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Ablett confident Suns are drug-free

27th February, 2015
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Gold Coast captain Gary Ablett says the drug allegations against ex-teammate Karmichael Hunt are a shock but he doesn’t think any current Suns AFL players will be embroiled in Queensland’s cocaine scandal.

Ablett, in Cairns ahead of the Suns’ pre-season fixture against Geelong, said he didn’t have any more information than anyone else about the Queensland Crime and Corruption Commission’s investigation.

Former Sun Hunt is facing four charges of supplying cocaine along with several members of the Gold Coast NRL team in a scandal that has rocked the state’s sporting landscape.

Rumours have been circulating all week that other Suns are set to be served with notices to appear in court but, so far, not one current player has been implicated in the scandal.

Ablett said he was confident there wasn’t a drug culture at the Suns and that none of the playing group would be charged.

“I’ve been at the club for four years and I’ve seen nothing like that going on,” Ablett told reporters.

“It was a real shock to me personally, to the football club, but we have no more information at this stage and just let the investigators do their work.”

Ablett said he hadn’t had any contact with Hunt since the allegations first emerged last week.

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He also bristled at suggestions more needed to be done within clubs to monitor player behaviour.

“I don’t see it as a problem at our football club,” he said.

“Obviously, the whole Karmichael thing was a shock to us but we have plenty of education from the AFL.

“They come up and spend plenty of time with the boys each year and I think that’s all you can do.”

Ablett, who said he’s “90 per cent” in his recovery from the shoulder injury which prematurely ended his 2014 campaign, said he was closing in on a contract extension with the Suns.

The former Geelong premiership star said he had no reason to leave the Gold Coast with the future looking positive.

“I’m loving it up on the Coast,” he said.

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“I think we’ve got the right people around the club to have success in the future and I really want a premiership.

“I don’t think I need to say any more, as I said, 12 months to work it out and you guys will have an answer soon.”

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