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.

 

[B4Bear]

Well how do we know that coaches aren’t on it with them?

I don’t buy for a second coaches are unaware. They’re not stupid and have many eyes and spies. You’d know the kids to watch - it’s like teachers and similar sorts of behaviours. As fans, we can all guess the drug users at our club either known or rumoured. A coach is around them far more and knows more of the story. But those nasty headlines aren’t worth it. Four weeks of hamstring awareness benefits it all. No need for a humiliating, degrading sanction or a cruel club statement.

Yeah because living your life as a total lie will make you a happy and healthy person. The mental health implications are legion.

 

[3207]

Andrew Bogut claims he has been offered drugs by AFL players during nights out.
The former NBA star on Wednesday dropped a bomb on the AFL by accusing the league of covering up a “blatant” substance abuse problem through its controversial, secret testing program.

https://www.news.com.au/sport/afl/andrew-bogut-drops-bombshell-cocaine-claim-on-afl/news-story/2326648d570ce55c7bd05cea76c06de8

Shows how out of touch AFL players are.

Because of all the sportspeople rolling around Melbourne, I’m not offering any of my bag to the bloke with the biggest nose out of all of them.

You’d be left with remnants in a bag and a $50 note with half the colour inhaled off if.

 

[Gigantor]

Did Wilkie deliberately mix up the testing for recreational drugs with the testing for prohibited substances, or does he actually not know the difference (like much of the media and Australian public).
I would prefer to believe that he is utterly ignorant on the subject rather than believe that he deliberately mislead parliament and the Australian pubic.

 

[speedpeck23]

They allow this information all the time and for everything else. Mental health, ruptured testes, cancer, sprained ankle. Hiding behind "but it's confidential medical information" when it only seems to be a problem with drugs is a bit of a joke.

That's what you think. You are not privvy to multiple patient medical records unless you are a health professional. There are many instances where patients want their confidentiality maintained including some of the ones you have mentioned. Epilepsy, STI's, Mental Health, Cancer ( at the very least information is confidential until the patient understands and mentally adjusts to their prognosis) .

In addition of course the illness may impact on family members and in fact illness of a family member which impacts on a player will kept confidential......all in the interest of helping people/patients and their treating doctors manage their situation.

It's only the Press in their "wisdom" ( and I use the term advisedly) who want to feed the public " interest" (and I use the term advisedly) who demand that all information about all people in the public eye should be open to public scrutiny as if the general public are the experts !!

 

[yodellinhank]

That's what you think. You are not privvy to multiple patient medical records unless you are a health professional. There are many instances where patients want their confidentiality maintained including some of the ones you have mentioned. Epilepsy, STI's, Mental Health, Cancer ( at the very least information is confidential until the patient understands and mentally adjusts to their prognosis) .

In addition of course the illness may impact on family members and in fact illness of a family member which impacts on a player will kept confidential......all in the interest of helping people/patients and their treating doctors manage their situation.

It's only the Press in their "wisdom" ( and I use the term advisedly) who want to feed the public " interest" (and I use the term advisedly) who demand that all information about all people in the public eye should be open to public scrutiny as if the general public are the experts !!

There's a reasonable expectation that of the AFL wish to continue making a profit from gambling revenue that disclosure is made regarding a competitor's fitness. That's the public interest. A player comes back from a 12 week hamstring in worse form than a player who has had a twelve week holiday.

AFL players waive lots of rights as a part of playing professional sport. The Essendon 34 & staff had medical information splashed all across the papers. It happens and pretending it doesn't just so you can take recreational (and i use that term advisedly) drugs is a smoke screen.

 

[yodellinhank]

Did Wilkie deliberately mix up the testing for recreational drugs with the testing for prohibited substances, or does he actually not know the difference (like much of the media and Australian public).
I would prefer to believe that he is utterly ignorant on the subject rather than believe that he deliberately mislead parliament and the Australian pubic.

I don't think he did mix them up. The AFL would like you to think he did though, so they can be left to their own devices when it comes to who gets to play (with drugs) and who doesn't.

Joel Smith would have to be very silly to test positive on match day when there's a system designed to prevent such a thing, which it seems he was well aware of, wouldn't he?

 

[pattymalone00]

 

[JoondalupJ]

They can only know if the player authorizes release of the medical information to a 3rd party .....otherwise the doctor could lose their medical registration and/or be sued by the player.

Or the players family????

