News Clubs operating league-sanctioned drug testing program - Harley Balic’s Dad Speaks

[Chief]

AFL Statement

As well as being a signatory to World Anti-Doping Agency (WADA) code via the Australian Football Anti-Doping Code, the AFL has an Illicit Drug Policy which has been in place since 2005, and at the core of the policy is a commitment to player wellbeing and welfare.

The AFL Illicit Drug Policy (IDP) is a policy that specifically deals with the use of illicit substances out of competition and is focussed on player health and well-being. The policy seeks to reduce substance use and drug-related harms for AFL players and aims to inform and rehabilitate players through education and intervention.

It exists alongside and in addition to the Australian Football Anti-Doping Code which covers prohibited substances including some illicit substances in competition as prescribed by the WADA prohibited list.

Urine tests conducted by doctors to determine if a player has used illicit substances are part of the AFL’s Illicit Drug Policy medical model and have been for some time.

Doctors may use those urine tests to obtain an immediate result to determine whether any illicit substance remains in a player’s system. This is normally conducted at the club or in the doctors consulting rooms.

If the test shows a substance is still in the players system, a doctor will take steps to prevent a player from taking part in either training and/or an AFL match both for their own health and welfare and because having illicit substances in your system on match day may be deemed performance enhancing and a breach of the Australian Football Anti-Doping Code (depending on the substance involved).

It is absolutely imperative that no doctor or club official should ever allow or encourage a player to take the field knowing they have recently taken an illicit substance that may be harmful to their health and/or may be deemed performance-enhancing (as many illicit substances are on match day).

We support the WADA code (as it applies to our sport through the Australian Football Anti-Doping Code) and support the fundamental premise on which it is founded that any player who takes the field with a performance-enhancing prohibited substance in their system should be treated in accordance with the Anti-Doping Code and face heavy sanctions.

The AFL observes that AFL players are not immune to the societal issues faced by young people with respect to illicit substances and also acknowledges that illicit drug use problems commonly co-occur with other mental health conditions.

While the AFL’s medical model involves a multidisciplinary healthcare management plan, the monitoring of players is highly confidential. A doctor or healthcare professional generally cannot disclose the nature of the clinical intervention or condition to others unless the player willingly consents.

We understand that the Illicit Drugs Policy can be improved and we are working with the AFLPA and players to improve the policy and the system to ensure we are better able to change the behaviours of players. But we are unapologetic about club and AFL doctors taking the correct steps to ensure that any player who they believe has an illicit substance in their system does not take part in any AFL match and that doctor patient confidentially is upheld and respected.

The AFL will always be required to make decisions which seek to balance competing rights and interests. The medical interests and welfare of players is a priority for the AFL given everything we know about the risks facing young people generally and those who play our game in particular.

 

[Demonic Ascent]

I don't want to break Big Footy policy on republishing media stories, but I think I'm probably safe to just use Wilkie's own statement from parliament.



The fake injuries thing is totally predictable.

But if its true the league itself is exposed, and there's some kind of papertrail that shows that, then things are about to get spicy.

Didn't we already know this with the "self reporting" and 12 week hamstring injuries? The AFL's overt complicity is the news but even then I can see them arguing it was under a harm minimisation policy or some other BS they'll spin up. Unless there's government funding at stake (the only reason Demetriou agreed to sign up to WADA in the first place in 2006) I can't see much changing.

 

[Sentinel]

This is shocking. The AFL and MFC have a lot to answer for. I would not be suprised if MFC were to be deducted premiership points for bringing the game into disrepute.

Would be rich of the AFL to impose a sanction on the MFC for a conspiracy they were allegedly involved in..

 

[Truckosaurus]

Have the AFL learnt nothing since the Essendon saga? Unbelievable.

They learnt that they can't control things once WADA are involved, hence this brilliant plan to pre-empt them so they can keep it all in-house, under the rug.

 

[kyri]

I can't find this story being covered on any of the major news outlets?

big meeting underway

 

[teagueyubeauty]

Cocaine is on the WADA banned substances list.

As long as that remains the case this is a big story.

Gameday only though, WADA couldn’t give a shit about coke out of competition.
Media has been looking for an angle on the joke that is the AFL drug policy, this will blow it to smithereens.
I think it’s safe to say Clarry didn’t have a 10 week hamstring last year, you can try all you like to convince me I’m talking bollocks but you’ll be wasting your time.
AFL endorsed corruption, who woulda thunk it….Glenn Bartlett is an animal


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[Sentinel]

I can't find this story being covered on any of the major news outlets?

