Essendon remains confident in the position of its players with the process surrounding the World Anti-Doping Agency’s appeal to the Court of Arbitration for Sport currently underway.
WADA announced its intention to appeal the decision handed down by the AFL Anti-Doping Tribunal last week.
“We felt comfortable going in to the AFL Anti-Doping Tribunal based on the evidence that was at hand,” Essendon CEO Xavier Campbell said.
“There is no reason why we shouldn’t still feel comfortable at this point in time as well.”
WADA will outline its legal argument for the appeal in the coming days.
The players will then have 20 days to respond to that brief.
A Directions Hearing is expected to follow but establishing an exact timeframe will be difficult.
“We would hope at best case, it’s somewhere around three months but beyond that anywhere up to six months, but we just don’t know at this point in time,” Campbell said.
The Court of Arbitration for Sport is an internationally renowned body that was established to settle sports related disputes.
Both WADA and the players are able to select an arbitrator from a select list.
Once those selections are made, it will be up to both parties to agree on a third arbitrator.
“I have full confidence in the process and integrity of those enlisted with the responsibility to oversee this matter,” Campbell said.
The evidence gathered by ASADA throughout its investigation will form the basis of this appeal.
“It’s effectively the same evidence, it’s certainly not a re-investigation,” Campbell said.
“They’re not going out and looking for further evidence.
“This is effectively a re-prosecution of the same evidence by a different body under the same rules that were applied by the AFL Anti-Doping Tribunal.”
Campbell said the location for the appeal is unlikely to be established until all parties convene for a Directions Hearing.
“The players preference and the players lawyers preference would be to have it here.
“It won’t make any difference to the way the case is heard.”
Campbell praised the continued support demonstrated by Essendon fans across the country.
“Our fan base has been incredible. Our member base has been incredible.
“I admire the patience and the loyalty that they’ve shown.”
“We need that patience for a little bit longer and the players need the continued support of our fans, because it plays such an important part in them getting up every single week and trying to play the best football they can.”
The Club remains on track to pass 60,000 members in the coming weeks.
