4 CORNERS: Whatever It Takes - 21 March 2016

4 CORNERS: Whatever It Takes - 21 March 2016
PREAMBLE
As this programme revealed nothing new, presumably, the excuse for doing it was to put a
human face on the story in the same way Eddie McGuire did with Sarah, and to expose those
responsible for Hal Hunters problems.
Item (Sarah Ferguson, presenter) 1: In January,34 past and present players were banned
by the Court of Arbitration for Sport, for taking prohibited substances in 2012.
My Comment:
This was a disgraceful mistake within the first 15 seconds of the programme. The players
were found guilty of taking
one banned substance, not banned substances (plural) as stated
by Ferguson. It is incomprehensible that Ferguson could make such a mistake and it raises
questions about the integrity of the programme.
Item (Ferguson) 2: So what about the Essendon players? Four years on, they still don't
know exactly what was in the pills and injections they were given.
My Comment:
If we accept ASADA and WADAs decisions that only one substance, Thymosin, was
banned, and if we accept CASs decision that Thymosin was Thymosin Beta-4, the Essendon
players know exactly what was in the pills and injections they were given in the same way
that the AFL knows exactly what is in every Swisse supplement that is manufactured remembering that Swisse is one of the AFLs major sponsors.
Item (Ferguson) 3: Now one former rookie from the 2012 squad has decided to take on
Essendon and the AFL, demanding answers to the obvious questions: "What exactly did you
give me? And what harm could it do?"
My Comment:
1. This should be easy to answer. ASADA created a spreadsheet with 16 key substances by
name and an other/unknown category. In his interview with ASADA on 27 May 2013,
which his mother also attended, Hunter only admitted to having been administered two of
1

the 16 nominated substances. He admitted he had an IV drip [of vitamin B & C] at
Skinovate, and he admitted taking Lactaway. Hunter denied being administered AOD9604; Thymosin; Colostrum and Tribulus.
2. Hunter admitted to receiving amino acid injections at HyperMED. There is no doubt that
the substance came from El Paso, which has always been in Texas, except for six years
after Davy Crockett, Jim Bowie and Bill Travis got knocked off at the Alamo in 1836.
The amino acid concoction had a list of all the ingredients on the bottle and Dank had it
tested.
3. Hunter admitted to receiving only one injection from Dank. It is illogical that Dank would
have singled Hunter out to give only him a banned substance. Therefore it should be easy
to ascertain from Dank what the substance was.
4. This means the only unknown is what was in the pill box which Hunter inferred was
given to all 47 players each fortnight. In his interview Hunter thought that the tablets he
was given were multi-vitamins. Dank is so ill disciplined it defies belief that he created
the pillboxes. I suspect that was done by the nutritionist or a designated person who
would have been given a list of pills to put in the pillboxes each fortnight. Thus, it should
be easy to tell Hunter what was in the pill box.
Item (Hal Hunter) 4: They've been fairly disrespectful. They've treated me like I was the
youngest player, I was a rookie, I wasn't important and I'm still not important. Um, they're
treating it like it's an issue that's just going to go away. But for me it's something that: if I
don't get this information and I don't get the answers to the questions I'm asking, it's never
going to go away.I fulfilled my part of the contract. I went to work every day. I did the
training. I sacrificed areas of my personal life to try and benefit the team to achieve the
success we wanted to achieve. And then, when I asked them to fulfil their portion of the
contract, for them to turn around and say, "I don't think so," was obviously really
disappointing.

My Comment:
Hunter has a legitimate beef. The club should have done everything possible to satisfy
Hunters request. The inability or unpreparedness to do so was hampered by the clubs
irresponsible desire to move on and the fact that no one has the nous to complete such a task.
Item (Quentin McDermott) 5: James Hird's first year as coach ended badly. In September
2011, the Bombers lost to Carlton by 62 points in an elimination final. Fuelled by this
crushing defeat, the club acted to turn things around. A new supplements programme was
introduced.
My Comment:
1. It is outrageous to claim Hirds first year as coach ended badly. Essendon won 11
matches. Alastair Clarkson won five matches in his first season as an AFL coach.
2. McDermott was disingenuous and was using weasel words in suggesting that the
crushing defeat was the reason that Essendon introduced a new supplements
programme. In May 2011, the board, represented by David Evans and Ian Robson, and
staffers Paul Hamilton, Danny Corcoran, James Hird and Mark Thompson, met and
agreed that Essendon had fallen behind the other clubs with respect to training and
conditioning and decided to embark on a more scientific approach. Stuart Cormacks
resignation as high performance manager on 16 June 2011, gave the club the opportunity
to employ a replacement with different qualifications. Dean Robinson commenced as the
high performance coach on 25 August 2011. The new approach thus started with the
boards compliance prior to the Carlton defeat.
Item (Hunter) 6: I can't remember specifically the first time I got my first supplement pill
box for my fortnightly pills, or the first time I got blood taken, or the first time I received any
injections.
My Comment:
1. My understanding is that the first time Hunter had blood taken was 23 January 2012.

