Nathan Lovett-Murray calls for Essendon players found guilty of cheating to be pardoned, Jobe Watson Brownlow Medal reinstated

One of Jobe Watson’s former teammates has urged the AFL to reinstate the ex-Bombers captain’s Brownlow Medal and launched a scathing attack on the investigation into Essendon’s infamous supplements program.

The last remaining Bomber still trying to clear his name in the Essendon drugs saga has called on the AFL to pardon the 34 players found guilty of drug cheating.

Nathan Lovett-Murray has also demanded the immediate return of Jobe Watson’s 2012 Brownlow Medal, which Watson was forced to return to the AFL.

Lovett-Murray says the “cover-up’’ by the world anti-doping body (WADA), which allowed 23 Chinese swimmers to escape without punishment after failed drugs tests in the lead-up to the 2021 Tokyo Olympics, casts serious doubt on the decision to suspend the “Essendon 34” for 12 months.

Lovett-Murray stressed the Essendon players did not return a single positive test and labelled the investigation into the alleged drug-taking as “shameful’’ and “corrupt’’.

“In light of the WADA decision in relation to the systemic Chinese doping, the AFL and Sports Integrity Australia are compelled to pardon all Essendon players and reinstate Jobe Watson’s Brownlow immediately to put an end to this shameful, corrupt investigation and flawed decision that flowed from these events,’’ Lovett-Murray said.

“This is the only equitable process the AFL must adopt now. Not to do so continues this manifestly unfair decision by the foreign panel in the face of overwhelming evidence of mine and my teammates’ innocence. Justice must not only be seen to be done; it must be done.”

Jobe Watson speaks to media in 2015. Picture: Quinn Rooney/Getty Images

Lovett-Murray, 41, is fighting Sports Integrity Australia, formerly ASADA, in Brisbane’s appeal tribunal. He is seeking documents from SIA, which he claims has stalled their release for two years.

“I have maintained my innocence from day one of the ASADA investigation and continue to do so,’’ he said. “I have answered every question put to me by ASADA truthfully to confirm my innocence of any prohibited drug-taking.

“I confirm that I am currently before the Administrative Appeal Tribunal in the Brisbane Division, seeking documents from ASADA that will clear myself and my teammates of any wrongdoing and drug offences once and for all.

“I am the last man standing in front of this corrupt process. I have nothing to fear. I have nothing to hide, unlike ASADA/WADA.’’

Former Bomber Nathan Lovett-Murray in 2010.

The 34 Essendon players were initially cleared by an independent tribunal, which stated ASADA’s case “lacked an evidentiary basis”.

ASADA appealed to the Court of Arbitration for Sport, which found to its “comfortable satisfaction” that the players had taken a prohibited substance and that “all players were significantly at fault”.

“The ASADA investigation has been demonstrated to be fundamentally flawed and simply wrong in every aspect of the investigation and outcome,’’ Lovett-Murray said.

“No Essendon player has returned a positive result for any illegal or prohibited drugs, yet WADA appealed the original decision to refer it to a foreign body for adjudication in a foreign language and different rules of law to Australia.”

James Hird’s father, Allan, on Tuesday said WADA’s treatment of the Chinese swimmers had exposed its double standards.

Lovett-Murray’s manager Peter Jess said on Wednesday: “Given the Chinese experience, how can anyone in sport have confidence in WADA or, in fact, trust the process of drug testing?

“Drug convictions are life-altering experiences. Ask the Essendon 34. Ask Peter Bol. Ask Shayna Jack and the multitude of other athletes throughout the world wrongly convicted of failing drug tests.

“The AFL must pardon the Essendon 34 and erase the drug convictions. There is no other position that the AFL can take.’’

Originally published as Nathan Lovett-Murray calls for Essendon players found guilty of cheating to be pardoned, Jobe Watson Brownlow Medal reinstated