Essendon player David Zaharakis has avoided the headlines in the Australian Sports Anti-Doping Authority (ASADA) investigation and hasn’t been given a show-cause notice.

Zaharakis is understood to have avoided a notice because he did not participate in the supplement regime that had sports scientists at the club giving players a banned performance enhancing drug called thymosin Beta 4.

Thirty-four Essendon players from 2012 have been issued with show-cause notices by the authority, including captain and 2012 Brownlow medallist Jobe Watson.

Three players have since been signed to other clubs, Stewart Crameri, Angus Monfries and Scott Gumbleton, but were still handed notices.

The club is set to argue that the ASADA investigation breached disclosure laws, and will bring the Authority to court next week with the aim of stopping the Australian Sports and Anti-Doping Authority’s (ASADA) rulings and sanctions against players, staff and the club.

It will seek to expedite the case to ensure it is dealt with within a few months so it doesn’t drag on.

Players issued with a show-cause notice will have a minimum of 10 days to respond, but the deadline can be extended.

After the players have responded, an independent panel will determine whether a violation has occurred and go to the AFL with recommendations and wait for the AFL tribunal to hand down penalties.

ASADA has said it has conducted more than 300 interviews and collected more than 150,000 documents in its probe.

The matter will come before that court in Melbourne on June 27, with exiled coach James Hird also launching an action against ASADA on Friday.

The AFL Players Association (AFLPA) has asked ASADA to deal with the Essendon club’s court action against it before continuing to pursue players.
AFLPA says it wants the players’ cases to be treated separately and seen as separate by ASADA. If the players find themselves subjected to bans, the AFLPA has not ruled out taking action against any club or individuals who have “deceived” them.

Source: The Age.