The AFL has released the review and rule changes following the investigation and management of the Essendon supplement program of 2012.

The review outlines changes to policy and procedures implemented since 2013, and outlines a number of changes to investigations and governance for future management of major issues. 

Outgoing Chairman of the Commission, Mr. Mike Fitzpatrick has written to all Club Presidents and CEOs providing the summary of all changes.

Key changes include:

· The AFL CEO will no longer be part of the Commission’s decisions in relation to breaches or sanctions. The CEO will oversee the processes of the investigation, the decision to charge, negotiations with affected parties on sanction and the presentation of the AFL case to the Commission. The CEO will not participate in the decisions of the Commission on rule breaches and on sanctions, nor communicate with the Commission in relation to the details of the investigation or any negotiations of the AFL case to the Commission.

· The capacity now of the Commission or General Counsel to refer matters in whole or in part to a tribunal or another body, including a Sub-Committee of the Commission.

· Further rule changes including Registration of Club Officials, clarification of and additions to General Offences, stronger regulation of access to venues on game day, and a new rule strengthening protections for persons who provide information to the AFL as disclosers or witnesses.

The review reinforces the right of the AFL to enter into joint investigations with ASADA, and the role of negotiated outcomes in response to breaches and sanctions.

Mr. Fitzpatrick said that the AFL investigation had been tested and challenged by external courts and the processes had withstood those challenges.

“The AFL acted within its rules, and with respect to our commitments to the WADA and ASADA framework,” Mr. Fitzpatrick said.

“The fact that the AFL Rules and associated processes have withstood those challenges reinforces the importance of key values that underpin our governance:
Commitment to integrity and a doping free sport
The right of the Commission to establish the rules for our competition, by which all players, staff and officials must be held accountable
The right of the Commission to make and enforce sanctions for breaches of the rules of our competition
The rights of all players, staff and officials to appeal to external legal jurisdictions. “

Mr. Fitzpatrick said that it had been a very testing and costly issue for the game.

“I am confident that when the history of doping in sport in Australia is written, our competition can say that the Essendon Football Club stood up and reported voluntarily, and the AFL acted swiftly to protect the integrity of the game and the health and welfare of the players,” Mr. Fitzpatrick said.

Read the full report here (PDF)