2. The first or second injection he received was in April 2012.
Item (Hunter) 7: But I do remember that it wasn't like: day one, you know, "Here's all your
pills." You know, there were several meetings about: "This is the programme we're gonna
have for the upcoming season. These are the reasons why we're going to do it." And then
after that we slowly progressed into being in the programme.
My Comment:
1. Several meetings about the programme suggests Hunter wasnt kept in the dark. Its
illogical to think the players werent told the name of the substances and the reason for
their use. The fact that Hunter was able to name two of the substances he was
administered, and the fact that he was able to deny being administered the 14 other
substances listed on the ASADA spread sheet indicates that he wasnt kept in the dark.
2. Clause 5.3 (c) (i) to (vi) of the AFLs anti-doping code states that it is Hunters
responsibility to know the name of every substance that he was administered.
3. Clause 7.4 of the AFLs anti-doping code states that Hunter had to table with Dr Reid
before the start of each season the name of every substance, medication and pill that he
was administered at the club and away from the club for the previous 12 months.
4. Obviously, Hunter failed to fulfil his obligations under these two clauses. The AFL must
accept some blame for Hunters failure because it has never checked with compliance
with clause 7.4. The AFL Players Association must accept some responsibility because
one of its major tasks is to ensure all players understand and comply with the AFLs antidoping code. Clearly, the Essendon board is also responsible because it didnt have the
policies and procedures in place to ensure Hunter and the other players complied with
their responsibilities under these two clauses.
Item (McDermott) 8: At a formal presentation given by sports scientist Stephen Dank,
players were told the programme was a vital part of their preparation for 2012.

HAL HUNTER: It was presented to the players that it was a cutting-edge programme and
these were the things that we had to do if we wanted to achieve the ultimate success in
football, which is obviously winning a premiership.
My Comment:
Interestingly, not a single player, including Hunter, mentioned the word cutting-edge, in his
interview. However, Dean Robinson stated: We said to the players that were looking at
yes, supplements, we want to use cutting edge, we want to use a programme that will help
you now. It was stated it wouldnt be against WADA Code, that that was one of the things.
That Dr Reid would have the final approval of. If they ever had a question, they could take it
to Dr Reid and that at all times, they could refuse. And at no and I believe those four have
always been followed. Of interest is the Australian Institute of Sport boasted on its website
that it had a cutting edge supplements program that enhanced performance.
Item (Hunter) 9: I had several conversations with Stephen Dank. He was obviously the guy
running the programme. He was the person who I got all of my, um, tablets and pills off, um,
for my fortnightly pillbox. Um, I don't remember specifically having any conversations about
the specifics of any of the supplements we were receiving. But yes, obviously I did have
interactions with him at the club.
My Comment:
1. It is incomprehensible that Hunter had several conversations with Dank without asking
about the specifics of the supplements.
2. Hunter was told about his obligations under Clause 5 (c) (i) to (vi) of the AFLs antidoping code.
3. If a 14-year-old gymnast and a 14-year-old swimmer is capable of understanding that

they must know all the specifics of what is going into their bodies, surely, Hunter, whose
mother is a scientist, must have asked Dank about the specifics of the substances.
Item (McDermott) 10: Hal Hunter showed the capsules to his mother Melita Stevens, a
scientist with a background in public health microbiology.
5

