BY JON PIERIKEXCLUSIVE
Retired Essendon player Nathan Lovett-Murray has revealed that his series of injections during the club’s controversial supplements program began during a pre-season training camp on the Gold Coast in 2011, and he has called for Stephen Dank to finally appear before anti-doping authorities.In a candid interview with Fairfax Media, Lovett-Murray has become the first player to discuss in depth what was a failed supplements and injecting program, beginning in late 2011 and continuing through the 2012 season.AdvertisementHe said he had initially been driven to a clinic in the Gold Coast hinterland in December 2011, where he was administered at least 10 injections in his lower back over two days with what he was told were legal amino acids.However, before leaving on the trip he had signed consent forms to be given a form of Thymosin and the prohibited anti-obesity drug AOD-9604.Highlighting the diminished power of veteran club doctor Bruce Reid at the time, Lovett-Murray said Reid had told him on at least two occasions the injections would be useless. He said Dank and Reid were in the room when he was injected.’‘They were more in the back because I had a lot of back tightness, [which] caused problems in the hamstring and calves. I would have them in the back and that area,’’ Lovett-Murray said on Monday. ‘‘It was probably about 10 over a couple of days. At the time, I felt like it helped. But Doc Reid didn’t agree. He reckons there was no medical explanation for it. He didn’t agree with it. But body-wise, I did.’‘Lovett-Murray said he was taken to a clinic ‘‘on the mountains, about 40 minutes outside of the Gold Coast’’.’‘I was told a lot of the Brisbane players used to go there, when they were winning all their premierships. I spoke to one of the Brisbane players who played there, and he said they would go there,’’ he said. ‘‘That gave me confidence. About once a week they would see [the specialist], they thought he was really good.’‘He had just some sort of clinic. He gives you these injections into your muscles, it relaxes your muscle. We were always told a lot of the stuff we were taking was like amino-acid type stuff.’‘Biochemist Shane Charter, a convicted drug dealer, last year claimed that he, Dank and coach James Hird discussed various substances, including vitamins, hormones and peptides, by the pool at the Sheraton Mirage in Surfers Paradise where the Bombers were staying during a pre-season camp.Charter, who worked with Hird on nutrition during his playing days and has become a key witness for ASADA, has said the coach stressed that any supplements must be legal and not harmful to players.Lovett-Murray said he had signed a medical consent form before leaving for the camp. ‘‘We signed off on documents. It was more for the players’ welfare and safety, it wasn’t such a secret document,’’ he said.’‘I had done my calf a couple of times leading up to that, so we went to see a specialist who gave me these injections.’‘They were to help relax the muscles a bit. From that, I felt it helped. But, in talking to the club doctor at the time, Reidy, he wasn’t too sure, he felt it didn’t really do anything.’'The injecting program continued on a weekly basis through the 2012 season. Asked whether he believed he had been given AOD-9604, Lovett-Murray said: ‘‘I don’t remember taking anything like that, but I think Jobe [Watson] came out and said we did.’‘Watson last year admitted he took AOD-9604 but was under the belief ‘‘that it was legal at the time. and that was actually what I was told I was being given’’.Lovett-Murray said he had repeatedly asked whether the supplements were legal. ‘‘I had these conversations with Stephen Dank and [former high-performance boss] Dean Robinson, James Hird. They all said they were legal, they were safe. So I had no concerns whatsoever,’’ he said.That changed, however, when the club self-reported to the AFL and ASADA and it later emerged they may have been injected with a substance bought in Mexico by a Melbourne man suffering from muscular dystrophy.’‘When it first came out, players were concerned, everyone was. But then the club kept us in the loop. I am pretty confident there are no players with concerns now.’