News Clubs operating league-sanctioned drug testing program - Harley Balic’s Dad Speaks

[Chief]

AFL Statement

As well as being a signatory to World Anti-Doping Agency (WADA) code via the Australian Football Anti-Doping Code, the AFL has an Illicit Drug Policy which has been in place since 2005, and at the core of the policy is a commitment to player wellbeing and welfare.

The AFL Illicit Drug Policy (IDP) is a policy that specifically deals with the use of illicit substances out of competition and is focussed on player health and well-being. The policy seeks to reduce substance use and drug-related harms for AFL players and aims to inform and rehabilitate players through education and intervention.

It exists alongside and in addition to the Australian Football Anti-Doping Code which covers prohibited substances including some illicit substances in competition as prescribed by the WADA prohibited list.

Urine tests conducted by doctors to determine if a player has used illicit substances are part of the AFL’s Illicit Drug Policy medical model and have been for some time.

Doctors may use those urine tests to obtain an immediate result to determine whether any illicit substance remains in a player’s system. This is normally conducted at the club or in the doctors consulting rooms.

If the test shows a substance is still in the players system, a doctor will take steps to prevent a player from taking part in either training and/or an AFL match both for their own health and welfare and because having illicit substances in your system on match day may be deemed performance enhancing and a breach of the Australian Football Anti-Doping Code (depending on the substance involved).

It is absolutely imperative that no doctor or club official should ever allow or encourage a player to take the field knowing they have recently taken an illicit substance that may be harmful to their health and/or may be deemed performance-enhancing (as many illicit substances are on match day).

We support the WADA code (as it applies to our sport through the Australian Football Anti-Doping Code) and support the fundamental premise on which it is founded that any player who takes the field with a performance-enhancing prohibited substance in their system should be treated in accordance with the Anti-Doping Code and face heavy sanctions.

The AFL observes that AFL players are not immune to the societal issues faced by young people with respect to illicit substances and also acknowledges that illicit drug use problems commonly co-occur with other mental health conditions.

While the AFL’s medical model involves a multidisciplinary healthcare management plan, the monitoring of players is highly confidential. A doctor or healthcare professional generally cannot disclose the nature of the clinical intervention or condition to others unless the player willingly consents.

We understand that the Illicit Drugs Policy can be improved and we are working with the AFLPA and players to improve the policy and the system to ensure we are better able to change the behaviours of players. But we are unapologetic about club and AFL doctors taking the correct steps to ensure that any player who they believe has an illicit substance in their system does not take part in any AFL match and that doctor patient confidentially is upheld and respected.

The AFL will always be required to make decisions which seek to balance competing rights and interests. The medical interests and welfare of players is a priority for the AFL given everything we know about the risks facing young people generally and those who play our game in particular.

 

[HirdsTheWord]

But the potential test is only relevant if they play.

Is a drunk person who gets an uber home avoiding a booze bus, or are they avoiding drink driving?

Drinking isn't illegal.

Taking cocaine or other recreational drugs is.

There is a difference in your analogies.

 

[Muddiemoose]

How can the club do anything if the club isn't informed about the truth. The AFL policy and process is for the player and club doctor to lie and mislead the club.

If the club knew the real reason it would act. That is what Eddie and the coaches have been saying for years. The AFL run this behind closed doors and the clubs are kept in the dark. Even though as Eddie said they get calls from pubs, clubs, security companies, police and fans informing them of their players behavior. Even with other reports the AFL are keeping it hidden under their management and control.

Heads will roll because of this AFL culture of lying and deception now being embedded into sanctioned policies. A terrible way to manage young people's lives in a highly paid a high stress environment.

Any wonder the clubs are pissed how can they make informed decisions around contracts for players without being aware of any potential substance issues

Could be the difference between a player getting a 3+ year contract or 1 or 2 with behaviour clause’s

 

[HirdsTheWord]

Any wonder the clubs are pissed how can they make informed decisions around contracts for players without being aware of any potential substance issues

Could be the difference between a player getting a 3+ year contract or 1 or 2 with behaviour clause’s

or you potentially give a guy a 10 year/10 million dollar contract he then he goes off the rails for something you had no idea about.

This is really shithouse by the AFL.

When has giving young people no consequences for their actions ever worked out well before?

 

[LTT]

Very good post!

Dillion AFL said that there are only a handful (can't recall exact word he used) of cases of this preemptive pretesting happening. Due to confidentiality they may not want to be more precise, though anonymous numbers and frequencies could be provided.

