AFL chief executive Andrew Demetriou says Essendon coach James Hird should consider standing down while claims he was injected with a substance banned for players are fully investigated.
Demetriou says Hird is entitled to have his say in response to allegations by former Essendon sports scientist Stephen Dank that he used hexarelin – which is not banned for coaches.
Hird has also been accused of being well aware of the club’s controversial supplement program under Dank – a program being investigated by the Australian Sports Anti-Doping Authority (ASADA).
Allegations surfaced on Thursday that players were injected with a variety of substances to enhance their performance and well-being – some sounding quite bizarre.
Demetriou said on Friday Hird must at least weigh up standing aside from his role while the matters are being investigated, then returning to the role if cleared.
“As he goes through his thought process … that is an option he has to consider,” Demetriou told Melbourne radio station 3AW when asked if Hird should temporarily stand aside from coaching the Bombers.
“He has got an outstanding position in this game. He’s been a wonderful servant to the Essendon Football Club, an ornament to AFL football.
“He’s entitled to be able to put his position forward, which he will get the opportunity (to do) next week with ASADA.
“In the interim, those are the things that will have to cross his mind when he’s contemplating what he’s going to say to ASADA.”
Demetriou stopped short of saying he’d like Hird to step aside.
But he said he was disappointed with the allegations which have engulfed both Hird and Essendon – admitting the more he found out in briefings about the issue, the more concerned he became.
“You can’t help but be disappointed, particularly as you find out more and understand more about what was going on,” Demetriou said.
“You’d appreciate I’ve got briefings that are more advanced than what’s in the public domain. I think it’s terribly important that we now get the investigations finalised quickly.
“Then we can get to the truth.”
Essendon play Fremantle in Perth on Friday night.
Hird has vowed to clear his name over the allegations.
News Limited reports on Friday said Hird would admit to receiving two injections from Dank – both for health reasons – believing they were legal amino acids.
It said Hird would tell that to ASADA when he met with investigators next week.
Demetriou also shrugged off the possibility of any widespread issue with on-the-edge supplement use in the AFL, saying Essendon was the only club causing concern.