‘Dank has publicly stressed that all the drugs used were harmless, routine amino acids or peptides, but Essendon chairman Paul Little said at the weekend he could not yet guarantee what the players were given.Unlike some other teammates, Lovett-Murray said he had not been taken to an anti-ageing clinic across the road from the club’s Windy Hill training venue for treatment. ‘‘There were injections throughout the year. It was always at the footy club,’’ he said.Lovett-Murray, a running half-back, played 17 matches in 2012 but only three last year before retiring and pursuing a career in indigenous music promotion with his label Payback Records.Dank has so far refused to be interviewed by ASADA or the AFL’s integrity unit. The investigation, which has led to the departures of chairman David Evans, chief executive Ian Robson and the suspensions of Hird, Reid and football chief Danny Corcoran, continues.Dank says he will only put his case before the Federal Court, declaring last week that ‘‘I’m not going to put myself before some kangaroo court of sport’’. He has the ability to bring closure to the investigation, something Lovett-Murray would welcome for the players and a club he now works at in a mentoring role.’‘I would like for him [Dank] to come and talk [to ASADA], but I know when he was at the club, I had a lot of conversations with him,’’ he said. ‘‘He said everything that was taken was legal and safe. I put my trust in him as all players do when someone comes to the club. You get to know them and find out what they are like. You can make that decision, whether you trust someone or not. Dank was someone I felt I could like.’‘For him, I can probably understand why he is not talking. I think he will talk when he is ready, he doesn’t have to be pressured by outside influences.’’
Not a bad article at all really
Even better in the other forum.
I looked and couldnt see if it had been posted. Thats what happens when alot of people post two lines of crap over and over again.
Really? As examples, they know exactly how the below would be misinterpreted:Not a bad article at all really
"the prohibited anti-obesity drug AOD-9604â€
"Watson last year admitted he took AOD-9604 but was under the belief that it was legal at the time"
I looked and couldnt see if it had been posted. Thats what happens when alot of people post two lines of crap over and over again.
That's a very interesting point of view, although I'd like to see more evidence.
For it.
‘‘I was told a lot of the Brisbane players used to go there, when they were winning all their premierships. I spoke to one of the Brisbane players who played there, and he said they would go there,’’ he said. ‘‘That gave me confidence. About once a week they would see [the specialist], they thought he was really good.’’
My favourite bit. Dr Feelgood.
As I said in the other thread, if this had come out in early last year I think we would have been in a "better position".
If we could get these interviews without the snide commentary in between the quotes, then these articles might actually be worth reading
Love the title of the story
" I trusted Dank" as if to say he has broken it…
Should of been " I trust Dank ", as if to say nlm still has faith in him
Some people will just glimpse over the title and not read the story (especially these days) they then misinterpret the story and assume that Dank betrayed our players trust.
That’s how that ■■■■ grubbing about newspaper operates
I wonder if Brisbane would get looked at after hearing they attended the clinic
I wonder if Brisbane would get looked at after hearing they attended the clinic
Ha ha ha ha ha ha
You are joking right?
Good one Lovett Murray,thanks very ■■■■■■■ much
Talking exclusively to fairfax too.
Why can't we all just shut the ■■■■ up?
Really? As examples, they know exactly how the below would be misinterpreted:Not a bad article at all really
"the prohibited anti-obesity drug AOD-9604â€
"Watson last year admitted he took AOD-9604 but was under the belief that it was legal at the time"
Bingo! the same exact two lines which p*ssed me off.
Manipulative gutter journalism
Its so prohibited asada havent issued infraction notices in over 12 months
..and the Jobe "admission" dont effin start me!
I wonder if Brisbane would get looked at after hearing they attended the clinic
Ha ha ha ha ha ha
You are joking right?
Still awaiting the investigation into Melbourne's use of AOD on Trengove. When hell freezes over right?
Didn't Reimers say similar in his interview with Damian Barrett - Actually spoke less about the specifics of the program, though in a more disjointed way. Remember that Reimers was villified by some.
