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Whitfield allegedly stayed at the home of Craig Lambert, then employed by GWS, to avoid the possibility that he might be given an illicit drugs test in his own home – a common occurrence for AFL players.
There is no denial from Whitfield that he stayed with Lambert on the night in question but he reportedly claims he was suffering from a migraine, and that it was common for Giants players to stay with Lambert.
Graeme Allan, formerly the Giants’ football manager, was also reportedly involved in the alleged cover-up.
Players alleged to have avoided an illicit drugs test are also considered to have avoided a performance-enhancing drugs test, and as such are subject to a mandatory ban of between two to four years. Lambert and Allan would also receive bans, should that come to pass.
Lambert currently works with the Brisbane Lions and Allan was just days ago appointed the new football boss at Collingwood.
The key piece of evidence in the affair is reportedly some incriminating text messages sent between Whitfield and his then girlfriend on the night in question.
The Giants were alerted to the situation last year and made the AFL aware of it. The AFL have been investigating the situation and the Giants have also run their own separate investigation. ASADA have been made aware and are allowing the AFL to pursue the matter.
It’s not clear yet how this will play out but if proof of guilt is found then the AFL will have little choice but to hit Whitfield, Lambert and Allan with long-term bans.
That is a situation that would not only be disastrous for the Giants given Whitfield’s emerging talent, but also for Brisbane and Collingwood given the important roles Lambert and Allan play in their management.
All that can be said with certainty, for now, is that this being made public is exactly the kind of headache the Giants would not want to have on the eve of the club’s historic first finals campaign.