My Comment:
When I brought my show bags home from the Sydney Easter Show my mother, who was
only a mere physiotherapist, questioned me about each item in the bags. It is
incomprehensible that the first time Hunter brought home his show bag/pillbox his mother
didnt empty it on the table and say what is this son, what does it do for you? As Hunter
told us Dank never discussed the specifics of each substance with him, he obviously couldnt
have answered his mother. Given Hunters mother was a scientist it amazes me that she
didnt send little Hal off to work the next day with a note for teacher Dank requesting that he
document the specifics of every substance in the pillbox. If little Hal couldnt be trusted to
give the note to Dank, I should have thought Mrs Stevens would have contacted Dank
herself.
Item (McDermott) 11: She [Hunters mother] examined the scientific literature on the pills,
which included a herbal supplement called Tribulus, which claimed to boost levels of
testosterone.
My Comment:
1. As Mrs Stevens was able to examine the scientific literature on the pills she must have
known the name of the various substances that Hunter brought home, which begs the
question, what substance was Hunter given that he didnt know the name of? And the
supplementary question is if Hunter brought an unknown pill home why Mrs Stevens
didnt request her son ask Dank the name of it.
2. McDermott is being underhanded in stating only one reason for using Tribulus. I have no
idea why it was used but if McDermott werent biased he would have listed some of the
other supposed reasons for using Tribulus. Google says Tribulus is used for kidney
problems, including kidney stones, painful urination, a kidney disorder called Brights
disease, and as a water pill (diuretic) to increase urination; for skin disorders, including
eczema (atopic dermatitis), psoriasis, and scabies; for male sexual problems, including
erectile dysfunction (ED), involuntary release of semen without orgasm (spermatorrhea),
and to increase sexual desire; for heart and circulatory system problems, including chest
pain, high blood pressure, high cholesterol, and tired blood (anemia); for problems with
6

digestion, including colic, intestinal gas (flatulence), constipation, and to expel intestinal
parasitic worms; for pain and swelling (inflammation) of the tissue lining the mouth
(stomatitis) and sore throat; and for cancer, especially nose tumors. Some people use
tribulus for gonorrhea, liver disease (hepatitis), inflammation, joint pain (rheumatism),
leprosy, coughs, headache, dizziness (vertigo), chronic fatigue syndrome (CFS), and
enhancing athletic performance. It is also used for stimulating appetite and as an
astringent, tonic, and mood enhancer. It has also been touted as to increase testosterone in
men.
3. McDermott was aware that Dr Reid discovered on the first day of 2012 pre-season
training (19 October 2011) that Dean Robinson had distributed Tribulus to the players
without his permission. He was aware that Dr Reid reported the matter to the AFLs
medical director Dr Harcourt. The AFL took no action about the players using Tribulus
and took no action about Dr Reid being marginalised. It is therefore difficult to
understand why McDermott tried to create a fuss about Tribulus.
Item (McDermott) 12: Some months after starting his course of capsules, Hal Hunter's
blood was tested. Hundreds of blood tests were carried out on Essendon's players to measure
levels of testosterone, growth hormone and other markers.
My Comment:
Blood tests were carried out on the players on seven occasions, not hundreds as claimed by
McDermott. The tests were carried out on 16 & 30 November 2011; 14 December 2011; 23
January 2012; 18 April 2012; 27 June 2012; and, 14 August 2012.
Once again, McDermott was being sly by naming only testosterone and growth hormone and
by lumping every other test in the other markers category. At Danks direction, blood
samples were taken from each player, prior to the commencement of the supplement
programme and analysed for the following:
Testosterone
Mean
Corpuscular Liver
Haemoglobin
Sex
Damage
Hormone-Binding Platelet Count
Iron
Function
Tissue

Globulin
Testosterone Free
Neutrophils
Lactate Dehydrogenase
Luteinizing Hormone
Lymphocytes
Vitamin B12
Serum Cortisol
Erythrocyte
Sedimentation Serum Folate
Rate
Haemoglobin
Urea
C-reactive Protein
Total White Cell Count
Creatinine
Thyroid-Stimulating
Hormone
Red Cell Count
Cholesterol
Free Thyroxine
Haematocrit
Liver Function Cell Damage
Free Triodothyronine
Mean Corpuscular Volume
Creatine Kinase
Growth Hormone
IGF-1
Item (Hunter) 13: I remember getting blood taken on several occasions at the club. But what
they were for, where they went, where the results were sent: I honestly can't say.
My Comment:
This a very genuine complaint. It was a disgrace that the results were sent to a doctor who
hadnt seen the players and it was a disgrace that the costs were claimed on Medicare. My
understanding is that in 2013 the club reimbursed Medicare.
Item (Hunter) 14: No. I just assumed that it was part of the regular tests that we would
have. We had tests on our hearts; we obviously had a lot of tests on our, you know, physical
wellbeing. And I just assumed at the time that it was part of that whole programme.
My Comment:
Whatever Danks reasons, Hunters comment suggests that during his time at Essendon,
Dank took an interest in the players well-being.

