Saad hearing 5pm today...

[philtee]

..this tweet from Jon Ralph -
Jon Ralph ‏@RalphyHeraldSun 7m
EXCLUSIVE
Ahmed Saad will appear before AFL anti doping tribunal at 5pm today. Details up soon on superfooty. Hoping to get less than 2 yrs

[st_Trav_ofWA]

i wish him all the best as its a big price for a little mistake but the rules are the rules

[philtee]

Now this from the AFL site -

"Saad consumed a substance registered on the AFL's anti-doping banned list, believed to be a stimulant contained in the Viking Protein sports drink, 'Before Battle'.


Saad has previously been linked to Viking Protein in an ambassadorial role.


His legal team is hopeful of an outcome for his actions with a sanction less than the maximum penalty."

[saintspremiers]

Sort of don't mind if he cops a 6 month ban as it would put enormous pressure on ASADA to nail Essendon to the cross.

[stinger]

i wish him all the best as its a big price for a little mistake but the rules are the rules

he's a fool...imho....deserves to get the flick....he's not supposed to take anything without running it by the club.....anyway we need his spot...someone has to go and it may as well be him....

[plugger66]

Sort of don't mind if he cops a 6 month ban as it would put enormous pressure on ASADA to nail Essendon to the cross.

Interesting reason for a 6 month ban. Think he will get at least a year but it will make no difference to the essendon case IMO. Totally different case.

[saintspremiers]

Sort of don't mind if he cops a 6 month ban as it would put enormous pressure on ASADA to nail Essendon to the cross.

Interesting reason for a 6 month ban. Think he will get at least a year but it will make no difference to the essendon case IMO. Totally different case.

Yes it's different but they will get tied together somehow.

Just the way the world works in 2013.

[saintsRrising]

Sort of don't mind if he cops a 6 month ban as it would put enormous pressure on ASADA to nail Essendon to the cross.

You would think 2 years given the VFL players bans.

[saintspremiers]

Sort of don't mind if he cops a 6 month ban as it would put enormous pressure on ASADA to nail Essendon to the cross.

You would think 2 years given the VFL players bans.

Fair enough. Then delist him.

[Devilhead]

Sort of don't mind if he cops a 6 month ban as it would put enormous pressure on ASADA to nail Essendon to the cross.

You would think 2 years given the VFL players bans.

Fair enough. Then delist him.

They will if he gets 2 years maybe even one year

[Buckets]

Technically if he cops a 12 month ban I think the club have to delist.

[Eastern]

The thing I DON'T get about the hearing is that it is reported that he will know his penalty before the end of the year. Surely they can come up with a penalty tonight. Then if ASADA don't think its enough they then have 30 days in which to appeal !!

[perfectionist]

The thing I DON'T get about the hearing is that it is reported that he will know his penalty before the end of the year. Surely they can come up with a penalty tonight. Then if ASADA don't think its enough they then have 30 days in which to appeal !!

The penalty has already been set. It's just they we (and him) aren't going to be told it until it suits the AFL and others. Based on the Essendon penalties, Ahmet should get a severe reprimand. But we all know he will receive what is, in effect, a life ban. The sooner it is realised that it is the people who make the decisions who are the most "corrupt" the better. But that would rely on a non "corrupt" media. Silly me.

[saintbrat]

http://www.news.com.au/sport/afl/st-kil ... 6754352721

[Wayne42]

If he is not delisted until the December deadline then there is another player in the hot seat by the 2nd list lodgement on Nov.14th

Hope they don't make a mistake and end up only able to use picks 3 and 18 in the draft, surely not, should they set up a panel to sort it out...

[sainterinsydney]

Could he be moved down to the rookie list? Or is it that impossible?

[AP Erebus]

Well this is going longer than I expected...

[saintbrat]

Could he be moved down to the rookie list? Or is it that impossible?

I'm fairly certain he would have to be delisted as he is Unable to have ANY contact with ANY sporting organisation-
unless delivering or undertaking drug educaion.

[|Andy|]

It's absolutely stupid that it seems the minimum penalty is also the maximum penalty, if the VFL case and what predictions of what Saad will get is anything to go by.

[ralphsmith]

When does Jobe Watsons hearing begin?

[SemperFidelis]

http://www.news.com.au/sport/afl/st-kil ... 6754352721

Worth a read. This is the most actual info we have ever had. I thought it was closed to the media so not sure who is leaking like a sieve to Ralph.

Pleased to find that Jack Rush appeared for Saady; nice to see our Board members making themselves actually useful. He is an excellent advocate; at least Saady has the best possible chance. The fact that written reasons are required for the penalty decision seems to be the cause of the likely further delay. No doubt the Tribunal will seek to make them appeal-proof. Which means the likelihood of Ahmed maintaining his spot on the list in the interim seems pretty slim.

I was also interested to see that it was apparently put in mitigation that Saad didn't know the banned substance was in the drink. That surprised me. Then again, "I didn't know there might be a banned substance in the syringe when they used me as a human pin cushion" seems to have found favour of late ...

[BigMart]

Jobes is under a rug...

[saintsRrising]

I was also interested to see that it was apparently put in mitigation that Saad didn't know the banned substance was in the drink. That surprised me. Then again, "I didn't know there might be a banned substance in the syringe when they used me as a human pin cushion" seems to have found favour of late ...

if that is his defense, he is gone as the ASADA code spells out that ignorance is not a defense.

Very unforntunate, but the Code has to be that way otherise it would be an out for every drug cheat.

Just look at the Dons.... up to their eeyballs in illegal drugs, but are trying to use the degefse that well yes we had illegal drugs, but only Dank knows what the players got....

[SainterK]

If it was meal replacement around Ramadan, clubs would do well to give those facing fasting, even more education and even a dietician to assist them through.

[ChelseaGuy]

If it was meal replacement around Ramadan, clubs would do well to give those facing fasting, even more education and even a dietician to assist them through.

I'm surprised that this aspect has not been spoken about more and/or raised as a mitigating factor. Would be tough to balance requirements of professional athlete with strict religious-based dietary restrictions.