Meeting on Dank in disarray after panel unable to provide required quorum, seems like a massive cockup. Will delay any charges for a few months atleast id think
http://www.theage.co...0410-zqt25.html EXCLUSIVE
Stephen Dank’s judgment day with anti-doping authorities has been stalled after an expert panel that had been preparing to make the critical next call on the central figure in the most scandalous drugs case in Australian sport was unable to sit with a quorum on Thursday.
In a development that appears to profoundly limit the power of the Australian Sports Anti-Doping Authority - even if temporarily - Fairfax Media has learnt that the doping agency’s Anti-Doping Rule Violation Panel, which was a functional seven-member body as of late February, has effectively been rendered dysfunctional due to the recent departure of four former members.
ASADA confirmed in writing to Fairfax Media on February 28 that the ADRVP was chaired by professor Andrew McLachlan and had six other expert members: Diana Robinson, Hayden Opie, Michelle Gallen, Tracey Gaudry, Karen Harfield and Andrew Hughes.
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But in the lead-up to the day set to be the most critical yet in the assessment of Dank and his past work for AFL and NRL clubs, the ADRVP was suddenly reduced to a body of three.
As it stands, the four vacancies on the ADRVP – a body that normally exists to make the most important assessments in ASADA’s drug investigations – mean the independent arm of ASADA cannot operate.
No longer on the ADRVP are Gaudry, the vice-president of cycling’s international governing body the UCI; Gallen, a sports law and anti-doping expert; Harfield, a former detective with the national crime squad, and former Australian Federal Police member Hughes.
The ausgovboard’s website confirms that the ADRVP is now a shell of its former self with just three members – chair McLachlan, Opie and Robinson – after the departure of Gallen, Gaudry, Harfield and Hughes.
Fairfax Media understands that as recently as last week, the ADRVP was to meet - with a quorum - in Canberra as scheduled on Thursday, April 10. But it has since emerged that none of the quartet, whose terms on the ADRVP were due to expire, had their positions renewed.
The ausgovboards website confirms that the ADRVP remains a seven-member government-appointed body but, just as the highest-profile doping case in Australian sport is reaching a climax, suddenly the most influential arm of ASADA has four vacancies.
Under ASADA rules, it is impossible for the ADRVP to sit in judgment on any anti-doping case without a quorum.
As part of complex anti-doping protocols, the next stage in ASADA’s case against Dank – who has been accused by the national anti-doping agency of committing more than 30 anti-doping rule violations, some of which refer to his time working for AFL clubs Essendon and the Gold Coast Suns - was to refer the case to the ADRVP for review.
In its meeting on Thursday, the ADRVP was to consider other issues related to other sports, but the matter of how it would rule on Dank since ASADA issued the biochemist with a ‘show cause’ notice, loomed as the most outstanding agenda item.
Following Dank’s decision not to respond to ASADA’s show cause note, it was anticipated that the ADRVP would resolve – as soon as in Thursday’s meeting - to enter his name onto ASADA’s Register of Findings.
Normally, a Register of Findings entry would trigger the relevant sport, in this case the AFL, to issue the person of interest, in this case Dank, with an infraction notice.
Dank has maintained throughout the scandal that he will not cooperate with ASADA in any forum and will only defend himself in the Federal Court.
that is almost the entire squad isn't it?