Item (McDermott) 15: Player consent forms later obtained by the Australian Sports AntiDoping Authority, ASADA, show that Stephen Dank planned to give the playing group up to
8,000 doses of Tribulus and 16,000 doses of the cows' milk extract colostrum in 2012.
My Comment:
1. Although McDermott was trying to prove something sinister, all it proved was that he
read page 29 of ASADAs Interim Report. It is hard to understand the relevance in
including this. Hunter denied taking Tribulus and Colostrum tablets.
2. Most people believe what happened rather than what could have happened is all that
counts. Given Tribulus is supposed to increase sexual desire and erections, one would
have thought if they had taken over 8000 of these tablets they would not only have been
too tired to play footy but they would have been heckled as they walked around the
streets. Presumably, it would also have been dangerous to play footy with permanent
corrections!
Item (McDermott) 16: The most controversial part of the supplements programme was the
peptide injection regime. Player consent forms show that Stephen Dank planned to inject
players with up to 1,500 doses of an anti-obesity drug, AOD-9604, which may help build
muscle; and a peptide referred to only as 'thymosin'.
My Comment:
1. I am surprised that McDermott didnt wear an I love ASADA and Benny T-shirt. This
nonsense was also lifted from ASADAs Interim Report.
2. McDermott was aware that nine players admitted to being administered an AOD-9604
injection and 11 players admitted to using the AOD-9604 cream. He was also aware that
Dank had administered a grand total of 40 AOD-9604 injections to the group, which is
substantially less than 1,500 doses.
3. Eight players were administered Thymosin and 26 players denied being administered
Thymosin

Item (McDermott) 17: In 2012 thymosin beta 4 and AOD 9604 were both banned, but were
not specifically named in WADA's list of prohibited substances.
My Comment:
This is a disingenuous comment. Thymosin Beta-4 had never been mentioned to the players
and McDermott has introduced it here without any explanation. Neither the Australian Crime
Commission nor ASADA believed AOD-9604 was banned in 2012.
Item (McDermott) 18: Stephen Dank discussed this grey area with Essendon's highperformance coach, Dean Robinson. In texts discussing a range of supplements, the two men
agreed not to use the term 'peptides'.
My Comment:
This is untrue. Neither Dank nor Robinson used the word peptide in the texts McDermott is
referring to.
Item (McDermott) 19: TEXT MESSAGE FROM DEAN ROBINSON TO STEPHEN
DANK (voiceover): Can we just call them amino acids? Or something of the kind?
TEXT MESSAGE FROM STEPHEN DANK TO DEAN ROBINSON (voiceover): Yes. That
is all they are. An amino acid blend.
My Comment:
1. McDermott is once again quoting from the ASADA Interim Report and is leading the
Benny cheer squad.
2. In discussions with the players, Dank referred to the substances as Thymosin and AOD9604. If he hadnt, the players could not have admitted to being administered those
substances and the other players would not have been able to deny being administered
those substances.
10

3. During their interviews only three players stated that Dank used the expression amino
acids when administering the substances. However, 34 players stated that when they were
at the HyperMED Dr Hooper administered an amino acid.
4. McDermott in his rush to create a sinister picture, omitted to mention that Shane Charter
told ASADA on 6 May 2013 that amino acid was an acceptable term to use.
5. To Ben McDevitts great angst, on 3 March 2016, Senator Peris told him that the
[Australian Olympic] doctor gave the team protein shakes with amino acids in order to
speed their recovery.
Item (Hunter) 20: I don't drink. I don't smoke. I don't take drugs. So when we were told
about all the supplements and what we were going to be given, obviously I was happy enough
to partake in the programme from the information I'd been given that it was something that
wouldn't do me any ill-health. It was, um, certified by a doctor. It was all regulated
medication.
My Comment:
1. I dont see the issue here. Hunter says he was told about all the supplements. Given his
responses to the questions asked by the investigators, the only issue appears to be what
was in his pillbox that he was given every fortnight. As ASADA has never questioned
what was in the pillbox, it appears Hunter has no reason to be concerned. Its prudent to
remind Hunter that he had an obligation to not only know what was in the pillbox but to
satisfy his obligations under clause 7.4 of the AFLs anti-doping code he had to hand Dr
Reid a document containing the names of those pills before the start of the season.
2. As McDermott stated in item 11 that Mrs Stevens checked the scientific literature for the
various substances that her son brought home, it is difficult to understand what the
problem is. If Hunter didnt know the name of a specific pill surely Mrs Stevens would
have demanded that Hunter found out the name of that pill.
Item (McDermott) 21: But Hal Hunter was mistaken in believing that all the supplements
were regulated, tested and approved for human use.
11