I wonder if NLM is waiting to see how the Cronulla players go in taking Dank to court?
but ASADA would have told Melbourne that AOD was A-OK the same as they told Essendon, right?Still awaiting the investigation into Melbourne's use of AOD on Trengove. When hell freezes over right?Ha ha ha ha ha haI wonder if Brisbane would get looked at after hearing they attended the clinic
You are joking right?
However, what's the latest on Gold Coast's Nathan Bock and his CJC-1295 escapades?
While James Hird will be absent this season, retired Bomber Nathan Lovett-Murray has no doubt what his former teammates hope happens with their suspended coach.
Hird will be sidelined until after the season as he completes as year-long ban for his role in the club's supplements program, with another club great, Mark Thompson, taking charge.
''Right from the start, all the players wanted Hirdy back. That was probably the frustrating part; all the media were trying to split the players, the footy club up, but what I have seen and what I know will happen, is the players will definitely welcome him back,'' Lovett-Murray said.
''I think they will do well [this season]. Bomber is a great coach. But Hirdy is a great coach as well. Hirdy wants to win.''And so will Thompson, whose thirst for the challenge has been reignited, and perhaps will be heightened further after chairman Paul Little said at the weekend the dual Geelong premiership coach needed ''to prove to the football public and the Essendon people that he's still got it - that he can still succeed as a senior coach''.
Hird has been recontracted until the end of 2016 and, at this stage, appears likely to return to the top job once this season is complete. But it appears he will first need to do what Little hopes, and that is to ''move on'' from the ''detractors''.
Naturally, that won't be easy after an emotional, even spiteful, battle to clear his name in 2013, but the Bombers know an angry and bitter Hird will not do the club, or himself, or any good should he return in that frame of mind. It's clear he must return for the right reasons and embrace the new management and reporting structure Little continues to introduce.
What has the industry talking is what happens if, for instance, a refreshed Thompson guides the Bombers, tipped by some to finish in the top four, to at least one victory in September. They have not won a final in three years under Hird.
If they somehow advance into a preliminary final, or go one better, which would presumably mean the players have, to use sporting jargon, ''bought into'' Thompson's mantra, it looms as an extremely tough call to move the caretaker coach on. How will the fans react?
With the investigation by the Australian Sports Anti-Doping Authority ongoing, one thing is for sure this season - the Bombers will attract more headlines.
Lovett-Murray attracted his own in what was a challenging 2013. He was stabbed in the bicep, allegedly by the former partner of his girlfriend. He was fortunate the attacker just missed an artery, otherwise he could have died.
He has also had an ongoing battle with alcohol, having relapsed and been admitted into rehab for a fortnight in November after struggling with retirement following the international rules tour of Ireland.
With two boys, aged 10 and five, and his girlfriend expecting a baby girl, Lovett-Murray says he is determined to move into the ''next phase'' of his life.
Aside from his family life, that also involves keeping a close eye on his former team, as a mentor to indigenous players and also as a passionate supporter of a club he played 145 matches for.
He will also be kept busy in his role promoting his rap label, Payback Records, which had a key role in last weekend's Melbourne Indigenous Arts Festival. He wants to take the label to Europe and the US. ''I have just found that there are a lot of people around the world that want to learn about indigenous culture. We have got the oldest living culture and we are so proud of it. My vision is I want to promote it to the world,'' Lovett-Murray said.
''But, in saying that, we have the worst life expectancy of indigenous people in the world. We have the Close the Gap campaign because indigenous people in some places are dying 20 years younger than non-indigenous people.
''Through music you can educate people. That's been my aim from day one, and also giving young indigenous people a voice.''
Lovett-Murray used his voice this week, detailing to Fairfax Media his candid take on the supplements saga, beginning with injections during a pre-season camp and calling for former sports scientist Stephen Dank to come forward. He also spoke highly of club doctor Bruce Reid, who was not suspended, as reported on Tuesday, but was cleared of all charges and has returned to the role after taking leave.
In a saga that continues to elicit many rash comments, Lovett-Murray was one voice worth listening to.