Let’s say you’re a bloke aged 22 or 23 and you get paid $400,000, $500,000 a year (or more, maybe a lot more) to play football. You probably live in a big city, and you like to party.
Your employer tests your piss on an unusually frequent basis, but if that weren’t the case, the chances you use recreational drugs now and then would be pretty high.
You’re more inclined towards ecstasy or cocaine. And weed on a Sunday afternoon, unless you’re playing.
Of course, cannabis stays in your system for a lot longer than a lot of other drugs so under the current regime should probably be avoided. But some drugs are out in two or three days. Some don’t show up on standard tests, like alpha-PVP – which is terrible for you but basically undetectable.
You use, but if you get caught or talk about it, you could get in strife – so instead of trying to get advice or even to get help with controlling or reducing or ending your drug use – you keep it a secret.
In 2008 I interviewed Bryan Cousins, father of Ben. He struck me as a devoted dad doing everything he could to get his son back on track. Since then, Ben Cousins has shown alarming signs of deterioration.
Who at West Coast first knew of Cousins’ problems? How early on? What was done about it? Ultimately Cousins was the recipient of significant support – but a lot of damage was done under the cover of the early secrecy.
A worse situation faced Ezra Bray, a talented young footballer cut loose by a club – Geelong – which had eventually identified his substance abuse and decided, in effect, that it wasn’t their problem.
Things have changed in the AFL over the past decade. There’s a greater awareness and a greater inclination towards assisting rather than either ignoring the problem or jettisoning the player.
However, the idea that players who use drugs that don’t enhance performance – but are illegal – must be penalised or shamed continues to have currency in some circles.
Cocaine, ecstasy, and cannabis are illegal, and therefore morally wrong (unlike alcohol which is totally fine and causes no physical or social damage whatsoever) so the League is expected take a dim view of their use.
In the US, the spiritual home of the War On Drugs, zero tolerance has produced ridiculous scenarios.
NFL player Ricky Williams was flogged by all sorts of self-appointed moral guardians, and lost lucrative endorsements, because not only did he smoke weed – he actively promoted its medicinal benefits.
The guy suffered social anxiety disorder and maintained that weed was ‘ten times better’ for him than the legal drug Paxil. Paxil, of course, is okay with corporate sponsors even though its side effects include headaches, drowsiness, insomnia, nausea, constipation, weight fluctuations, dizziness, impotence, dry mouth and tinnitus.
Michael Phelps was the centre of a storm of confected outrage after a photo of him smoking a bong emerged. Cannabis and swimming is a bad mix, but he pulled it off by virtue of his talent and fitness and hard work.
Elsewhere, Canadian snowboarder Ross Rebagliati almost lost his gold medal from the ‘98 Olympics after testing positive to weed. The guy was so high so often he should have got an extra medal for showing up to his events on time.
In our own code, there has been Karmichael Hunt’s claims that cocaine use was widespread at Gold Coast, Harley Bennell’s alleged issues, 11 players at Collingwood testing positive to illicit substances during the offseason, Matthew Stokes (Geelong/Essendon) charged in 2010 with possession and indeed trafficking after being found with one gram of cocaine.
Illicit drugs use by AFL players is a health issue. AFL players should be discouraged from engaging in activity that is detrimental to their health in the same way we all should.
In terms of the employer-employee relationship, a club may include a contractual requirement that a player doesn’t engage in drugs that damage their performance (and/or health). This is distinct from the League, or indeed other authorities, intervening and banning players who are taking substances that give them no unfair advantage on the field.
The AFL’s policy of three strikes before a suspension has been criticised as “soft” by advocates of zero tolerance. It’s actually more punitive than the Australian Institute of Sports four strikes system and the A-League’s approach.
Others have said the AFL’s preference for confidentiality and counselling – treating drug use as a health issue – is somehow “hiding” the issue. They can get stuffed.
I don’t give a damn whether it’s three strikes or four or more. Players using drugs that do not give them an unfair advantage on the field should not be “named and shamed” and they should not be banned by virtue of mandatory sentencing regime. It is a matter between the player and their club, and their doctor, and whomever they wish to discuss it with. If a club chooses to suspend a player after three “strikes” because that is the approach that best suits the individual situation, then that’s fair enough.