My Comment:
It is hard to imagine how these substances slipped through Mrs Stevenss scrutiny. As Hunter
was only administered three of the substances that ASADA was interested in, and as those
three substances were approved for human use, it is difficult to comprehend what the issue is.
A decent journalist would have declared the various substances that Hunter is alleged to have
taken that were not regulated tested and approved for human use.
Item (McDermott) 22: In November 2011 Shane Charter travelled to China on Dank's
behalf to procure the peptides. Charter set up a supply chain for future orders with a
company in Shanghai called GL Biochem.
My Comment:
This is a sort of lift from page 21 of ASADAs Interim Report. The report actually says
Charter travelled to China on behalf of Dank to procure the raw materials for GHRP-6, CJC1295 and IGF1-LR3. There is no evidence that Dank asked Charter to go to China on his
behalf; there is no evidence Dank asked Charter to procure these three substances on his
behalf; and there is no evidence that Charter gave the substances to Dank.
Item (McDermott) 23: [subsequently Charter emailed an order to Biochem for a number of
substances] Shane Charter had to sign an agreement before GL Biochem would release the
products to him. (To Shane Charter) Isn't it the case that they asked you to sign an assurance
for them that these products would not be used for humans; they w- they were not for human
consumption?
SHANE CHARTER: Ah, they were not designed for human consumption. They were not
purchased for human consumption.
My Comment:
1. A decent interviewer surely would have asked Charter what he thought Dank was going
to do with the substances that were not fit for human consumption. Second, a decent
interviewer would have asked Charter why he signed the Biochem document when he
knew he was lying.
12

2. Presumably, McDermott didnt ask Charter these questions because he was using Charter
to nail Dank and Essendon, and he didnt want to undermine Charters credibility.
Item (McDermott) 24: The peptides Shane Charter bought from China included thymosin
beta-4, which helps with tissue repair, and six growth-factor peptides. All, in 2012, were
banned by WADA.
My Comment:
1. On 8 December 2011, Mr Charter emailed GL Biochem ordering: 2 grams of GHRP-6;
0.5 grams of CJC-1295; 1 gram of Melanotan II; 0.5 grams of MGF (Mechano Growth
Factor) 0.25 grams of Thymosin Beta 4. There is no evidence that Dank placed this order
with Charter. However, for the sake of this discussion lets accept that he did. First,
Melanotan II is not a banned substance as alleged by McDermott. Second, of the
remainder, there is only an allegation that Dank used Thymosin Beta-4.
2. If McDermott were being straight with his audience he would have acknowledged that:
i.
Biochem sent the order to another factory in Shanghai for forwarding to Nima
Alavi, the compounding pharmacist in Melbourne. The parcel arrived in
Melbourne labelled Thymosin. As the substance wasnt tested no one,
including Charter, Dank, Alavi or Ben McDevitt knows whether it was
Thymosin Alpha, Thymomodulin, Thymosin Beta-4 or an unnamed substance.
ii.
Dank claimed when the vials were exposed to sunlight the substance was fried
and destroyed. Alavi reversed the invoice and as ASADA hasnt offered any
evidence to the contrary, it has been accepted that Dank was telling the truth.
iii.
Charter claims that he only placed one order for Dank, and Mr Xu from
Biochem claims that he only filled one order for Charter. As the substance was
destroyed Charter and Biochem are irrelevant.
iv.
Dank uses numerous substances at his Medical Rejuvenation Clinic.

Therefore, McDermott should have informed the viewers that it was
13

impossible to determine whether substances purchased by Dank were to use at
his clinic or at Essendon.
Item (McDermott to Ben McDevitt) 25: Can I ask you about the raw materials that were
imported by Shane Charter from China, from GL Biochem? Does ASADA believe that those
raw materials were compounded into products which were then injected into Essendon
players?
BEN MCDEVITT: Absolutely.
My Comment:
1. As usual McDevitt is talking nonsense.
2. He knows the chain of custody was broken when Mr Xu (Biochem) sent his parcel to
Charters warehouse in Shanghai for repackaging and forwarding to Melbourne.
3. He knows the raw material was labelled Thymosin when it arrived at Alavis
compounding pharmacy in Melbourne.
4. He knows that the substance was never tested. Unless he thinks he is JC on Phar Lap, he
has no idea what substance was in the vials picked up by Dank.
5. He knows that Dank claimed that the contents of the vials wwere destroyed and that Dank
claimed that he threw them out.
6. He knows that Alavi accepted Danks word and that Alavi reversed the invoice.
7. McDevitt has never offered a skerrick of evidence that Dank didnt throw out the vials.
Consequently, it is outrageous for McDevitt to be absolutely certain that the raw
material sent by Biochem to Charters Shanghai warehouse was injected into the
Essendon players.
14

