ESSENDON doctor Bruce Reid is preparing totake the AFL to court.
The long-time Bombers medico appearedbefore the AFL Commission on Thursday and is seeking a public hearing before anindependent arbiter.
In a statement his lawyers said thatapplication was dismissed.
"Dr Bruce Reid applied today for theAFL Commission to refer the hearing of this matter under the powers conferredby the AFL rules to take place before an independent and qualified person suchas a recently retired Supreme Court Judge," the statement said.
"The commissioners dismissed theapplication.
"Counsel for Dr Reid applied for aprompt release of the transcript of argument and the Commissioners ruling toenable the early issue of Supreme Court proceedings are seeking judicial reviewof the decision and the appointment of a recently retired Supreme Court judgeto hear and decide the charges against Dr Reid.
"Dr Reid is adamant that he isinnocent and wishes to defend the allegations against him in a publichearing."
In a statement later on Thursday the AFL saida sub-committee of three commissioners, chairman Mike Fitzpatrick, JusticeLinda Dessau and Paul Bassat, had agreed the hearing of the charge against DrReid could be in public.
But the League confirmed it had denied theapplication for a hearing before of an independent person.
"The matter was adjourned for mentionon 3 October 2013," the AFL statement said.
Dr Reid arrived at League headquarters toface the commission on Thursday morning.
Flanked by four lawyers he made no comment but greeted waiting media with asmile.Dr Reid is contesting a charge of bringing the game into disrepute under AFLrule 1.6.
The 34-page charge sheet released by the AFL last week included a copy of aletter Dr Reid wrote to James Hird and former football operations manager PaulHamilton raising his concerns about the club's supplements program.
"I am very frustrated by this and now feel I am letting the club down bynot automatically approving of these things," Reid wrote.
"I need to collect my thoughts as these drugs have been given without myknowledge.
"I have some fundamental problems being club doctor at present."
