Fremantle tagger Ryan Crowley has thanked club members and fans for their support as he awaits a hearing date before the AFL Tribunal.
Crowley gave a sample on a match day after Fremantle’s round 17 game, which tested positive to a banned substance.
The banned substance was contained in a painkiller, which was not prescribed by a club doctor.
The AFL advised the club in September last year that the Australian Sports Anti-Doping Authority (ASADA) had issued the 31-year-old with a show cause notice after his sample tested positive to a banned substance under the AFL’s Anti-Doping Code.
The sample was taken on a match day after Fremantle’s round 17 game on Sunday 13 July, 2014. Subsequent to being issued with the show cause notice, Crowley voluntarily accepted a provisional suspension, which commenced in September 2014.
The commencement of the provisional suspension is not an admission of guilt or wrongdoing.
Freo CEO Steve Rosich said the club couldn’t earlier comment publicly due to the AFL Anti-Doping Code’s confidentiality clauses.
“The club is restricted in what we can say until the process with ASADA and the AFL is completed,” Rosich said.
“What I can say today is that Ryan has independent legal advisers and based on our understanding of the matter, the banned substance was contained in a painkiller.
“We can also inform you that the painkiller was not prescribed by a Fremantle staff member or club doctor.”
Rosich said the club would support Crowley through this issue.
“We take a duty of care of all our players, we make it our highest priority and clearly that’s going to be the case in this instance,” he said.
“We’re supporting Ryan to the best of our ability, both personally and professionally, and have been doing so with respect to this case now for about six months.”
Crowley was appreciative of the support he has received, especially from Freo members and supporters.
“I would like to thank my partner Samara, my family and the club for their support over the past few months. It has been invaluable,” Crowley said.
“I have also been overwhelmed by the number of enquiries and messages from members, fans and friends. Thank you, I really appreciate it.
“I have my own legal advisers working on the matter and they have also been a great support.
“I will continue to fully cooperate on this matter with ASADA and the AFL. At this stage, I’m looking forward to AFL Tribunal hearing taking place.”
Crowley is still able to attend the club and train with his teammates during the provisional suspension.
The AFL has issued the following timeline on the matter:
- Crowley tested positive to a Specified Substance.
- Clause 12(e) of the Anti-Doping Code says that if the Adverse Analytical Finding for the A Sample or infraction notice relates to a Specified Substance, a Player may continue to participate in any Match until the determination of the Tribunal.
- Crowley was offered a voluntarily Provisional Suspension which he accepted and chose to stand down until the determination of the Tribunal, meaning he will get credit for time served under the voluntary provisional suspension against any sanction imposed by the Tribunal.
- The following is the timeline of the process to date
· Sample collection – 13 July 2014
· A Sample tested – 11 August 2014
· Crowley notified of positive A Sample – 18 August 2014
· B Sample tested – 11 September 2014
· Show Cause Notice sent to Crowley (including notification of B Sample positive) – 18 September 2014
· Voluntary Provisional Suspension accepted – 25 September 2014
· Infraction Notice served – 1 October 2014
· Letter re outcome of Anti-Doping Rule Violation Panel findings sent to Crowley – 16 October 2014.