Item (McDermott) 26: In April 2012, it looked like Stephen Dank's supplements programme
had begun to pay off. Essendon went into their fourth-round game with Carlton undefeated,
scoring an emphatic win against the team that had bundled them out of an elimination final
seven months earlier.
My Comment:
1. McDermott is implying that Danks supplements programme was the reason for Essendon
defeating Carlton. Id be surprised if McDermott knew whether the AFL uses a Wilson,
Kookaburra, Duke, Gilbert, Sherrin, Titleist or a Steedon ball.
2. The catalyst for McDermotts comment was found in pages 93 and 94 of ASADAs
Interim Report. Carltons Justin Cordy and Johann Bilsborough couldnt believe the
turnaround and suspected Essendon may have been doing something illegal. On 27 June
2012 they met with Alavi at his compounding pharmacy. Unbelievably, Bilsborough
secretly taped the conversation. Nothing was said that would implicate Essendon in
wrongdoing.
3. Virtually every doctor and sports scientist has debunked the benefits of all the substances
used at Essendon. Tribulus was the only substance that the majority of players took and
even Hunters mother said it was useless. Only eight players admitted to being
administered Thymosin, the allegedly banned substance, and it was not administered until
late April or in May. It is therefore nonsense to suggest that the supplements programme
was the reason for Essendon beating Carlton.
Item (McDermott)r 27: But the pressure to win led Stephen Dank to experiment with
different treatments, including oxygen therapy at this Melbourne clinic.
My Comment:
It is nonsense to suggest Dank was experimenting. Sports men and women in scores of sports
have been using hyperbaric chambers for years.
15

Item (McDermott) 28: At HyperMED, at least 20 players - not including Hal Hunter - were
also injected with cerebrolysin, a peptide derived from pigs' brains which is used to treat
Alzheimer's.
My Comment:
Cerebrolysin is not banned so it is hard to understand why McDermott mentioned it unless he
was trying to imply something sinister by stating that it was a peptide derived from pigs
brains. People eat lambs brains without being sneered at so it is difficult to understand why
McDermott thought he would score a point by talking about pigs brains.
Item (Hunter) 29: I'd be directed to go to HyperMED and do a hyperbaric chamber. And
then afterwards, I'd be directed to have my amino acid injection [and Dr Hooper did not give
me any more detail about what the amino acids were and where they came from?
My Comment:
1. The ingredients were listed on the bottle and the substance was subsequently tested.
2. If Hunter is concerned about this substance I am confident his fears can be allayed.
Item (McDermott) 30: One by one the players, coaches and club officials were called in for
questioning by ASADA investigators. When Hal Hunter and his mother attended his
interview, they were shocked by what they heard.
MELITA STEVENS: They did start the questioning by saying, "We're going to tell you
something and you're probably not going to be very happy about it." And then they explained
that the injections that Hal had been given at HyperMED: I think it said six or seven
injections on the list. They said it was probably an amino acid, but nobody really knows. It
was- belonged to a, um, different patient: a muscular dystrophy patient who had visited
HyperMED; and that, um, that person had purchased these, um, medication in Mexico and it
had been left at the clinic. And that's what Hal - and the other players that were there that
had injections - were injected with.
16

