and done a hell of a lot more work which will hopefully keep me in good stead and help me run out games better," Zorko said.

"I'm looking forward to getting a few NAB Cup games under my belt now."

Brisbane will take on the Gold Coast and Hawthorn in short-form matches in the opening round of the NAB Cup at Metricon Stadium on Saturday week.

Zorko celebrated his 24th birthday at Brisbane's fan day at Yeronga on Saturday and was much closer to the centre of attention compared to 12 months ago as he happily signed autographs and posed for photos with fans.

"I was here last year, but it was a fair bit quieter for me," he said. "Nobody would have known who I was. It's a bit of a change but I'm enjoying it."
 

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Crows, Power want suspect named

The AFL says it is aware of only two specific cases where players or clubs may have breached the league's WADA code.

Minister for Home Affairs Jason Clare admits that players have come forward in relation to doping, following the ACC's damaging report.

Both Adelaide and Port Adelaide want the player under suspicion of using performance enhancing drugs named. Source: Supplied

ADELAIDE and Port Adelaide have called on the AFL to name the player being investigated for performance-enhancing drug use.

Both clubs say there is a dark cloud hovering over the other 800 footballers on AFL lists because no names have been released.

"As soon as the AFL has unambiguous proof of who the player is it needs to name him," Crows chairman Rob Chapman said, admitting the uncertainty had affected every player in the league.

"At the moment a dark shadow has been cast over all players, which is very unfair.

"They should not have to have that concern hanging over their heads."

The AFL announced yesterday that multiple players from Essendon - which has been in the spotlight for alleged illegal substance abuse - and one player from another AFL club are being investigated for possible performance-enhancing drug use.

League deputy chief executive Gillon McLachlan said they are the only two cases where WADA prohibited performance-enhancing drugs may have been used in the AFL, according to an Australian Crime Commission report.

Essendon went to the AFL with concerns over supplement use before the ACC handed down its report on Thursday.

McLachlan said in this case "it's possible that players were administered the WADA prohibited substances without their knowledge or consent".

But it is the "one player at one club" allegation which has the Crows and Power concerned as speculation mounts as to who it could be.

Chapman and Power football operations manager Peter Rohde say they are convinced the player doesn't come from their clubs but until he is named nothing could be ruled out.

"What makes me so confident is that not one single person form the AFL, the ACC, ASADA or WADA have spoken to me about anything to do with the Adelaide Football Club or any of its players or staff over this issue," Chapman said.

Rohde said the Power would also like the matter cleared up to stop its players from being put under the microscope.

"The club and players don't want this thing hanging over their heads all season and to be in a position where they are continually asked about it," he said.

Both clubs last week spoke to their players about the drugs-in-sport issue and re-emphasised the need to play within the boundaries.

The chief executive, football operations manager and coach from Adelaide and Port will join representatives from all other AFL clubs in meeting with the league in Melbourne this week to discuss the simmering drugs issue.

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