Anissa Tann

Anissa Tann
Personal information
Full name Anissa Tann
Date of birth (1967-10-10) 10 October 1967 (age 57)
Place of birth Sydney
Height 1.73 m (5 ft 8 in)
Position(s) Centre back
Senior career*
Years Team Apps (Gls)
Ramsgate RSL
St George
Melita Eagles
Marconi Stallions
Sutherland Sharks
NSW Sapphires
International career
1988–2002 Australia[1] 102 (8)
*Club domestic league appearances and goals, correct as of 14:57, 12 January 2014 (UTC)
‡ National team caps and goals, correct as of 14:57, 12 January 2014 (UTC)

Anissa Tann (born 10 October 1967) is an Australian soccer coach and former player. As a powerful defender, she represented Australia in the 1995 and 1999 FIFA Women's World Cups as well as at the 2000 Sydney Olympics. Tann married Steve Darby in November 1994 and was known as Anissa Tann-Darby until 2001. Captain of the national team between 1991 and 1994, Tann was the first Australian to win 100 caps. She was inducted to the national Soccer Hall of Fame in December 2007.

Tann made her debut for Australia at the 1988 FIFA Women's Invitation Tournament, a prototype World Cup. In the first match she suffered a broken arm but played on to help Australia upset Brazil (represented by EC Radar) 1–0. Tann played in all four games as Australia made a quarter final exit in losing 7–0 to hosts China.[citation needed]

After Australia's poor showing at the 1995 FIFA Women's World Cup in Sweden, Tann and Julie Murray were dropped by coach Tom Sermanni. Both were recalled by new coach Greg Brown in 1997.[2]

Tann's national team career ended in December 2002 when she tested positive for the banned steroid nandrolone and received a two-year global suspension.[3] When Tann appealed to the Court of Arbitration for Sport (CAS), her explanation that the substance had been unknowingly ingested through a supplement bought in the United States was accepted but the ban was upheld due to the strict liability nature of the offence.[citation needed]

  1. ^ "Official Media Guide of Australia at the FIFA Women's World Cup Germany 2011" (PDF). Football Federation Australia. 8 July 2011. p. 54. Retrieved 11 January 2014.
  2. ^ "Anissa Tann-Darby". Australian Sports Commission. Archived from the original on 19 January 2000. Retrieved 12 January 2014.
  3. ^ Cockerill, Michael (19 March 2003). "Top Matilda tests positive to steroids". Sydney Morning Herald. Retrieved 12 January 2014.