Essendon players train at Tullamarine yesterday in the wake of the drugs scandal embroiling the club. Picture: Hamish Blair Source: Herald Sun
SOME Essendon players were forced to continue taking injections against their will last season - despite voicing mid-year objections.
As the probe into Essendon's controversial supplements practices deepened yesterday, it emerged a group of players was told it was club policy to continue the "experimental" practice despite complaints.
Sources said players known to be deeply troubled by the injections were told they would continue as it was a team strategy.
The Essendon players, led by skipper Jobe Watson, yesterday met the AFL Players' Association and were briefed on their rights and the risks of the Australian Sports Anti-Doping Authority-AFL probe.
They were told ignorance was no excuse if they had taken illegal substances.
The players' union is expected to engage a QC to oversee the matter.
Bombers coach James Hird talked to the players before training at Tullamarine.
The Herald Sun can reveal at least four Essendon players sought independent advice last year from a senior sports administration figure about the consent forms they were asked to sign while taking the supplements.
Recently retired Essendon onballer Mark McVeigh was adamant the club had done nothing wrong, saying he had taken only vitamins.
"I can honestly tell you that everything I took I knew 100 per cent that it was within the WADA and AFL doping regulations," he said.
Players were told that while it was pushing boundaries, the supplement program was legal and would help aid performance, boost recovery and help players sleep better.
As Geelong and the Gold Coast distanced themselves from the controversy despite links to Essendon sports scientist Stephen Dank, rival clubs scrutinised their own medical departments.
The AFL continues to search for evidence of the practice across other clubs, including whether Dank had personal clients from across the competition.
Hird reiterated his confidence in the club's compliance with WADA.
Asked yesterday if he had confidence in stood-down high-performance manager Dean Robinson, Hird said: "I have confidence in our processes at our footy club that we'd get it right.
"Our players are moving on, we're training hard and we're looking forward to the start of the season. I'm sure it (the allegations) does have an effect (on them), but we're moving on."
Club veteran Dustin Fletcher said: "I'm not too fussed about it, the boys upstairs will deal with it."
Former Port Adelaide captain Warren Tredrea yesterday revealed he was offered banned substances during his playing career by an individual outside the club.
"But I went and got it tested and came back with three illegal drugs in it," Tredrea said.
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