PORT Adelaide chief executive Keith Thomas has launched a scathing attack on Channel Seven for its coverage of an off-field incident involving midfielder Sam Powell-Pepper.
The AFL's Integrity Unit found Powell-Pepper engaged in inappropriate behaviour that is unbecoming for an AFL player by being intoxicated in a public place, and by making inappropriate contact with a female, in the early hours of Sunday, April 8 at an Adelaide nightclub.
Powell-Pepper was banned for a further game after already sitting out the past two weeks, and will be eligible for selection in round seven.
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Thomas said the allegations made by Channel Seven that Powell-Pepper was being investigated for sexual assault unfairly damaged his reputation.
"We believe that set the tone for the entire investigation," Thomas told reporters on Thursday.
"Having viewed the evidence, it way over-played the incident.
"The investigation was immediately on the back foot, it was dealing with a public perception that was being created and not controlled.
"A charge like that can leave a stain on someone's reputation and life forever."
Thomas said the Power looked through seven hours of CCTV footage from the nightclub.
He also said the AFL's integrity unit viewed the same vision.
"The AFL integrity unit did view the vision, they had two investigators that they sent out and they viewed that.
"They have a very clear understanding of what that vision looks like."
Thomas said the Power wouldn't rule out taking legal action against Channel Seven.
"We would reserve all of our rights in this case," he said.
"We think this has been way overplayed.
"Channel 7 Adelaide set the tone for the investigation and we'll be discussing that with them."
Thomas wouldn't go into detail about what 'inappropriate touching' meant or the specifics of the incident.
"If you start getting into what is deemed to be 'inappropriate contact', then you draw into a discussion on both sides and we felt that was just not a productive space to get into," Thomas said.
"Sam certainly wasn't feeling that he wanted to do that.
"What we were keen on, was ensuring that people understood the difference between what happened and sexual assault was vast, and that's an important distinction."