However, in addition to being a private health issue, it is arguably a public health issue, which is more complicated.
Now here’s the thing. An AFL player taking coke is a story, and then once it’s in the news kids read about it, and then the people who put it in the news in the first place say it’s a bad example to the kids. Why does it have to be in the news? Unless publicised, the drug use of players is not a ‘role model’ issue.
I’m not saying there should be a conspiracy of silence when it comes to the use of all drugs. If someone is Lance Armstronging it then it is rightly a matter for which the player and the club should be held to account publicly.
But if the AFL or the public demands irreproachable conduct in regards to any substance abuse, why does a player-turned-commentator who got drunk and smashed a glass in his partner’s face still have a job?
Driving recreational drug use underground, or at least under the carpet, has had disastrous results for some players we know of and probably many we don’t. Players should be able to talk to their club doctors freely, without fear of reprisal, to get whatever help they need.
Daryl Adair
Guest
You are confusing performance enhancing drugs (banned by WADA) and illicit drug use out of competition, which WADA has no interest in. It's easy to be confused by this, I accept.
Daryl Adair
Guest
WADA has concluded that illicit drugs like ecstasy and cocaine are not PEDs outside of match day. They do not test for them nor penalise athletes found to have used them out of competition (i.e. Michael Phelps and cannabis).
Paul D
Roar Guru
That's a really good point about the training, I'd certainly agree with that. Weed would definitely make that repetitive behavior far more enjoyable and appealing.
Patrick Smyth
Guest
Ross only tested positive due to second hand smoke, and he wasn't high all the time. Marijuana is a performance enhancing drug. Yup. As he told the Washington Post lately,“The focus and the motivation combined [that cannabis provides] gives you a better workout, more often.As an athlete, there’s a lot of repetitive working out that goes on,” said Rebagliati, 44, “and going to the gym two, three hours a day for five days a week for years on end” gets monotonous. “To be able to spice it up in a natural way for an athlete is the best possible thing.” So does it give you an advantage? Not while you are competing, but when you are training? Yes. By the way, cannabis also helps with jet-lag. You might also know that the NFL is having a real hard look at allowing cannabis as a pain killer and anti-inflammatory medication.
Johnny Dalmas
Guest
So when you are on annual leave, do you get drug tested? Or is it only during work time? In my job we are also subject to random drug tests. But that's only during working hours. If they tried to test me, say, during my Christmas break I'd tell them to get stuffed.
Mike from tari
Guest
I feel sorry for the players in the lower level of sport, now I don't know about the AFL & how their lower grades work but I know of young men in the Qld Intrustsuper Cup & the BRL & the Fogs Colts who work, train 3 times a week, who get paid between $100 to $500 a game depending on which grade they play, who have purchased a supplement from a well known supplier of Health Supplements, they have not checked with ASADA on the ingredients in the supplement, tested positive & been outed for 2 years on a first offence, so much for your cotton wooled $400,000 a year AFL 3 strikes player.
BrainsTrust
Guest
A professional athlete is not a job like any other, its totally different. You are expected to remain in top physical condition as much as possible. Forget performance enhancement, the number one reason for promising sportspeople turning to rubbish is drugs including alcohol. If you take the odd drug in the off season it won;t have much of an effect. If however someone goes on an off season binge with booze or drugs their performance will hit rock bottom. I think with AFL and NRL because the drug usage is so high maybe it cancels out, everyone does it so no one notices because there is a lack of competition. If a club adopts a zero tolerance policy including binge drinking that would basically give them a huge competive advantage.
Benno
Guest
All employers should be free to dismiss employees that blatantly break the law and are caught. No matter what the profession, no employer should have to employ anybody that partake's in illegal activities. Whether right or wrong there are a number of substances that are currently banned by law, making the conscious decision to use said substances regardless of their legal standing is reckless and stupid. There are plenty of people waiting in the wings waiting for the an opportunity in life, I think replacing those that choose not to follow societies laws with those that do is a great thing. -- Comment from The Roar's iPhone app.
