Melbourne forward Joel Smith is facing bombshell new allegations of trafficking cocaine during the 2022 AFL finals series, in a major twist to his ongoing doping case.
Smith is currently provisionally suspended and facing a two-year ban after testing positive for the drug following a Demons match against Hawthorn in late 2023.
However, according to the Herald Sun, text messages have been found on his phone offering Dees teammates ‘a quantity of the drug’.
The AFL have confirmed Smith has been charged by Sports Integrity Australia with three Anti-Doping Rule Violations for trafficking cocaine, plus an additional ADRV for alleged possession of a prohibited substance in September 2022, on the day Melbourne lost their semi-final to Brisbane.
“Under the Code, Trafficking in an anti-doping context is relevantly defined to be ‘Selling, giving, transporting, sending, delivering or distributing a Prohibited Substance, by an Athlete… to any third party [but] shall not include actions involving Prohibited Substances which are not prohibited in Out-of-Competition Testing unless the circumstances as a whole demonstrate such Prohibited Substances are not intended for genuine and legal therapeutic purposes or are intended to enhance sport performance’ (Article 1 of the Code),” the AFL said in a statement.
“Smith will continue to be provisionally suspended pending the finalisation of all of these matters, meaning he is not permitted to be part of Melbourne’s football program, including Melbourne’s pre-season training that is currently underway.
“Under the code, the new asserted ADRVs will be further investigated by SIA and these matters may ultimately be heard by an AFL Anti-Doping Tribunal in the coming months.”
However, a statement released by the Demons claimed the article is ‘not reflective of Joel’s views’.
“The Melbourne Football Club has been advised by the AFL that further Anti-Doping Rule Violations have been asserted against Joel Smith by Sport Integrity Australia,” the statement reads.
“The Melbourne Football Club is not authorised to make public comment while this is an ongoing matter that is being investigated by Sport Integrity Australia.
“It should be noted since the article has been published on the Herald Sun website, Joel’s management has contacted the Club on his behalf to advise that the comments made by the source within the article are not reflective of Joel’s views and the source is not speaking on any authority from Joel.
“Joel has made it very clear that he has no issues or concerns with anyone at the Melbourne Football Club.
“As the Club has previously stated, we will wait for the investigation to be completed before we update our supporters further.”
Smith has been unable to train with the Demons this pre-season with his doping case still ongoing, with the latest developments certain to cloud his AFL future even further.
The 27-year old, who turns 28 on Sunday, has played 42 games for the club, including a career-high 14 in 2023 as he established himself in the Demons’ forward line.
The Herald Sun report featured a suggestion from an unnamed source that Smith would be ‘scapegoated’ by the AFL and the Demons, with the club’s drugs problems running far deeper.
“It looks like they are planning to hang Joel out to dry for behaviour that is commonplace at Melbourne,” the source said
“Joel might be foolish but he’s hardly Tony Mokbel… the club should be taking responsibility for what is happening to Joel instead of blaming him in order to cover up a much wider problem.
“Joel is not a bad apple in a barrel of clean ones – the whole joint is rotten.”
Demons coach Simon Goodwin and CEO Gary Pert strongly denied the club had a culture problem during an SEN interview in October 2023, amid a turbulent off-season for the club that saw Smith’s allegations come to light in addition to a series of off-field indiscretions from star midfielder Clayton Oliver that led to him taking an indefinite break from the club.
Rowdy
Roar Rookie
I'm soldiering on towards the final front ear
Chanon
Roar Rookie
Insane in the membrane :stoked:
Rowdy
Roar Rookie
We should form an Institute
Naughty's Headband
Roar Rookie
So it's not really trafficking? He's just sharing it with his mates?
Chanon
Roar Rookie
That’s very deep, man!
Charlie Keegan
Roar Guru
Nah different definitions according to the law, it literally might be trafficking under the SIA rules but trafficking with intent to distribute is the offence under the law and requires a larger quantity.
Charlie Keegan
Roar Guru
Nah they left the comments open on the Tarryn Thomas thing, and it’s preseason so they might not be paying as much attention
Charlie Keegan
Roar Guru
I mean technically speaking they can drug test local football there is a rule in the SIA regs for that. They just don’t because it’s too expensive.
Charlie Keegan
Roar Guru
I mean they already have the positive test, as long as they don’t allow him to serve punishments for both offences simultaneously than I am happy
Rowdy
Roar Rookie
I just think interrogating a witness, whose whereabouts are unknown to police at this time, is problematic. Given that a 100,000 are involved it will be logistical nightmare to track down all. Just sifting thru all the statements no matter how, seemingly, inconsequential will put a strain on "Policing Victoria ™" resources. Furthermore if nefarious wrongdoing is found how will we move all the legal cases thru the already strain court systems.
Rowdy
Roar Rookie
The Original 1850's Latin has been found: "Excuserum myeth Squrmentum, mahum explucatum youvvius quantum el al illium tablatum?"
Rowdy
Roar Rookie
Those that live in grasshouses shouldn't stow thrones
Don Freo
Roar Rookie
Glen Bartlett might be biting his tongue, trying to resist saying, "I told you so."
Tufanooo
Roar Rookie
Remember “the darkest day in sport”? “No sport, no code is immune”? It turned out to be 2 amateur cyclists and a swimmer (i think)....and an Afl team and and NRL team. But who's counting
shifty
Roar Rookie
So out of curiosity what was the ethnicity of the person who touted it?
DTM
Roar Rookie
I guess it's a question of whether the drugs came before or after a flag. Most likely after. Another lesson for premiership clubs but it wont be the last time we hear of this type of thing.
Chanon
Roar Rookie
True on both counts.
Chris Lewis
Roar Guru
No, just thinking Dees were so close in 2023. But, at end of day, were not good enough. Pies were.
Chanon
Roar Rookie
Should we question the 21’ GF ?
Pumping Dougie
Roar Guru
Maybe Melbourne could get John Worsfold in to clean things up.