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Hird to argue for quick appeal hearing

Essendon coach James Hird believes his reputation could be tarnished if any past and current Bombers players are named on an anti-doping register, court documents show.

Hird will ask the Federal Court on Thursday to order an expedited hearing of his appeal against the court’s decision that the joint investigation by ASADA and the AFL into the club’s supplements program was legal.

The Australian Sports Anti-Doping Authority is expected to reissue show cause notices to 34 past and current players next week.

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Hird is not standing in the way of ASADA issuing the amended notices.

But his lawyer Nick Harrington argues that the outcome of the notice process could possibly prejudice the coach and affect his reputation.

His submissions to the court say players issued with a show cause notice will have 14 days to respond and the matter will then be referred to the Anti Doping Rule Violation Panel.

The panel will then decide whether any players are entered on the register of findings.

“It is submitted that the entry of any of 34 players’ names on the register will affect in adverse manner the reputation of the appellant (Hird),” Mr Harrington states in a court document.

“The appellant’s reputation would likely suffer significant harm and damage as a consequence of such an entry.”

Hird’s appeal will now focus solely on the argument that the anti-doping body acted unlawfully by conducting a joint investigation.

He has dropped an argument that Justice John Middleton made an error when he found ASADA’s interim investigation report was provided to the AFL lawfully.

The league used the report to ban Essendon from the 2013 finals and suspend Hird for 12 months.

The Essendon Football Club is not appealing last month’s court ruling and has signalled it wants to move on from the saga.

The club on Monday said Hird will remain as coach, after widespread speculation that he may be sacked following his decision to appeal the verdict.

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