Luck of the Irish? Fletcher and Watson cleared to play

Jobe Watson

Australia's anti-doping body will be given boosted powers to crack down on drugs in sport.

Legislation to bring Australian Sports Anti-Doping Authority in line with the World Anti-Doping Authority cleared parliament on Monday.

The world authority next year will introduce tougher penalties, which include doubling bans from two to four years for athletes using performance-enhancing drugs.


Read more at http://www.9news.com.au/national/2014/11/17/14/12/aust-anti-doping-code-to-align-with-world#kPtLmLevbtLJDhdB.9Speaking on Monday, AFL operations manager Mark Evans refused to confirm Watson and Fletcher as two of the 34 past and present Essendon players to have received infraction notices as a result of the Bombers 2012 supplement program.

Both players were at the club during that controversial season, with Watson having previously spoken about taking supplements given to him during that year.

If the two players have been handed infraction notices, then they are provisionally suspended from playing matches of AFL football.

But apparently the international rules series is exempt from this regulation as both players have been cleared to play for Australia against Ireland in the one-off match at Perth’s Patersons Stadium.

"All I can say is that our general counsel Andrew Dillon has informed me that there is no need to change the structural make-up of that squad,” said Evans in quotes from the AFL website.

A directions hearing on Tuesday into the matter will set out a an exact hearing date along with a schedule for evidence and witnesses.

The hearing will come hot on the heels of ASADA being given boosted powers on Monday as parliament passed legislation to bring Australia's anti-doping body in line with the World Anti-Doping Authority WADA.

According to reports, WADA could be introducing tougher penalties next year for the use of performance-enhancing substances, with bans potentially doubled from two to four years.

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