What is the evidence that the strikes are or aren't being applied in these pre-emptive cases? I am not sure whether the AFL has broached this particular point?

So the AFL has compromised its integrity for a handful of cases. Surely it would be better to confront the handful of cases

 

[eggtardo]

 

[Rory Walkerfield]

it's only illegal if you get busted

Wtf!?!?

No, it’s still illegal. You only get punished if you get caught.

 

[memoryofmchale]

There's something wrong with society when so many people feel pressured, either by others or the pressures/stresses of life, to take drugs.

It’s been normalised as part of the teen and young adult experience. No longer a big deal to use and sometimes more normal to abuse than not.

Occasionally, there’s a completely sober/clean player like Ben Brown or Mattaes Phillipou. Neither touch alcohol or drugs and this shouldn’t be seen as weird or strange. By world sports standards, sobriety is sometimes an expectation but certainly more normal.

 

[Rory Walkerfield]

Are the Demons going to be sanctioned for consistently bringing the game into disrepute over the past little while?

Whilst a secondary discussion point to everything raised here - this whole thing is an issue for anyone who has ever had a punt on a season long market eg Brownlow winner, premier, Coleman, which team makes the 8 etc etc

 

[peetoo]

I for one am sick to death of these potential drunk drivers, sneakily avoiding detection by catching a cab home. And then they try pull the old “road safety” card. If they had a shred of integrity they’d drive completely sh!tfaced and wear the consequences of their actions.

Can’t imagine the police are much impressed with this “catching a cab home” business….

Many carry thir own brethyliser. O the cheating,,,,

 

[CliffMcTainshaw]

Has it sunk in yet?

Couldn't disagree with you more. You're arguing semantics. The real reason it's done is to avoid being tested otherwise it wouldn't happen. The AFL are only concerned about their image. If it's designed to help players with their drug problem, then it isn't working, as the number of players have gone from a few to over 100. If players weren't pre tested, played and then got done for playing with drugs in their system and suspended, then it would probably have a far greater deterrent on players using drugs than the current system condoned by the AFL. Image, image, image.

 

[peetoo]

Whilst a secondary discussion point to everything raised here - this whole thing is an issue for anyone who has ever had a punt on a season long market eg Brownlow winner, premier, Coleman, which team makes the 8 etc etc

Was pleased when the pipe came out and said betting should not be a consideration here

 

[Rory Walkerfield]

So to clarify, the 100 player stat to have used this system and test positive. Is it 100 instances, or 100 players?

Ie could it be 100 players but 500 times there have been positive tests?

 

[Ichiro #51]

There's something wrong with society when so many people feel pressured, either by others or the pressures/stresses of life, to take drugs.

IMO there’s something wrong with society when so many people want more authoritarian over-reach into people’s private lives.

 

[greatwhiteshark]

Even though the spectacle of the AFL making up injuries to hide drug bans sounds bad, I think they're stuck between a rock and a hard place here. I get the feeling that now that it's been blown wide open any change in policy will likely be draconian and unhelpful.

The game will never be free of drugs and historically harsh penalties have only made drug issues worse and more secretive.

How would harsher penalty's make it more secretive? If Player x testes positive and for first offence is given 12 month ban non negotiable. and offence is a life ban how would that be bad for the sport?
Like I said in an earlier post, these guys are pro athletes. for 99.99% of them the drugs are a recreational thing and nothing more. With heavy penalty's they simply wouldn't do it anymore because they would know they would lose their career.
At the moment they are basically being given the go ahead to take recreational drugs.

First offence 1 year ban.
Second offence is life ban.

This is for testing positive at any time during the season.

 

[memoryofmchale]

How can the club do anything if the club isn't informed about the truth. The AFL policy and process is for the player and club doctor to lie and mislead the club.

If the club knew the real reason it would act. That is what Eddie and the coaches have been saying for years. The AFL run this behind closed doors and the clubs are kept in the dark. Even though as Eddie said they get calls from pubs, clubs, security companies, police and fans informing them of their players behavior. Even with other reports the AFL are keeping it hidden under their management and control.

Heads will roll because of this AFL culture of lying and deception now being embedded into sanctioned policies. A terrible way to manage young people's lives in a highly paid a high stress environment.

The clubs know. Let’s not pretend here. There aren’t many secrets like that in the AFL.