Did you not scroll down past the big logo at the top of the page?

 

[Stottzy]

Get ready for the old “this is a society problem” line getting spun out by every media channel tomorrow.

 

[Demonic Ascent]

Anyone else remember Lachey Whitfield's suspension almost a decade ago? IIRC called the club saying he did a bunch of drugs and was piss scared of getting tested and Gubby Allen had him hide out somewhere else to avoid testing.

Or Collingwood players self-reporting to get around having a strike against them.

Does anyone seriously think a large portion of players aren't using some kind of illegal drugs? Dale Lewis said it 20 years ago and was ostracised, they just want to sweep it under the carpet and as long as they don't get done on game day (Joel you missed the memo mate!) they'll just keep on keeping on.

 

[Makeshift Park]

I can't find this story being covered on any of the major news outlets?

Wilkie gave the statement after 7pm.

Most sport journos and their editors were already at the pub mate.

Of the rest... not sure how many make a habit of spending their evenings enjoying a little bit of Hansard.

It'll be everywhere in coming days.

 

[kyri]

I think it’s safe to say Clarry didn’t have a 10 week hamstring last year,

clarry was in rehab at a clinic in south yarra

 

[Corkintheocean]

Well this is going to blow up Gill's already questionable legacy.

 

[BunjiMC]

Did you not scroll down past the big logo at the top of the page?

View attachment 1940529

Absolutely nothing on the Advertiser or ABC.

 

[Devastating Boris]

Gameday only though, WADA couldn’t give a s**t about coke out of competition.
Media has been looking for an angle on the joke that is the AFL drug policy, this will blow it to smithereens.
I think it’s safe to say Clarry didn’t have a 10 week hamstring last year, you can try all you like to convince me I’m talking bollocks but you’ll be wasting your time.
AFL endorsed corruption, who woulda thunk it….Glenn Bartlett is an animal


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What’s Sam Walsh doing at the moment?

 

[Outtatym]

Get ready for the old “this is a society problem” line getting spun out by every media channel tomorrow.

Pretty much is though. Go to any club or pub and you will find more blokes in the dunnies than at the bar.

 

[Demonic Ascent]

Surely its only effective for about 10 minutes or so!

Nah mate it can enhance your performance for hours

 

[Arr0w]

What’s Sam Walsh doing at the moment?

Obsessed with running laps head down, with eyes firmly on the chalk lines around ikon and smiling

 

[Blind Turn]

Breakaway competition looming?

It would only take Collingwood, Essendon, Carlton, Richmond and a few tag-alongs and the AFL would become a toothless corporate ghost.

 

[Strange Cat]

Is it a big story?

If they’re not performance enhancing, and not under the influence while playing then I don’t really care what they do in their private time.

They’re only hurting themselves and their team.

The issue is if they can be doing tests to detect drugs it can also mask PED use…that’s staggering that it’s being encouraged by the AFL governing body

 

[teagueyubeauty]

What’s Sam Walsh doing at the moment?

Haha, not doing lines at revolver that’s for sure


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[The Old Dark Navy's]

What’s Sam Walsh doing at the moment?

Returning to full training this week after a flare up of his previous back injury. The guy is a boy scout.

 

[memoryofmchale]

I mean, it's smart to test for illicit drugs. Be surprised if more clubs aren't doing it.

You don’t even have to only be testing for them. For example, if you have bloods done, it’s ticking a box and there’s all sorts of very legal reasons why you’d check for drugs. Eg. New medication, etc. It’s actually a requirement for some drugs like ADHD medication to make sure you are clean given their addictive and/or dangerous nature.

Some pathologies would also raise as “this was found, may or may not be relevant” blah blah blah.

 

[Xtreme]

Just when you think the AFL couldn't sink any lower

They outdo themselves!

 

[Demonic Ascent]

What years was this guy the doc?

Flag year I think, and a few years before that

The MFC doc left in Oct 2020.

‘Are we f****en fair dinkum’: Goodwin’s alleged X-rated rant at doctor revealed over concussed star

‘Are we f****en fair dinkum’: Goodwin’s alleged X-rated rant at doctor revealed

www.foxsports.com.au

 

[Rob]

Enough here for ASADA to get involved. I suspect faking an injury to avoid a test is as serious as refusing to give a sample. Which usually results in a 2 to 4 year ban.

 

[Strange Cat]

Cocaine is actually a performance enhancer.

Lots of illegal drugs can be performance enhancers if used in certain ways.

Not only that but it can mask PED usage in the test results which is why WADA is so strict on recreational drug use in their policy