A prominent AFL medical colleague of Bruce Reid says the veteran Essendon doctor was blindsided and marginalised in the Bombers’ supplements scandal.
AFL medical association executive officer Dr Hugh Seward added the organisation is delighted that the league has withdrawn its charges against Dr Reid.
Reid had been due back in the Victorian Supreme Court on Thursday to continue his challenge against the AFL who had charged him, Essendon coach James Hird, senior assistant coach Mark Thompson and football manager Danny Corcoran with bringing the sport into disrepute.
Hird, Thompson and Corcoran all accepted their sanctions, but Reid chose to take his case to court.
“I was disappointed he was charged, but I think the focus now is on the fact that the charges have been dropped,” Dr Seward told SEN.
“We’re delighted that’s the case and I know Bruce is a greatly relieved man.
“He’s a huge supporter of the AFL’s approach to the controlled use of supplements and trying to avoid the scenario that, in fact, developed in his club.
“He feels very much that he was blindsided and kept in the dark by the people who were running the program.”
Dr Seward accused elements within Essendon of making sure that Dr Reid was unaware of the full extent of the controversial supplements program.
“I don’t know whether I’d use the word ‘bullied’, but he was certainly kept in the dark and they did things to avoid him knowing about it, from what I understand,” Dr Seward said.
“He was certainly blindsided and not aware of what was going on because of the way they did it off-site and, at times, when he was not around.
“I don’t think he was marginalised by the club – I think he was marginalised by the people who undertook this program without the knowledge of most of the people at Essendon.”
In a statement issued on Wednesday, Reid said he shared the AFL’s concerns over the circumstances of the supplements saga.
“I support the stance taken by the AFL and the AFL Medical Officers Association in requiring appropriate governance at club level (particularly in terms of “sports science”), including a hierarchy of control which ensures a club doctor is the key person with the responsibility within AFL clubs for the health, welfare and safety of the playing group,” said Reid.
Reid plans to return to his position as Essendon’s senior medical officer in January after taking a period of leave.
The AFL said it accepted Reid’s position, prompting it to withdraw all charges against him without penalty.
Hird was suspended for 12 months for his role in the supplements scandal, with Corcoran suspended for four months and Thompson fined $30,000.
The AFL also banned Essendon from participating in the 2013 finals series, fined it $2 million and imposed draft sanctions on the club for the next two years.
Essendon chairman Paul Little welcomed the news that Reid’s name had been formally cleared.
