Bombers chairman David Evans rejects accusations that players are gaining any advantage this season

Research carried out in the last few years has shown that if you were to take the controversial supplements (peptides) you are likely to suffer from soft tissue injures while playing. Bombers had the highest rate of soft tissue injures in the league last year.

Bombers chairman David Evans says his club will prove it is not gaining any advantage this season from the controversial supplement program carried out last year.

AFL chief executive Andrew Demetriou spoke about rival clubs saying bombers having an unfair advantage because of they unbeaten start to they season. 

Evans repeated on Friday that he would not publicly detail the practices that took place at the club last season while the AFL and Australian Sports Anti-Doping Authority (ASADA) investigation into whether they breached anti-doping rules continues.

"I would like to thank Andrew Demetriou for his support of the club yesterday when he warned other clubs against what he called scurrilous innuendo that our players have some kind of advantage," Evans said at a Bombers' pre-match function.

"I can also promise you this: whatever happened last year with what I conceded were irregular practices, there is no advantage to our players and this will be proven."

Evans said it was tough having the club being the subject of constant speculation without being able to publicly fight back, given the Bombers don't want to compromise the investigation.

"I would love nothing more than to be correcting some of the more wild accusations and speculation that's occurred over the time," he said.

"But I ask you again for your patience while we let the AFL and ASADA investigation take its course."

He said the Bombers could at least take heart that their players were showing maturity and character in adversity.

"These young men are utter professionals in what they are doing week in and week out," he said.

http://www.foxsports.com.au/afl/demetriou-slams-rumours/video-e6frf33l-1226634730466?subcat=1225916318050

  

Wade Graham, what were you thinking?

Wade Graham was set to be the first Cronulla Shark player to be interviewed by ASADA into their investigation of illegal drug use within sport...what a disaster that turned out to be. In a week where the National Rugby League did not need further embarrassment and scrutiny across the media and wider community Wade Graham decides to wear a reversed baseball-cap, t-shirt, cargo pants and thongs to a hearing which has had widespread media coverage across the nation. This was a great opportunity for the Sharks and the NRL Competition to portray to the wider community its professionalism and its effort into dismissing any links the sport might have with any illegal drug use. Instead however, the NRL and the Cronulla Sharks have further damaged the clubs reputation and the competitions.

The Sharks aren't a club like the South Sydney Rabbitohs or the Brisbane Broncos whom have a substantial membership base to stream revenue through, they are a club whom struggle to stay afloat and retain major sponsors. Consequently, this negativity towards the club through rumours of drug use, player conduct and recently poor performances will know doubt cause a major strain amongst the club and its sponsors.

This is a great opportunity for the National Rugby League, and Dave Smith specifically as the Chief Executive Officer to stamp his authority and set a precedent with Graham. Wade definitely deserves to be fined a substantial amount for bringing the game into disrepute and should be stood down from playing for a set period of time. This will ensure that player think about their conduct in future instead of taking their careers and lifestyles for granted.