 

[Gigantor]

What Daryl Adair said.
There is absolutely zero issue.
Nothing is contravening the WADA code and even if SIA wanted to take an interest in it, their enabling legislation would not allow them to do so.
This is the biggest storm in a teacup since the last time someone wanted to get mileage out of the AFL conducting a testing regime into the use of recreational drugs which sits over and above the WADA Code (and over which the SIA has zero authority to conduct in any event).

 

[speedpeck23]

Or the players famil

There's a reasonable expectation that of the AFL wish to continue making a profit from gambling revenue that disclosure is made regarding a competitor's fitness. That's the public interest. A player comes back from a 12 week hamstring in worse form than a player who has had a twelve week holiday.

AFL players waive lots of rights as a part of playing professional sport. The Essendon 34 & staff had medical information splashed all across the papers. It happens and pretending it doesn't just so you can take recreational (and i use that term advisedly) drugs is a smoke screen.

You are concerned about the integrity of gambling in the AFL....... The AFL's illicit drug policy is effectively minimizing the likelihood of a player taking the field under the influence of drugs which may enhance or compromise their performance..... which is important for many reasons including the important issues related to gambling.

 

[JoondalupJ]

You are concerned about the integrity of gambling in the AFL....... The AFL's illicit drug policy is effectively minimizing the likelihood of a player taking the field under the influence of drugs which may enhance or compromise their performance..... which is important for many reasons including the important issues related to gambling.

That is excuse making. The policy might or might not make things worse or better either.

But gamblers are not the AFL and rules are not that grey in gambling like they have been made in the AFL fiddling, and why?
Gambling with help and others helping is available with a system where half the punters can't pick out a free or what it was for. Or stay baffled over a weird call, how long orhas it happened, that people have "changed" a situation, we know Brownlow secrecy was blown once.
You see trusting big business and the industry running that's the game that we love is impossible.
They run it like the CIA.

Then we get told the drug policy of the AFL is great, stops blokes suiciding, has allowed somewhere in the vicinity of 100 people involved IN WHAT??????

When they don't turn up, or a test for third time is WHERE?

So really there is no preachingto be done. Something happens.

The whole point is that you and I don't know one way or the other yet thousands and thousands bet on it, and a politician, bit of a holier than thou type yes maybe

Like him or hate him, he opened up the belly, whether one fellow did wrong or 100 fellows, the point is its an AFL policy and it was SECRET, so if not released to the public gamblers or not , I wonder what would be going on when this expanded league starts to get deep into quality draining player pool.
AFL policy makes it a fact, that people could be, you see, could be!

Behaving badly sneakily or illegally and we the paying public don't know anything in details.

But we know now, that, something is rotten in Denmark.

And by crikey there are some shonky individuals around who think up policies and some easily led who roll along with it.

So thats my excuse. For once again bagging this corporate dictatorship called the AFL. .

 

[Engimal v3]

What Daryl Adair said.
There is absolutely zero issue.
Nothing is contravening the WADA code and even if SIA wanted to take an interest in it, their enabling legislation would not allow them to do so.
This is the biggest storm in a teacup since the last time someone wanted to get mileage out of the AFL conducting a testing regime into the use of recreational drugs which sits over and above the WADA Code (and over which the SIA has zero authority to conduct in any event).

I think it's more the lying about players' absences that bothers people.

 

[pattymalone00]

 

[Area51]

Has the CFL finished their their investigation and determined which of their their execs is going to wear the penalty for bringing the game into disrepute?

 

[powerrrrrrrrrrrr]

Hows the league going to sweep this under their rug?

https://www.news.com.au/sport/afl/dead-footballers-dad-makes-devastating-afl-drug-use-claim/news-story/c5af4c54480019befcc10d00b7d9579c

The father of former footballer Harley Balic

Harley Balic

Age

27

Ht

187cm

Wt

86kg

Pos.

M/F

Career

Season

Last 5

D

13.0

3star

K

6.5

3star

HB

6.5

4star

M

3.3

3star

T

3.3

5star

CL

1.5

4star

No current season stats available

D

13.0

4star

K

6.5

3star

HB

6.5

4star

M

3.3

4star

T

3.3

5star

CL

1.5

4star

has blamed the AFL over his son’s death at the age of 25.
Balic died in January, 2022, just days after his birthday. Police found no suspicious circumstances.

Balic was drafted by Fremantle as the No. 38 pick in the 2015 AFL Draft. He made his debut for the Dockers in 2017, playing four senior games before he was traded to Melbourne.

Balic also played in Peel Thunder’s 2016 WAFL premiership.

He did not play a senior game for the Demons and retired during his only season with the club in August, 2018, at the age of 21, saying he had lot passion for the game.

Not to far to believe that the AFL contributed to his addiction with their policy and acceptance of its use.

