From the Shepp News
Gun Tatura midfield recruit Rian McGough is free to make his Bulldogs’ debut tomorrow, fresh from serving a six-month ban from all organised sport during summer.
McGough, who previously played for Casey Scorpions, faced an AFL Victoria tribunal panel on February 7 due to testing positive to a banned substance in an energy drink after a VFL match last year.
He had the energy drink after a university ball on the Thursday night before a Sunday match, after which he undertook a drug test.
McGough accepted a six-month ‘‘provisional’’ suspension before the tribunal hearing and the ban started on September 25 and ended on March 25 — after Tatura’s last practice match.
AFL Victoria officials informed him verbally on March 15 that the provisional suspension would be the extent of his penalty, barring an ASADA appeal against the verdict.
Bulldogs vice-president Denis Flett has worked closely with McGough throughout the process in his other club role in contracts and development.
Flett said a clearance for McGough to join Tatura was lodged on Wednesday night, once the official paperwork was through, in time for him to play this weekend.
AFL Victoria spokesman Anthony Stanguts said in a statement ASADA officials had 21 days to appeal the decision and the deadline was today.
‘‘Nothing has been received from ASADA to date.’’