My Comment:
1. There are scores and scores of examples of ASADA/AFL misconduct. This is just a
minor one. The investigators were supposed to be questioning the players, but here we
find the investigators starting the interview with a horrific story, part of which wasnt
true. The substance was not sourced from Mexico. It was bought in El Paso Texas, which
is in the United States of America.
2. Its hard to imagine why ASADA told Hunter and his mother this story other than to
create the impression that Essendon were the really bad guys and we are here to help you
nail them. When Paddy Ryder was interviewed the investigators told him, words to the
effect, that his unborn child would be deformed. Ryders attitude to the club and his
psychological position changed at that moment.
3. Hunter and the other 33 players who received injections from this bottle are entitled to be
outraged that someone elses medicine was administered to them. Fortunately, the list of
ingredients in the bottle, and the subsequent testing of the contents of the bottle suggest
that no harm will be done to the player from having been administered the substance.
Item (McDermott) 31: ASADA believes the concoction did come from Mexico. And that's
not all. (To Ben McDevitt) Is it also the case that your investigators believe it may have been
a veterinary supplement: an equine supplement?
My Comment:
McDermott must be living in fantasy land next door to McDevitt. Id back my records against
anyones and to my knowledge nothing has ever been written to this effect. I have read
ASADAs 434-page Interim Report at least 30 times and retyped all 434 pages with one
finger on one hand. It took me 26, 20 hour days to retype it. There is no reference to the
concoction bought in the United States being an equine supplement. My only guess is that
McDevitt requested McDermott to ask him a Dorothy Dixer along these lines.
Item (McDevitt) 32: Well, my understanding is that, ah, according to the evidence of one of
the players, ah, they had at some point seen a l- a label on a jar which said, ah: "For equine
use only."
17

My Comment:
1. This is an incredible allegation by McDevitt. He should be required to produce the
evidence to support his statement, and if he cant, he should be forced to resign
immediately. If he doesnt he should be sacked on the spot.
2. No player claimed that he had at some point had seen a label on the bottle containing the
amino acids that was bought in El Paso Texas, or Mexico for that matter, which said, ah:
"For equine use only."
Item (Mrs Stevens) 33: Well, maybe it was, you know, designed for horses and not people.
QUENTIN MCDERMOTT: That has been suggested to us.
My Comment:
This is such a serious allegation that a decent journalist would have named and quoted his
source. The comment, that has been suggested to us are just merely mouth words that are
very destructive to a number of people.
Item (McDermott) 34: In October 2014, still shell-shocked by ASADA's revelations, Hal
Hunter asked Essendon for details of the supplements he'd been given. Um, firstly they asked
me what the damage to me was. And then they refused to give me any information, um, about
the supplements I received.
My Comment:
1. If Hunters comment about Essendons response is true, it is hard to think of more
unconscionable behaviour.
2. As stated previously, Hunters response to the ASADA investigators indicates that his
only concern should be what was in the pillbox that was given to the players every
fortnight. This should not be a major concern for two reasons. One, ASADA appears not
to have been concerned about the contents of the pillbox. Two, I cant accept that Dank
compiled each pillbox. Therefore, there must be a document to aid the pillbox compiler as
to what he/she was to place in the pillbox.
18

Item (McDermott) 35: It took the club eight more months to hand over Hal Hunter's
medical records, but none of these detailed the supplements he had been given.
My Comment:
1. This is reprehensible behaviour and those responsible should be severely punished.
2. Presumably, the medical records will verify Hunters claim that he put on 10kgs.
Item (McDermott) 36: Two months after handing over his medical records, Essendon
unearthed further records relating to Hal Hunter's supplements regime. In those documents
was only one signed consent form for a single supplement, Tribulus. The club hadn't been
able to show any formal consent for the injections Hal Hunter received at HyperMED.
(To James Hunter) James, I'm right, aren't I, that this single line on this single page, um,
from HyperMED is the only information that Essendon Football Club has given you about
what Hal was injected with at HyperMED?
My Comment:
1. There is no doubt that what occurred at HyperMED breached the protocols decided upon
on 15 January 2012, and there is no doubt that it was a severe breach of the commitment
given to the players at their 8 February 2012 meeting.
2. Presumably, the players lawyers will influence the size of the penalty Essendon will pay
for this unacceptable action.
Item (McDermott) 37: Four Corners approached HyperMED and was able to obtain
previously unseen records on Hal Hunter's behalf.
My Comment:
The response to McDermotts statement depends upon whether Hunter gave 4 Corners
written permission to look at his records and whether HyperMED was careful enough not to
show 4 Corners information of another player.
19

