Essendon supplements saga: 'Devastated' Bombers players exploring legal options after CAS decision, Jobe Watson says
Updated
Essendon players are exploring all their legal options after the Court of Arbitration for Sport upheld the World Anti-Doping Agency's appeal, according to suspended Bombers star Jobe Watson.
The skipper, who was one of 12 current Bombers to receive a one-year ban on Tuesday, said the CAS's decision was "devastating".
"We are struggling to come to terms with this decision and feel it does not support the players' firm belief that we are innocent," he wrote in a statement on behalf of the 34 past and present players banned.
"Our legal team is conducting a thorough review of the decision and will explore any avenues available to us.
"The players would like to thank our families, our friends, our members and supporters for their unwavering support.
"We would also like to thank the AFLPA (AFL Players Association) for their ongoing support throughout the last three years."
In addition to the suspension, Watson has greater concerns after AFL chief executive Gillon McLachlan announced the AFL commission would review his 2012 Brownlow Medal win.
The commission will meet in February and Watson "will be invited to address the commission as potentially with other relevant parties".
Those relevant parties are likely to include Richmond's Trent Cotchin and Hawthorn's Sam Mitchell, who finished joint second behind Watson in the 2015 Brownlow Medal count.
Essendon chairman Lindsay Tanner was adamant Watson should keep the medal.
"I would anticipate the club will in some form make a submission to the AFL in line with that sentiment," he said.
"But that's ultimately going to be a matter the board will have to deal with in due course. I understand the AFL will consider the issue in February."
Heppell's mother says he would not take legal action on his own
The mother of club vice-captain Dyson Heppell, says she believes any legal action would be taken collectively by the players.
Anne-Marie Heppell told ABC radio said she had spoken to her son on Wednesday morning and he was not considering suing any organisations on his own.
"Speaking with him this morning I'm absolutely positive he would take no action on his own," she told 774 ABC Melbourne.
"As a collective group, I don't know how they're all feeling. And it would be as a collective group, because that's how Dyson would want them to move."
Ms Heppell said the ban from football had come as a huge shock to Dyson.
"He was very confident that even if they were found guilty of taking something, that he felt he hadn't and that he wouldn't be ruled out of football.
"As a family we're really disappointed with the outcome because we know Dyson prepares so professionally for his football, and he's been so focussed in doing everything so right.
"From probably when he was 10 years of age he was focussed on his dream of football and sport, and to think that he's received a ban for something is just sort of crazy I think.
Heppell family backs Essendon football club
The Dyson family holds no grudges towards the club, according to Ms Heppell, who said they had seen "some really nice people hurt throughout the whole saga."
Neither Dyson Heppell's parents, not the player himself, suspected he was putting anything illegal into his body, Ms Heppell said.
Paul and I and Dyson are comfortable with Essendon Football Club. Things go wrong in life and you've just got to ride them.
Anne-Marie Heppell
She said he described the program to her as a 'cutting edge vitamins and supplements regime'.
There was no suspicion that increased muscle mass was a sign of ingesting illegal substances.
"Cutting edge vitamins and supplements that were going to make them be 'right on the edge, mum, this is all OK with WADA, but our recovery is going to be so good with what we're taking'," was how Heppell explained the program.
"He just got stronger and bigger in his body because he was lifting weights that were probably good for him.
"Paul and I and Dyson are comfortable with Essendon Football Club.
"Things go wrong in life and you've just got to ride them."
Topics: australian-football-league, sport, essendon-3040, vic, australia
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