AFL Players' Association boss Matt Finnis has slammed Essendon, saying that if its players escape negative health effects after being part of the club's supplement program, it will be more due to good luck than good management.
Finnis said after reading ASADA's interim report he could not see how Essendon could be certain that no player's health was put at risk by the supplements program in 2011 and 2012.
"I will be urgently seeking the medical advice from the club, which provides the basis for this position," Finnis said.
Finnis said the AFLPA had no tolerance for any conduct that compromised the club's duty of care to its players.
"It is shocking to see that the concerns of health professionals can be ignored in a club that seemed intent on pushing the boundaries regardless of their potential impact," Finnis said.
He said the issues raised in Dr Bruce Reid's letter to the club – which was included in the AFL's grounds for laying the charges – went to the heart of the AFLPA's concerns.
"The injecting of players in the absence of medical supervision; the administering of drugs to players without prescription or approval of the club doctor; the use of drugs which are not approved for human use and substances which are specifically designed for treating ailments not related to athletic performance let alone the evolution of a culture of supplement taking where an experienced club doctor feels he is letting the club down by not automatically approving these things," Finnis said.
"These are all things that I never expected to see in our sport."
Finnis said he was also worried about communications being made to players, their families and the general public.
"I have been concerned that some of the messages are not commensurate with the seriousness of the issues at hand," Finnis said.
"Out of respect of the club we have sought the opportunity to better understand their perspective and look forward to that prospect."
Finnis was in no mood to mince words as he stated clearly the Association's position.
He said the issue was much broader than the legality or otherwise of substances such as AOD-9604, which WADA declared was banned in May,
Finnis said the issue was about protecting player welfare and that the most basic right for players was to expect a safe workplace.
"My overwhelming reaction to this is simple: This must never happen again," he said.
