Dons ready to 'set record straight'

Essendon chairman Paul Little. Picture: George Salpigtidis Source: George Salpigtidis / HeraldSun

ESSNDON chairman Paul Little insists no Essendon player took a performance-enhancing or harmful substance and says he is looking forward to the chance to "set the record straight".

Little said today if charges were laid by the AFL this week it would give the Bombers the first chance to be "uninhibited" in defending the club and its staff.

Addressing his first chairman's luncheon before today's game against West Coast at Etihad Stadium, Little said the club had remained silent on the allegations so far to avoid compromising the ASADA-AFL investigation into the Bombers' 2012 supplements program.

Little said the club was in possession of the interim ASADA report which could form the basis of charges, including bringing the game into disrepute.

"Should this be the case we will then be in a position to carefully examine the charges, understanding the evidence that the AFL has relied upon to lay the charges and then, after due consideration and deliberation, determine our response," he said.

"We also hope that should charges be laid that this will mean for the first time we are uninhibited in our ability to set the record straight."

Little said the club acknowledged it could have done some things better and work had already been done at the club to establish new protocols, including medical and reporting procedures.

"As to claims of illegal and performance enhancing drugs, we remain steadfast in our belief that the players did not take harmful or performance enhancing supplements," he said.

Little replaced David Evans, who resigned after the drug investigation had taken its toll on his health.
 

Although he has been in the job for just 12 days, Little said it felt like 12 months.

He thanked Evans for his leadership over the past three-and-a-half years, especially during the recent "turbulent times" when the club has been investigated by ASADA over the club's supplement program.

"We still have some way to go with the supplement investigation," Little said.

"They are very complex matters."

Little said that while everyone wanted to see the investigation resolved, it could not be at the expense of thoroughness or natural justice.

He said he wanted to reiterate that the first priority at Essendon remains the care and welfare of the players.

Little praised coach James Hird and the players for remaining focused as the saga dragged on.
 

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