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.

 

[Lavender Bushranger]

It’s what it always has been really.

You don’t see three strike policies on employer policies.

The AFL has always wanted anyone getting strikes given the chance to clean themselves up, seek help if necessary etc.

It may be what it always has been - but it's certainly not what we were sold by the AFL.

The AFL were absolute in their public declarations that their illicit drug policy worked because players were not taking drugs and there were no positive tests.

That's fine - but it's complete bullshit.

 

[Freshwater]

The same could be said for people wearing clothes or using technology made in sweatshops etc

You ever used an iPhone or

One of the most ridiculous posts I’ve ever read.

 

[PP34]

It’s hilarious how so much heat is coming the Dees way when it’s an AFL mandated thing.

Even funnier are the comments from that idiot Shaun Smith considering the situation his son finds himself in.

 

[PP34]

It may be what it always has been - but it's certainly not what we were sold by the AFL.

The AFL were absolute in their public declarations that their illicit drug policy worked because players were not taking drugs and there were no positive tests.

That's fine - but it's complete bullshit.

As far as I’m aware they don’t report on strikes?

They’ve always banged on about next to nobody getting three strikes but every man and his dog knows it would be very hard to actually get three strikes.

I don’t see any sporting organisation coming out and saying all their players are getting pinged in tests. At the end of the day they are there to make money, draw future generations in etc.

 

[PerthblueGold]

WTF am I going to watch all winter if they dissolve the league?



Rioli got 2 years for sample tampering. Isn't this the same thing but on a potentially league-wide scale and AFL endorsed?

I'm not sure what power WADA has over the AFL and I am no lawyer, but feels like something that could destroy the league.

if it does destroy the AFL then maybe we have a chance of creating a new TRUE AFL

 

[Chief]

Nope:

What is the ‘In-Competition’ period?​

The In-Competition period commences at 11.59pm the night before a competition in which an athlete is scheduled to compete, through to the end of that competition and any sample collection process undertaken.

https://www.sportintegrity.gov.au/what-we-do/anti-doping/prohibited-substances-and-methods/cocaine-use-sport#:~:text=Cocaine%20and%20sport-,Classified%20by%20the%20World%20Anti%2DDoping%20Agency%20(WADA)%20as,use%20%27In%2DCompetition%27.

That's interesting. Learned something new. I thought that would never happen again. Feels good.

 

[Lavender Bushranger]

Drugs are banned because they’re illegal.

Nothing to do with safety reasons when we are talking about an AFL game.

You can’t seriously be trying to argue some bloke doing lines on a Wednesday and playing Saturday is unsafe to himself and others.

Well wasn't Peter Wright's defence that he only had a split second to make a decision in that contest?

That by the time he realised he couldn't make the contest, he only had time to brace?

It would absolutely be argued that if you had coke or meth in your system, that your reaction time would be slower and therefore you're more prone to collisions like the Wright one.

If the difference between concussing someone or not is only a split second - knowingly sending a bloke out who is impaired in any way is incredibly dangerous.

 

[swingdog]

I hate saying it but that’s bloody good stuff from Eddie

Was he suggesting the AFL is thinking of withdrawing from WADA? Wouldn't that mean an end to any government funding? Or did I mis-hear?

 

[birdie1]

Am I the only one who thinks this is being turned in to a bigger deal than what it actually is?

• AFL permit tests to be performed on players prior to gameday to assess if they have illicit drugs in their system
• Doing so means said player cannot take the field, meaning they also avoid any potential ASADA tests and subsequent ban
• Should illicit drugs have been found in their system, they are withdrawan from the team under the guise of an injury or personal matter
• This is done because the doctor who is performing the test is under doctor/ client confidentiality and cannot divulge to the AFL or club executives as to why the player cannot play (we are all afforded this right - AFL players are no different)

Is this a loophole? Yeah, kind of.
Does it still stop the player from playing whilst the substances are still in their system? Yes.
Does it prevent the player from receiving a lengthy ban from the sport? Yes.

In my eyes, I think this is a smart way to approach the matter. I don't ever want to see a player be banned for having cocaine in their system from a night out. I understand others will have opposing views on this - and that's fine, it's subjective - but I don't think the punishment suits the "crime" for recreational drugs in a players' system.

I think this is by far the better approach than letting ASADA nab them. It stops them from playing. It protects their privacy. You can work with them on avoiding potential offences in future, without it eventuating in to them receiving a lengthy ban.

Most players do recreational drugs. Whether you agree with it or not, it's plain and simple fact. If ASADA nabbed them all, we wouldn't have a league. I think this is actually a smart way to approach the topic and is in-line with MOST community standards/ expectations.

I also enjoy being lied to and manipulated by the AFL.

 

[Lavender Bushranger]

As far as I’m aware they don’t report on strikes?

They’ve always banged on about next to nobody getting three strikes but every man and his dog knows it would be very hard to actually get three strikes.

I don’t see any sporting organisation coming out and saying all their players are getting pinged in tests. At the end of the day they are there to make money, draw future generations in etc.

Exactly right.

Their whole 'we care about the health of players' and 'we are leading society with our drugs policy' stuff was always a big load of shit.

It has always been about keeping the brand wholesome and ensuring the product isn't negatively impacted by good players missing time from drug related suspensions.