If a player is a late out, it creates a flow on effect. First, the fake injury is created and this released to the public. Now, everyone at the AFL club knows about it. However, it’s not going to make sense to the physio if they haven’t played but their body is fine. The strength and conditioning coach will need to know the deal so they can organise running or strength work. Personal reasons, managed might be a way to avoid that but certain people still need to know. Club welfare is also going to be needed as part of the treatment plans (if they exist), as are player development managers.

The story does not stack up once you break it down and think about how clubs work. You can’t just have players testing positive and questions not being asked or treatment handed out if it’s for “wellbeing”. The doctor can’t treat a player like a psychologist can.

We could all guess the players at our clubs who like drugs. Now imagine if we were in the club and around these boys and had unrivalled insight into their lives. You’d pick things up. I hope you would at least.

 

[Altum Volantes]

Clearly WADA would prefer that AFL players breach WADA's drug code than that the league/clubs take steps to make this less likely. Obvs.

I realise you are being facetious, but do you not see how ridiculously corrupt this whole thing is?

Culturally, it’s just awful. Any right minded person would think that.

‘We are signed up to WADA’s deal but this is how we work around that to reduce the risk of penalties and cover up drug use in the game.’

 

[Stamos]

Drinking isn't illegal.

Taking cocaine or other recreational drugs is.

There is a difference in your analogies.

But from a WADA point of view (which is what we're talking about in regards to AFL players taking drugs), taking cocaine isn't a breach, unless you play with it in your system.

The legality of the drug is irrelevant. There are many legal drugs that you cannot have in your system when you're playing in a WADA sanctioned sport.

 

[Elixuh]

Whilst a secondary discussion point to everything raised here - this whole thing is an issue for anyone who has ever had a punt on a season long market eg Brownlow winner, premier, Coleman, which team makes the 8 etc etc

Could not care less about betting. A range of factors can influence those things. I mean I've never seen it happen but a goal umpire error could cost a team a spot in the 8, for example. The influence of the AFL's drug policy on betting is a total nonfactor.

 

[Obeanie1]

IMO there’s something wrong with society when so many people want more authoritarian over-reach into people’s private lives.

Where is the over-reach?

You are well paid to be a professional sports person, not on the gear two days before playing.

You are there to represent a brand and sell memberships. Getting on the gear is not part of that commitment.

If you want the money and the career. Meet the standards or go play country footy.

 

[Crankyhawk]

Drinking isn't illegal.

Taking cocaine or other recreational drugs is.

There is a difference in your analogies.

And in the non afl system doctors would report to police exactly no patients for cocaine or recreational drugs for the use of them - similar to alcohol, only a factor if controlling a vehicle or behaving as a significant threat to others

 

[Strange Cat]

And in the non afl system doctors would report to police exactly no patients for cocaine or recreational drugs for the use of them - similar to alcohol, only a factor if controlling a vehicle or behaving as a significant threat to others

It’s a bit different when you have a system that has mandatory drug test that is actively being avoided with the aid of the doctors…what’s stopping doped up players towards the finals taking a PED cycle and then self reporting for drug use and sitting out a few games for peak fitness and the benefit of a good cycle?

 

[Stamos]

It’s a bit different when you have a system that has mandatory drug test that is actively being avoided with the aid of the doctors…what’s stopping doped up players towards the finals taking a PED cycle and then self reporting for drug use and sitting out a few games for peak fitness and the benefit of a good cycle?

You need to grasp the difference between Performance Enhancing Drugs and drugs that are only banned on match day

 

[Ichiro #51]

Where is the over-reach?

You are well paid to be a professional sports person, not on the gear two days before playing.

You are there to represent a brand and sell memberships. Getting on the gear is not part of that commitment.

If you want the money and the career. Meet the standards or go play country footy.

What are you suggesting? Doctors should be compelled to report an individual’s private medical information (including drug tests) to their employer? Governing bodies? The police?

 

[Strange Cat]

You need to grasp the difference between Performance Enhancing Drugs and drugs that are only banned on match day

You need to grasp that recreational drugs can be masking agents …and the whole point is that there is a system in place aided by doctors in avoiding drug tests all together

 

[Stamos]

You need to grasp that recreational drugs can be masking agents …and the whole point is that there is a system in place aided by doctors in avoiding drug tests all together

There is still WADA testing throughout the week.
Which recreational drugs are used as masking agents? And you get that a masking agent defeats it's purpose if it also gets you banned?