A whistleblowing doctor has revealed allegations of secret illicit drug tests conducted to enable AFL players to avoid detection on game days, federal MP Andrew Wilkie says.
Mr Wilkie told parliament of the allegations from a former Melbourne Demons club doctor and football club president.
He described the allegations as credible, detailed and provided in signed statements given to him clearly identifying the sources of the documents.
And he called on Prime Minister Anthony Albanese to step in to sort out the scandal.
“I rise to bring the house’s attention deeply troubling allegations of egregious misconduct within the AFL provided by former Melbourne football club president Glen Bartlett, former Melbourne football club doctor Zeeshan Arain and Shaun Smith, father of Melbourne player and now alleged drug trafficker Joel Smith,” he told parliament on Tuesday night.
“The allegations include the prevalence of drug abuse and other prohibited behaviour across the AFL, off the books drug-testing of players at Dorevitch Pathology in Heidelberg, facilitated by the former chief medical officer of the AFL Peter Harcourt, the resting of players testing positive in these secret tests, ostensibly on account of injury, wilful inaction by AFL chairman Richard Goyder, and former CEO Gill McLachlan and the removal of Mr Bartlett as president of Melbourne after he suggested to Mr Goyder and Mr McLachlan that AFL officials be regularly drug tested.”
Mr Wilkie said Dr Arain had said the AFL wanted players to compete at all costs.
“If there are no illegal drugs in the player’s system they are free to play, and if there are drugs in their system the player is often asked to fake an injury,” Mr Wilkie said.
“They are advised to lie about a condition, while the results of the off-the-book tests are kept secret and are never shared with Sports Integrity Australia or WADA (World Anti Doping Agency).
Joel Smith. (Photo by Dylan Burns/AFL Photos via Getty Images)
“In other words, hundreds of thousands of Australians will watch the game not knowing that the game has been secretly manipulated by the AFL and thousands of Australians will bet on that game not knowing the game has been secretly manipulated by the AFL.”
Mr Wilkie said Dr Arain alleged it wasn’t a Melbourne problem but an “AFL problem” with a number of players arriving in the city from other states with pre-existing cocaine dependencies.
“The documents in my possession also indicate a shocking unwillingness of senior AFL executives to address drug abuse by players and executives, particularly in relation to cocaine use.
“For instance here are very detailed notes of a telephone meeting between Gill McLachlan, Richard Goyder and Glen Bartlett.”
AAP has contacted the AFL and Melbourne Football Club for comment.
with AAP
Irie
Roar Rookie
Maybe the "anger" is purely based on politics? After all, way too many people follow a side in politics without thought
Don Freo
Roar Rookie
Anything except covering the sport itself.
Choppy Zezers
Roar Rookie
Just waiting till these drug headlines die down then...BOOM! It's Quokka time!
Don Freo
Roar Rookie
He wouldn't need parliamentary privilege for that. Jon Ralph would have announced it already.
Choppy Zezers
Roar Rookie
That's some fine stat work
Football Fan
Roar Rookie
He absolutely should bring it up in parliament. The PM should take some serious action and stop bankrolling such a corrupt sporting organisation as the AFL. The PM can start by revoking the $240m he promised to "gift" the AFL for the Tasmanian stadium that is neither wanted by Tasmanians or needed by Tasmania.
Choppy Zezers
Roar Rookie
Hey!!!! Regards, The FIFA Ethics Committee
Choppy Zezers
Roar Rookie
A WA politician should use parliamentary privilege to announce that Freo will be relocated to Rottnest Island, play in spotted uniforms and be known as the Polka Dotted Rott Dock Quokkas.
Choppy Zezers
Roar Rookie
Why ask Albo when they could request divine intervention My Holiness?
Choppy Zezers
Roar Rookie
It wasn't abused. This is a billion dollar industry with a huge number of stakeholders and investment across numerous sectors. Hospitality, health, education, transport. The AFL has shamefully and pathetically hidden positive drug test results for years. If they had been transparent, parliamentary privilege wouldn't even be a consideration. We now go to Phase 2: AFL damage control. So who makes the "we strenuously deny" announcement?
Munro Mike
Roar Rookie
#Rowdy The reality is that ASADA/WADA is a poor fit. For AFL, NRL...soccer. Google FIFA and WADA/IOC. FIFA were at war with WADA back in the 2000s but here in Australia that failed to generate media coverage while the AFL got whacked by ignorant and misleading coverage.
Rugger
Roar Rookie
Oh yeah, BTW, the laws that are alleged to have been broken would be in the area of consuming illegal recreational drugs....I think....from what I have read.
Rugger
Roar Rookie
Are you incapable of reading? I didn't make any comment on what he should or shouldn't do! I just corrected a misuse of the term shoot the messenger!
Prez
Roar Rookie
Why would he take it to the police? What laws have been broken?
Rugger
Roar Rookie
Suggestions from your "AFL apolgists" that Wilkie should have taken his info straight to police rather than tabling it in parliament, which was the gist of the comment I replied to, is NOT shooting the messenger. Blaming the messenger for the problem is shooting the messenger. Try to keep up champ... .
Prez
Roar Rookie
???? percent. Sport always ready for a taxpayer handout. Guess what that comes with added scrutiny.
Prez
Roar Rookie
Have you ever watched parliament? Outside of question time, 6 is a standard number.
Punter
Roar Rookie
Yes it's an illegal substance!!!!
Andy61
Roar Rookie
I have little issue with Wilkie raising the issue via parliament but I am not that surprised that doctors may have been in cahoots with some players to hide their drug problems but as yet not seen where the head honchos of the ALF sanctioned the practice in a conspiracy. Maybe the AFL turned a blind eye to protect their brand and they could certainly be more transparent but hopefully there not hiding or protecting players testing positive on game days and I expect and trust any performance enhancing drug taking to be reported and a player banned.
Pope Paul VII
Roar Rookie
Oh so it's drugs in sport, very noble.