Bombers sinking in muddied pool of drugs scandal

THERE are many questions to be answered in this drug scandal for Essendon, the most emotional being: Should Jobe Watson keep his Brownlow medal?

THERE are facts and there are muddied waters.

Fact 1: The World Anti-Doping Agency says that since the start of 2011 AOD9604 has been a banned drug, not approved for human use anywhere in the world.

Fact 2: Essendon captain Jobe Watson on Monday admitted he took AOD9604 during the 2012 season.

There are many questions to be answered, the most emotional being: Should Watson keep his Brownlow medal?

The answer has to be: No.

Hird confident Jobe will keep Brownlow

But after the lawyers and the deal-makers and the Australian Sports Anti-Doping Authority and the AFL and Essendon are finished with it, who knows what will happen?

What we do know is Watson will play this week.

The AFL continues to respect the joint ASADA-AFL investigation and will not make a determination until all findings are completed.

The AFL also knows, by virtue of its integrity department sitting in on the ASADA interviews with players, just who and how many players believe they have taken the drug.

AFL says Jobe confession 'not helpful'

So, we might have six, eight, or even 10 Essendon players who will take the field against the Eagles tomorrow night who have taken the banned drug.

And the AFL knows.

Jobe Watson

It's an astonishing situation and one that has polarised the football community.

One also has to wonder what sporting officials around the world are thinking about a player admitting, to his best understanding, that he took a banned drug and the controlling sports body still allowing him to compete.

Watson's revelation on Fox Footy on Monday night created a public and private tsunami, not least because Watson had been briefed by the Bombers and by his management not to answer any questions pertaining to the drugs scandal.

Watson's honesty took hold. Pushed, Watson said he signed the consent form, which listed AOD9604, and his belief was that he took it and that it was approved for consumption.

Macca

It's why he believes he - and his teammates - have done nothing wrong.

His genuineness was palpable and, if he does go down for behaviours enforced on him by his football club, it will be one of the AFL's darkest and saddest days. He is not a drug cheat, but he could be found guilty of drug cheating.

In the meantime, the months-long drama plays out. The Bombers maintain the players will be safe, and their confidence is so overwhelming it's perplexing.

The Bombers believe AOD9604 was initially not banned, because they believed former sports scientist Stephen Dank gave them an indication it was not on the WADA banned list, and that Dank had also sought assurances from ASADA.

Jobe Watson

Then, in February this year, the Australian Crime Commission mistakenly - and on the "expert advice" from ASADA - said AOD9604 was not prohibited under Category S2 of the WADA code.

Then in April, WADA came over the top and said it was banned under Category S0, in regards to being not approved for human use.

To further confuse the situation, the Bombers believe AOD9604 is not even a performance-enhancing drug, for what that's worth.

It's all wrapped in a shroud of fear and loathing.

The ACC talks of criminal elements and so did the AFL.

Government and national police bodies are involved, convicted criminals speak, phone records are displayed and emails copied, amid a rumble of claims, lies and denials.

Despite Essendon's confidence - including that of Watson's dad Tim yesterday - perhaps the smartest mind in all of this, WADA boss John Fahey, believes that Watson is in serious trouble.

He reaffirmed yesterday that the buck stopped with the athlete.

Fahey also mentioned "mitigating circumstances" - and whatever they might be, you'd think the Bombers would be desperately clinging to them like a survivor from the Titanic would be to a piece of driftwood.

Because right now, the facts are sinking them.

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