Item (McDermott) 38: The potential cancer risk of some peptides was highlighted by the
AFL's chief medical officer, Dr Peter Harcourt, in an address he gave to an anti-doping
conference in 2013.
PETER HARCOURT (Nov. 2013): My job now is to work out a programme to monitor the
players for the next five to 10 years, because they were given such exotic substances, many of
them growth factors, which means that we're looking at potential hormonal issues or cancers.
So now we, we have to go through a process of looking after these 35-odd players, just to
make sure that nothing really nasty happened to them from, from this crazy activity that, um,
individuals allowed to, ah, to occur at the club.
My Comment:
1. McDermott has justifiably exposed Essendon. However, it is incomprehensible, and
unacceptable, that he made no attempt to expose the AFL. Most doctors and organisations
believe that prevention is better than cure.
2. Dr Harcourt is expressing genuine concern for the players after the event. However, it is
tragic that the AFL didnt fulfil its duty of care to the Essendon players. If the AFL had
taken the following actions, it is extremely unlikely that the whole saga would have
occurred:
i.
Checked with compliance with Clause 7.4 just once at one club since 2010.
ii.
Conducted an audit at Essendon after integrity manager Brett Clothier allegedly

warned Paul Hamilton, Danny Corcoran and James Hird about peptides on 5 August
2011.
iii.
Conducted an audit at Essendon after Dr Reid informed the AFL on 19 October 2011
that he had been marginalised and that Dean Robinson had given the players Tribulus
without his permission.
20

iv.
Conducted an audit at each club after AFL operations manager Adrian Andersons
dire warnings on 24 April 2012 to the clubs about their sports scientists and improper
practices.
v.
Acted on its concern that Essendon players were taking dangerous, banned substances
in 2011 and 2012. It is incomprehensible that the AFL didnt tell Essendon president
David Evans or chief executive Ian Robson that it believed that the players were
taking dangerous banned substances.
vi.
Checked Stephen Danks references and background when the AFL owned Gold
Coast Suns employed Dank in 2010.
vii.
Penalised Essendon for not registering Dank with the AFL when he commenced work
with Essendon on 4 November 2011. If however, the AFL did accept Danks
registration someone at the AFL should be penalised.
The overall feeling at the end of the program was disappointment, disappointment at the
laziness of the journalism, disappointment that a golden opportunity to bring to light many
things that need to be brought to light were totally missed. Apart from the interview with
Hunter and his mother, there is little that was new, and much of what they said had already
been covered in the Melbourne newspapers.
Clearly, McDermott had read the Interim Report, which ASADA wrote in 2013. A fair bit
has happened since then, revelations about which McDermott was aware of but chose to
ignore.
Disappointingly, McDermott has turned 4 Corners into an ASADA branch office. His failure
to fully question Ben McDevitt and to make him substantiate many of his claims took lazy
journalism into a more dangerous category of negligence.
And if, as is probably the case, McDermott wrote the introduction for Sarah Ferguson, that
negligence is greatly compounded by the use of the plural instead of the singular. I would
love to be a fly on the wall when the two of them chat about that monumental faux pas.
21

McDermotts knowledge of geography seems to be as lacking as his inquisitiveness beyond
the PR hand-outs. El Paso is not in Mexico. El Paso is in the United States of America. It is
regarded for its world-class medical research so why wouldnt you source medicines from
there. El Paso is home to a wide range of medical research institutions, including the
Cardwell Collaborative, which is on the Medical Centre of Americas campus.
There is no doubt the way Essendon treated Hunters requests for information is shameful. It
flies in the face of all the fancy words about caring for the players welfare. But Essendon
wasnt, and isnt Robinson Crusoe in this. The AFL Players Association didnt do its job in
making sure Hunter was fully compliant with all his obligations. And the AFL, Hunters coemployer, also failed to comply in so many areas with its obligations.
If any organisation was finally going to have gumption to go after the so-called big end of
town in Melbourne, you would have thought it would be the ABC, which champions its
independence at every opportunity.
And this is the cause of so much of the disappointment with 4 Corners. Instead of real
investigative journalism that would have unravelled for the benefit of history what has really
been going on since February 2013, it went for the cheap clich, replete with images of
syringes and pills.
Whether Sarah writes her own introductions, or McDermott did one for her, 4 Corners
trashed its right to any creditability with the opening paragraph and by unquestionably
joining the AFL and ASADA cheer squad thereafter its reputation for being at the cutting
edge, if I can use that term, of journalism, plummeted from there.
22

4 CORNERS: Whatever It Takes - 21 March 2016

Uploaded by

Document Information

Original Description:

Original Title

Copyright

Available Formats

Share this document

Share or Embed Document

Sharing Options

Did you find this document useful?

Is this content inappropriate?

Copyright:

Available Formats

4 CORNERS: Whatever It Takes - 21 March 2016

Uploaded by

Copyright:

Available Formats

4 CORNERS: Whatever It Takes - 21 March 2016

one banned substance, not banned substances (plural) as stated