The Club advises members and supporters that league player Dean Cadwallader has received notification from the Australian Sports Anti-Doping Authority (ASADA) of a positive result in relation to an out-of-competition sample taken from him during the State team program this year.
Both the “A” and “B” sample have been reported as positive to an anabolic steroid, Nandralone.
Cadwallader now has the opportunity to make submissions to the Anti-Doping Rule Violation Panel before it makes a decision on whether to enter the athlete’s details onto the Register of Findings. This decision is not expected before July 14.
If the positive test stands, Dean will face the WAFL Tribunal under the WAFL Anti- Doping Code. The prescribed penalty for a drug of this type is a 2 year suspension from the game at any level unless exceptional circumstances can be shown. He was stood down from football as soon as the result of A-sample was known, under the WAFL Anti-Doping Code.
Dean has acknowledged the findings and expressed his regret.
In a statement to the media, Dean said, "Firstly I would like to acknowledge my actions and express my regret for the disappointment I’ve caused to a lot of people. I’d like to apologise to my family, my team-mates, the East Perth Football Club and its staff, its members and our supporters.
"There is no excuse. I’ve made a huge mistake and I’m going to pay the price for that mistake. I only hope that I can come back to the game in the future and make a positive contribution.
"I’d like to thank the club and my family for their support and once again apologise for the hurt that I have caused them.," he said.
League coach Tony Micale said the Club would support Dean in whatever way it could.
"Dean is an extremely talented young man and I applaud him for showing the courage needed to stand before the media," said Micale.
"As Dean acknowledged, he’s made a big mistake and he’s going to pay a heavy price for it. I just want to say, on behalf of the Club and his team-mates, that we can’t condone what he’s done, but we can and will support him in his efforts to come back from this obvious setback to his dream of playing AFL.
"I think most of you would know that Dean has been in the sights of most AFL cubs and that he would almost certainly have been drafted later this year. This is now a real test of his character. I think he has the ability and the attitude to come back," he said."I know that we’ll be there for him in whatever way we can once the Tribunal has handed down its official penalty and the conditions associated with that penalty."
General Manager Alex "Marbles" Wilson supported Micale's sentiments.
"The East Perth Football Club supports the anti-drugs position of the WAFL and the AFL. The Club does not condone the use of performance enhancing or any other drugs," he said.
"Dean will pay a heavy price for the mistake he has made but, to the extent permitted, we will support Dean and his family in his efforts to resume his career at the appropriate time."
