Victorian detectives have taken statements from three women – one the victim of a sexual assault connected to five Sydney Swans players this week.
She was assaulted at the Pullman Hotel in Melbourne in the early hours of Monday.
Media have reported Isaac Heeney is the sole focus of police investigations.
Heeney, Chad Warner, Riley Bice, James Jordon and Nick Blakey have been suspended for the remaining AFL season by their club for bringing the game into disrepute.
It must be stressed, they are still allowed to attend the club.
The suspension is not based on the assault of the woman but because the men breached the club’s standards and expected behaviour, Swans chairman Andrew Pridham and chief executive Matthew Pavlich said.
“Hopefully people can see how seriously we’ve taken this matter,” Pridham told media.
“We’re very proud of our culture we’ve built over many years at the club. We get more right than we get wrong. Clearly this is a very sad day for us and for everybody involved.”
Meanwhile, Telstra has also suspended Heeney and Warner from its ambassador program.
“Players assisting police with their investigation who are also Telstra ambassadors are not participating in any ambassador activity while the investigation is ongoing,” a Telstra spokesperson said.
“We will review their ambassador arrangements once the investigation is complete and will provide an update at that time.”
Other sponsors are watching what happens with the investigation.
“QBE acknowledges the seriousness of the allegations that have been reported,” a spokesperson from the Swans’ key sponsor said.
“We have no tolerance for conduct that compromises the safety, dignity or wellbeing of others and we support the club’s position in condemning all forms of abuse and disrespectful behaviour towards women.”
ISAAC HEENEY IS THE SOLE FOCUS OF SEX ASSAULT INVESTIGATION
