Essendon chairman David Evans has apologised to players, their families and the AFL community for failings on his watch which led to the supplements saga that has engulfed the club.
Evans has released an abridged version of an internal club report, helmed by former Telstra chief Ziggy Switkowski, into governance issues relating to the Bombers’ controversial supplements program.
In the report and admissions by Evans in a media conference afterwards:
* The review made six key findings, uncovering failures in structures and accountability surrounding the club’s supplements program from November 2011 to August 2012;
* It contained 12 recommendations, including zero tolerance at club level for risky procedures involving supplements and exotic treatments;
* Concerns were raised over club Medicare claims for blood tests sourced by outside medical staff – which will be left to the main ASADA-AFL investigation to probe;
* Former Bombers sports scientist Stephen Dank – the man central to the wider ASADA anti-doping probe – was not interviewed for the Switkowski report;
* A letter from long-time Essendon club doctor Bruce Reid outlining concerns over the supplements program was not passed on to Evans;
* No sackings of any key officials have been recommended;
* Evans, who was elected to a new three-year term at the end of 2012, will bring forward his election date to the end of this season to give members the opportunity to decide whether he remains in the job.
Switkowski recommended that any pioneering work with supplements and exotic treatments should be left to the Australian Sports Commission, and the Bombers should never again become involved in a supplements “arms race”.
“At a club level, this is not an area for risk management but for zero tolerance,” said the report.
“A club’s pharmacology skills should not normally be independently and secretly developed as a source of competitive advantage.
“And an arms race for the most sophisticated molecules must be prohibited.”
Evans said parts of the Switkowski report could not be released publicly, though the AFL had been fully briefed.
He said that was done not to compromise the wider investigation, and that the types of supplements alleged to have been used were a “no-go zone” for the Switkowski report.
“This is an uncomfortable report and it probably should be,” Evans said.
“I am deeply sorry this has happened on my watch.
“I know how important this club is to its members and supporters, and I can only apologise that this series of events has happened.
“I want to apologise to our players and their families, to our members and supporters, and to the AFL community about what has happened at Essendon.”
Evans confirmed Essendon players are set to be interviewed by ASADA this week.
