Random comment out of nowhere.
I really expected more/better of Derryn Hinch.
All that effort put into addressing mental health issues in the wider community and AFL applauding players for speaking out; AFLPA getting involved.
There is a prime example of the effects of the Amit-doping system on mental health. Would welcome the AFLPA going public on this issue. But nothing to see here.
2 Likes
There are many reasons why millenials dont see democracy as important as their parents and grandparents did, but failure of democratically elected governments is one of them.
In a system where votes are bought, and only the wealthy, or those with wealthy backers, can participate, disillusionment with a democratic system is not surprising.
If governments arent held accountable for their actions, what is the point in having them?
Interesting reseach on how many millenials would rather be ruled by “experts” than elected officails.
Scary, but look at what they have as examples.
And the EFC saga is a prime case in point.
5 Likes
It would be super if the elected officials and the governments they control actually were effective
I think why the ‘experts’ line might get touted is people are sick of governments constantly farking things up and wasting millions of dollars.
Andrews and the east-west link cancellation (mainly as the unions he is subservient too were not involved with the contract) a prime example
And how ever many poorly executed national schemes that have just wasted money. Insulation scheme. School building scheme. Etc
2 Likes
Don’t disagree with your points. However in context, my comment was in response to a question of whether Evans was in on a fix in July 2012 - which is just absolute nonsense. There is no way Evans knew of the issues that lay ahead at that time. Even the AFL and NRL had absolutely no inkling of anything like what ACC report would link them to in July 2012.
Evans played things extremely poorly but to raise the possibility he was in on something the year before is wrong.
3 Likes
Surely WADA diverting funds from scientific research will make it harder for athletes to prove WADA’s science may be faulty.
“Rabin [WADA senior executive director] admitted that scientific research had been the most appropriate area from which to divert finding in recent years so as to better resource other areas such as intelligence and investigation.”
— https://www.insidethegames.biz/articles/1063094/exclusive-wad
2 Likes
Athletes have no capacity to prove that WADA science is faulty. WADA rules provide that athletes cannot mount a defence on that basis
Scientists are contesting the scientific basis of IAAF rules on testosterone levels in females and earlier ruled were challenged in CAS. But those rules are about the right to compete- distinct from anti-doping rules.
WADA has shut down commisioned research by scientists on the scientific basis of anti-doping provisions and had excluded those who question them from grants.
7 Likes
Andrew Demetrio, the ex CEO of the AFL, certainly had an inkling about the ACC, an investigation in 2012 and a report which he mentioned in an interview. The ACC’s on-going investigation and interest in Dank and/or Robinson in relation to Shane Charters and an association with bikie gang/s, gyms and peptides.
Whether Andrew shared any of this information with David Evans in unknown.
1 Like
Is it time for at least one athlete, somewhere in the world, to take WADA and its faulty science, into the court room?
1 Like
Here is a quote from Andrew Demetriou from mid March 2012, we know that Doc Reid was unhappy with Dank already at this point, it would be interesting to know if Vlad was partly referring to Dank here. Perhaps others know more.
_"… People should understand very carefully that the decision-makers at clubs in relation to medical matters are the club doctors."
It is in our rules, and if anybody is not abiding by that, they should be very careful because there are strict financial sanctions. Phys-eds do not overrule doctors."
He said concerns that experienced club doctors felt marginalised was a worry for the AFL.
“We have had reports that AFL club doctors leave clubs (as a result of this), and we need experienced club doctors in clubs, as we do experienced phys-edders,” he said.
2 Likes
Somewhere in the WADA rules there are provisions that inclusion of substances/methods in the WADA Code prohibitions is based on 2 of 3 criteria:
- harmful to health
- performance enhancing
- against the spirit of sport
WADA has resisted attempts to make performance enhancement a mandatory crterion so perhaps science only comes into the mix on the first criterion. WADA has also refused to respond to questions about which criteria are being applied to a substance/ method.