Pot Stirrer
Guest
There should be no leniency to using illegal substances wether they are performance enhancing or not. Its not just about the person usuing the drugs its the black market trade and crime that goes with it, and the dire consequences to the community in general. The argument that if there not hurting anyone or gaining an unfair advantge from non performance enhancing drugs is very nieve and narcisistic. I hope no one with those beliefs is involved in any coaching of juniors or parents for that matter.
Paul D
Roar Guru
Is this the part where I say that's a typical Axle comment? At least I showed a willingness to explain myself further and discuss the issue with KM. I know I get too flippant and sarcastic at times. Admitting you have a fault is part of the solution!
Axle an the Guru
Guest
A typical Paul comment.
Kris Hateley
Roar Rookie
You might have felt bulletproof...... But you were not - actually - bulletproof. There is no evidence which confirms that recreational drugs enhance performance in any way at all.
Linus Fernandes
Guest
Agree with you completely, KM. Why should athletes be exempted?
mdso
Guest
I agree with you Miranda but there are a whole range of people in our society, who will not follow the rules. Thank God for the people who work in essential industries, who do. God help those who don't. The rules are the rules are the rules but the people who become addicted to drugs, eventually; the rules become unimportant and secondary. No one takes any sort of drugs recreationally, deliberately, trying to become addicted. All the people whom I have worked with, by the time they realised they were addicted, it was too late. Moreover, the drugs of today are a different category to the drugs of yesterday and are much more addictive and dangerous. If we, meaning all of us, because sooner or later, we will be touched by this epidemic whether we want to be or not, by someone close to us or someone we know. Its frightening, its really scary watching turning from a Hyde into a Jeckel and become violent. And later; to have no memory of what has occurred. No one starts out like this but any end up like this. It mostly starts of as a peer thing and fun. The world has changed but many of the people living in it, have.
mdso
Guest
If we were to play as ASADA and WADA do, then one might say Cocaine is certainly performance enhancing because it changes your psychological profile. Having been clean or should I say, not using illegal substances, for a long time now, I can honestly say, I have never felt more bullet proof when using Cocaine. There was nothing I wasn't capable of doing, I thought. The downside unfortunately, wasn't so pleasant. So, it depends which side of the see-saw you are on, the upside or the down side. Naming and shaming, doesn't stop people from taking drugs actually, it gives people another reason to use. I am surprised with all that the AFL's financial investing, the AFL hasn't got its own rehab centre or a share in one. But; that might be a conflict of interest. Drugs both prescribed and often abused but legal meds, illegal meds and illegal substances, are a huge problem in society today and one which isn't going to go away any time soon. Prohibition never worked with alcohol and nothing has worked in the war on drugs, the war was lost before it began.
I hate pies
Guest
I'm with you Rick. And I really don't like the political nature of these articles. As I've mentioned previously on this forum; I like this website because it's purely sport. Leave your politics out of it. I don't care what your views are outside of the sporting arena. Even this article reads like a pro decriminalisation piece rather than a drugs in sport piece.
vocans
Guest
Much of drug use in the mental health category is there because our civilisation has got some things seriously wrong. Part of the problem is our belief we can control anything and everything. That illusion merely covers deep-seated anxiety which, when it surfaces, is 'treated' by various means. One is drug use (including alcohol) and all forms of consumerism. On same page jax. But it is not fixed by easy moralising or snapping out of it by being reasonable. That's where education helps and historical change can evolve something better. We need something better to take its place.
Giovanni Torre
Expert
Just as an FYI the original version of this yarn, which was too long I admit, went into some detail about the effects of various illicit drugs, including meth which is a nightmare and does a great deal of damage. Thank you folks there are some really thoughtful, really intelligent comments here. I always learn something from reading the comments at The Roar... which is something you can't say about a lot of websites.
Giovanni Torre
Expert
Valid point - I think an important issue is whether the drugs you use represent a threat or a danger to other people. In transport, as in many industries, it makes a lot of sense to ensure workers are at the top of their game. Same thing would apply in the medical professions, of course!
Giovanni Torre
Expert
Cocaine has a very short term high. The long term effects, if anything, would be detrimental to your performance on the field. Meth screws you right up and Ketamine induces a kind of trance-like state that isn't much use on the field at all.