AFL boss Gillon McLachlan has lamented being unable to ascertain what was injected into ex-Essendon player Nathan Lovett-Murray, who claims his child has been harmed by the club’s former supplements program.
Lovett-Murray reportedly claims his three-year-old daughter, who was conceived about a year after the 2012 supplements program ended, has a mysterious growth on her chest and behavioural issues.
The 34-year-old is suing his former club over health fears for his daughter, News Corp Australia reports.
“There’s no doubt in my mind that the injection program we were put through has had some impact on my daughter,” Lovett-Murray told News Corp.
Lovett-Murray last year served a year-long ban for his involvement in the doping program but his AFL career ended in 2012.
League chief executive McLachlan said support was being offered to the former utility player but a lack of details clouded the matter.
“The AFL and the Essendon footy club will do everything we can to help Nathan and his family in what is clearly a very tough period,” McLachlan told 3AW on Friday.
“Clearly, I think that’s been implicit in this is the uncertainty of not knowing what the players got. That’s always been one of the most challenging aspects of this.
“In the broader sense, Nathan’s management is still negotiating with Essendon and I think he’s one of the last couple of people to not finalise their compensation claim.
I’m sure that will get done. If there’s broader support or medical support we can provide we’ll do whatever we can.”
Lovett-Murray’s matter is the latest fallout from the supplements program which has also contributed to mental health issues for former coach James Hird.
The AFL handed down a series of penalties in the aftermath, including kicking Essendon out of the 2013 finals, a $2-million fine and stripping of draft picks.
Hird was suspended for 12 months and, in 2015, the Court of Arbitration for Sports ruled the 34 past and present Bombers players be banned for the 2016 season.