Australian Football League (AFL) Denies Cocaine Allegations Amid Whistleblower Claims
The Australian Football League (AFL) has refuted allegations of a cocaine issue within the sport following accusations from whistleblowers. In a parliamentary address, an MP accused the Melbourne Demons club, along with the broader AFL, of concealing breaches of the league’s drug policy. According to the MP, players were allegedly urged to feign injuries to circumvent drug tests on match days.
While the AFL’s CEO did not directly dispute these allegations, he maintained that drug usage among players was rare. The Australian Rules football league boasts the highest fan attendance of any sport nationally.
The MP aired these claims using parliamentary privilege, attributing them to three individuals: former Demons president Glen Bartlett, ex-club doctor Zeeshan Arain, and Shaun Smith, a former player and father of current Demons player Joel Smith. Allegations included clandestine drug tests conducted at a Melbourne pathology clinic, allegedly kept secret from oversight bodies such as Sports Integrity Australia (SIA) and the World Anti-Doping Agency.
Players testing positive for illicit substances on match days could face penalties under anti-doping regulations. The AFL is now under scrutiny, with assertions of manipulated test results and coaches kept unaware of players’ drug statuses.
The Demons’ coach expressed surprise at these accusations, while the team’s captain has denied any prevalent drug culture within the club. AFL’s CEO stated that the league conducts its own illicit drug testing, prioritizing player welfare. However, he did not directly address claims of players being instructed to feign injury to conceal drug test results.
The AFL is reportedly reassessing its illicit drugs policy, emphasizing that drug issues remain isolated incidents. Recent suspensions of two AFL Women’s players for cocaine possession and accusations against Joel Smith highlight ongoing concerns regarding drug use within the sport.