Alamo
Years ago
Anstey gets off....
The National Basketball League has announced that Melbourne Tigers' player Chris Anstey has been found guilty on a charge of 'Striking with shoulder' by the NBL Tribunal but the resulting penalty of a one-match suspended sentence will still see him eligible to play in Wednesday night's Game Four of the NBL Grand Final series.
Anstey was initially cited by the NBL on the more serious charge of 'Striking with elbow' after NBL General Manager Chuck Harmison viewed video footage of an incident with South Dragons' player Rhys Carter in the third quarter of the Tigers' Grand Final Game Three against the Dragons at Hisense Arena on Sunday 8 March.
During the course of the hearing however NBL Tribunal Chairman Ken Madsen determined that the charge should be downgraded to the less serious charge of 'Striking with shoulder', on which the Tribunal subsequently found Anstey guilty.
The Tribunal imposed a one-match suspended sentence on Anstey, meaning he will be free to play in Game Four of the Grand Final series on Wednesday 11 March at the State Netball Hockey Centre.
The Tribunal's full finding is detailed below.
Charge/s dated 9 March 2009 Chris Anstey
Hearing was held on Monday 9 March 2009. Anstey pleaded 'Not Guilty'.
Finding/s
There is some doubt whether the contact of substance was with the shoulder or the elbow. Accordingly, I have found Anstey guilty of the lesser charge of 'Striking (with shoulder)'.
Penalty/ penalties
Anstey is banned from the next game of the Melbourne Tigers.
However, given that this is his first appearance before the Tribunal in a long career and his substantial contribution to the League, the one-game ban is suspended until 10 March 2010 when it will expire. Should Chris Anstey come before the Tribunal again between now and 10 March 2010 and be found guilty of a physical offence, then, in addition to any penalty affixed at that time, the one-game ban now suspended will be invoked also.
Ken Madsen
Chairman, NBL Tribunal