There’s been multiple players to overdose and yet the AFL continue to accept its rampant use.

 

[GoEaglesGoSGIO]

Harley Balics dad came out as the whistleblower to Andrew Wilkie

His son was put in the illiciit drug program and he believes Balic was delisted by request of the AFL who didnt want his name to come up in any WADA drug situations

Seems like a lawsuit will be incoming over his death to the AFL under workplace laws also.

A big watch this space

 

[burge13]

Parent looking for compensation. The AFL aren't going to ring parents about their kids drug use who are over 18

Imagine your workplace ringing your dad to say you have tested to cocaine, ridiculous...

Nothing in that specific case even though the AFL's drug testing policies are a complete shambles

 

[GoEaglesGoSGIO]

Parent looking for compensation. The AFL aren't going to ring parents about their kids drug use who are over 18

Imagine your workplace ringing your dad to say you have tested to cocaine, ridiculous...

Nothing in that specific case even though the AFL's drug testing policies are a complete shambles

Thats not the lawsuit at all or even close to it. Maybe wanna take it down instead of just creating BS?

 

[burge13]

Thats not the lawsuit at all or even close to it. Maybe wanna take it down instead of just creating BS?

The dad is blaming the AFL for keeping people/supports in the dark. The player is an adult, they're not going to go telling everyone about your drug tests. This is standard of every single workplace in the country

The AFL would have had supports in place, therapists, psych's etc. From the Dad's POV, I'm sorry there is nothing in this.

The AFL's drug testing is a farce, everyone agrees with that but he's picking fights and laying blame where he shouldn't IMO.

 

[GoEaglesGoSGIO]

The dad is blaming the AFL for keeping people/supports in the dark. The player is an adult, they're not going to go telling everyone about your drug tests. This is standard of every single workplace in the country

The AFL would have had supports in place, therapists, psych's etc. From the Dad's POV, I'm sorry there is nothing in this.

The AFL's drug testing is a farce, everyone agrees with that but he's picking fights and laying blame where he shouldn't IMO.

Thats literally not the lawsuit though. Thats just a opinion

The lawsuit would invovle workplace laws AFL has which says you cant simply sack a bloke with medical issues without any support or following the documented process.

Balic wasnt delisted. He was sacked and AFL did not follow through with the support they are meant to. They should have sacked him on medical reasons but they didnt, they pretended it was a talent issue when it wasnt the reason he was let go.

 

[memoryofmchale]

Harley Balics dad came out as the whistleblower to Andrew Wilkie

His son was put in the illiciit drug program and he believes Balic was delisted by request of the AFL who didnt want his name to come up in any WADA drug situations

Seems like a lawsuit will be incoming over his death to the AFL under workplace laws also.

A big watch this space

The AFL very rarely appears under oath. Expecting a $$$ payout and NDA.

 

[memoryofmchale]

Thats literally not the lawsuit though. Thats just a opinion

The lawsuit would invovle workplace laws AFL has which says you cant simply sack a bloke with medical issues without any support or following the documented process.

Balic wasnt delisted. He was sacked and AFL did not follow through with the support they are meant to. They should have sacked him on medical reasons but they didnt, they pretended it was a talent issue when it wasnt the reason he was let go.

Duty of care perhaps, medical negligence - it becomes interesting.

Don’t expect a lawsuit, though. The AFL don’t appear under oath.

 

[kane249]

https://www.news.com.au/sport/afl/dead-footballers-dad-makes-devastating-afl-drug-use-claim/news-story/c5af4c54480019befcc10d00b7d9579c

Balic's dad pissed off with the AFL drugs policy that he says lead to his son's death

 

[BringFevBack2021]

https://www.news.com.au/sport/afl/dead-footballers-dad-makes-devastating-afl-drug-use-claim/news-story/c5af4c54480019befcc10d00b7d9579c

Balic's dad pissed off with the AFL drugs policy that he says lead to his son's death

Probably did contribute, as he was allowed to spiral to what I presume was a pretty dire point without formal intervention..

Who knows the full story, but I can’t say I disagree with the father

 

[matthew_s]

https://www.news.com.au/sport/afl/dead-footballers-dad-makes-devastating-afl-drug-use-claim/news-story/c5af4c54480019befcc10d00b7d9579c

Balic's dad pissed off with the AFL drugs policy that he says lead to his son's death

"Among the shock details to emerge on Wednesday was an allegation Balic witnessed footballers using drugs when he joined the Dockers as a teenager."

That's pretty shocking. I've always thought and certainly had it drummed into me that much like booing, it's only one WA team that has an issue with drugs.