The application of the criteria is sports-specific in some cases. Harcourt heads up the WADA sports-specific Committee, but as far as I am aware, there have not been any sports specific provisions for football ( let alone Australian Rules).
Also as far as I am aware there have not been any legal challenges to WADA for breaching its own rules in failing to observe the 2 criteria rule.
There could be problems in running such a counter claim in defending a doping charge, given the specific Code provisions of a presumption that anything on the banned list cannot be challenged per se. I am not an expert, but it could depend which provision has primacy in the event of a conflict between conflicting provisions.
None of this would matter if, as a matter of practice, WADA were to be transparent in regard to criteria. But pressure from scientists for the IAAF to release the science behind its testosterone rules has been unsuccessful so far
1 Like
The first rule of lawyers in Anti-Doping Tribunals is too attack the science - There have been athletes who have beaten an AAF on this basis - Don’t confuse this with the lack of scientific rigour in listing substances on the banned list.
1 Like
Being against the spirit of the sport is a bit like the AFL’s bringing the game into disrepute which could mean anything?
3 Likes
Another interesting point from that same article: "After Anderson had expressed concern that sports science departments were overruling doctors when it came to medical issues involving players, Malthouse said the AFL should have no say in club matters.
“Adrian Anderson is putting his bib into club affairs and I detest that,” he said. “The AFL run the AFL and they should not be running clubs and the club cultures, nor the set-up. They are not privy at all . . . to how doctors and scientists co-ordinate.”
"AFL ‘out of touch’ on medical issues" - Jon Pierik, The Age, 21 April 2013: "In a rare public criticism of league brass, [James] Brayshaw attacked the AFL for insisting such a strong emphasis was put on the word of a club doctor…
‘‘They [AFL] have got to come up with a better model than that. For the AFL to just consistently say: ‘That’s why it’s got to be the doctor’ - they are
not in touch with clubland enough to understand what happens.’’
12 Likes
Speedy agree with the vibe of what you are saying but if you are going to use examples, use ones that are accurate.
The east-west link cancellation costs were based on a secret side agreement that was not in the contract, one could almost call that corrupt. The side deal said that even if the contract is legally terminated then the company will be compensated for the life of the project. That is what an expert would never agree to.
Also if you want another example, when the planning scheme was amended for Fishermans Bend by the same government, a development plan showing the need for open space and parks etc was not included so when it comes time to provide these things the developers will not have to foot the bill as they normally would in any other subdivision so it will be up to the ratepayer and taxpayer to fund. Again the experts were overruled to allow the minister to be a man of action.
The school building scheme delivered some great projects (and costs were within normal tendering ranges) and unfortunately the insulation scheme was badly administered when all the fly by nighters signed up with their dodgy work practices which come under state OH&S laws.
5 Likes
If this treatment of players (workers) happened in any other industry, unions would have gone bat ■■■■ crazy on the company or corporations involved.
5 Likes
Spirit of sport has been defined as some sort of Olympic ideal, based on the values of ethics health and fair play . Don’t see much of that in Olympics competition or in Olympic connected sports bodies. Seems it is only supposed to be applied to athletes. Does not appear to be applied to AFL operations.
3 Likes
What with Greg Hunt’s commitment to mental health, how does he feel about what has been made public by Hird, Crameri, Bomba and Jobe in regard to the impact of a system on their health?
The Government is a party to that system.
Is that going to be addressed in regard to the integrity of sport currently under consideration as part of the sports review?
5 Likes
The Norwegian Government Minister standing for the WADA Presidency wants more government involvement in a more independent WADA.
Any word from our Minister for Sport, given the money the government spends on propping up WADA through direct funding and through ASADA?
The last time Australia managed to get an Australian elected, he spent much of his time and government money on pursuing 34 innocent Australian athletes with devastating effects on their wellbeing
7 Likes
Robbo has done an article ( behind paywall) on the continuing effects of the saga - “Cancer on the Game”