 

[Wray27]

Was he suggesting the AFL is thinking of withdrawing from WADA? Wouldn't that mean an end to any government funding? Or did I mis-hear?

You didn’t mishear.

 

[PP34]

Well wasn't Peter Wright's defence that he only had a split second to make a decision in that contest?

That by the time he realised he couldn't make the contest, he only had time to brace?

It would absolutely be argued that if you had coke or meth in your system, that your reaction time would be slower and therefore you're more prone to collisions like the Wright one.

If the difference between concussing someone or not is only a split second - knowingly sending a bloke out who is impaired in any way is incredibly dangerous.

That is an incredibly long bow to draw.

 

[Back One Out]

That's because we're not allowed to talk about medical records one may find in the gutter outside a clinic....

Mate... Are you dense?

I said that every club has players who take drugs and players who test positive
Yeah, the Hawks supposedly had seven players who had incurred a "strike" for recreational drugs.

But can you let me know of any actual scandals they were involved in which made the news?
Any drug deals which were recorded by police? Any arrests ?
Any links to known gangsters? Any brawls between bikie gangs?
Any drug-related punch-on between teammates? Any broken arms?
Any drug-related deaths or near deaths?

You guys were the Cocaine Cowboys...

Like I said already, it was the Eagles players' flagrant disregard to keep their drug use on the quiet and stay out of trouble which caused endless headlines and enormous embarrassment to the AFL.

West Coast's drug culture scandals were the reason why the AFL finally implemented a league-wide "illicit drugs" policy

 

[swingdog]

Exactly right.

Their whole 'we care about the health of players' and 'we are leading society with our drugs policy' stuff was always a big load of s**t.

It has always been about keeping the brand wholesome and ensuring the product isn't negatively impacted by good players missing time from drug related suspensions.

This.

Auskick with ketamine jubes for the littlelies..... actually, I'd pay attention to the half-time Auskickers if they were all roided up.

 

[Pure_Ownage]

It may be what it always has been - but it's certainly not what we were sold by the AFL.

The AFL were absolute in their public declarations that their illicit drug policy worked because players were not taking drugs and there were no positive tests.

That's fine - but it's complete bullshit.

The afl are full of crap and the execs are absolute lying snakes...and like a compulsove liar you cant trust a word they say.
This should be news to no one really though.

The reality is dillon and co should all be out of jobs but wont be.

 

[swingdog]

The afl are full of crap and the execs are absolute lying snakes...and like a compulsove liar you cant trust a word they say.
This should be news to no one really though.

The reality is dillon and co should all be out of jobs but wont be.

The reality is most AFL executives would struggle to get a job in another industry.

 

[Pure_Ownage]

Yeah, if they might kill or seriously injure somebody as a result of not doing their job properly!

I mean… cmon. I know some people take footy seriously, but there’s really no damage being done to others here.

I guarantee you you’re being lied to about much more important things that actually impact you.

I can assure you theres plenty of damage being done to others here.
Just because it isnt obvious doesnt mean it didnt happen.

 

[Lavender Bushranger]

That is an incredibly long bow to draw.

But it's precisely the bow that lawyers would draw.

I would bet my life that Peter Jess and his crew would have already been investigating these angles to find more examples of AFL negligence in relation to making the 'workplace safe'.

Knowingly allowing drug affected players to take the field would be a slam dunk situation.

 

[Pure_Ownage]

The reality is most AFL executives would struggle to get a job in another industry.

Of course they would..except for banking and insurance companies where they love to play PR while screwing everyone over, no one else would take them. Its a massive boys club.

 

[Bombermania]

This story would be a shock to the people who view the world in black n white terms and think footy should be wholesome, but it could be argued the clubs are proactively testing the players and removing them from playing while drug effected. The point of drug testing for illicit drugs isn't about finding and punishing people but first aims to change their behaviors before punishing.

 

[PP34]

Exactly right.

Their whole 'we care about the health of players' and 'we are leading society with our drugs policy' stuff was always a big load of s**t.

It has always been about keeping the brand wholesome and ensuring the product isn't negatively impacted by good players missing time from drug related suspensions.

To be fair, they are testing players and there are no doubt players being referred for help when they pick up strikes.

If it was a one strike thing they’d be banning a heap of players, throwing them out the door and potentially causing them all sorts of issues if they’re got a drug problem and find themselves losing their dream job.

Not only would that affect the product but that seems pretty detrimental to their welfare.

There definitely is a damage control element as mentioned but that’s not exactly new and isn’t just limited to footy.

 

[Muddiemoose]

This.

Auskick with ketamine jubes for the littlelies..... actually, I'd pay attention to the half-time Auskickers if they were all roided up.

Can’t remember where I heard it but imagine we also held sporting events where PED’s were legal

I want to see what peak performance is with all the boosters applied

 

[Stax on the mill]

Will this be the story that finally derails Melbourne's season?

Was going to say “can only hope”. However considering my club’s season is already derailed 3 games in, I’ll resist the temptation.

 

[Hawksboy72]

AFL covering up drug results...after just learning the wrestling is fake and MAFS is scripted I've lost total faith in humanity.....

On SM-S918B using BigFooty.com mobile app

 

[amazingjoshy]

Can’t remember where I heard it but imagine we also held sporting events where PED’s were legal

I want to see what peak performance is with all the boosters applied

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