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.

 

[Turbochook]

I just wish all work places would introduce such a policy. If you think you might test positive to a drug/alcohol test they send you to a doctor to get a pee test and if you fail the Doc gives a get out of 'jail free card' unable to work certificate, rather than just being sacked as happens for the rest of us schmo's.

 

[garlic munchers]

MFC/Goodwin - 1
Bartlett - 0

That's all that matters.

1/2 time score

 

[Zen242]

Bartlett made the claim that after he questioned Goodwin's behaviour he was given the cold shoulder at a game by Gill - who didnt offer him and his spouse a seat at a game. He took that to mean that they were neck deep in the conspiracy - but what if they just thought he was a bit of a nutter?

Id like to also add that Lachie Neale

9

Lachie Neale

Age

30

Ht

178cm

Wt

84kg

Pos.

Mid

Career

Season

Last 5

D

27.0

5star

K

11.5

4star

HB

15.5

5star

M

4.0

4star

T

3.7

5star

CL

5.9

5star

D

28.3

5star

K

13.9

5star

HB

14.4

5star

M

4.6

4star

T

4.0

5star

CL

5.9

5star

D

12.0

3star

K

4.6

2star

HB

7.4

5star

M

2.0

3star

T

1.0

3star

CL

0.4

3star

couldnt really support that choice of tattoo without the occasional diliance at Dorovich pathology surely?

 

[Zen242]

No, no more than if they had a big night on the piss anyway.

Whoa - who said anything about coke? Crushed anti inflammatories is the issue!

 

[yodellinhank]

Bartlett made the claim that after he questioned Goodwin's behaviour he was given the cold shoulder at a game by Gill - who didnt offer him and his spouse a seat at a game. He took that to mean that they were neck deep in the conspiracy - but what if they just thought he was a bit of a nutter?

Id like to also add that Lachie Neale couldnt really support that choice of tattoo without the occasional diliance at Dorovich pathology surely?

I would've thought the AFL CEO was guest of the President of the home team, rather than the other way around.

 

[Zen242]

I would've thought the AFL CEO was guest of the President of the home team, rather than the other way around.

‘They abandoned me’: Ex-Dees president unloads on AFL as coach declares he won’t give drama ‘any oxygen at all’

‘They abandoned me’: ‘Disgusted’ ex-Dees president hits out at AFL as extraordinary claims revealed

www.foxsports.com.au

Big AFL names could be witnesses in Bartlett defamation case

Some of AFL’s most powerful personalities — including CEO Gillon McLachlan and chairman Richard Goyder — have been flagged as potential witnesses in Glen Bartlett’s defamation battle.

thewest.com.au

Demons were ‘unanimous’ Bartlett had to resign

The Melbourne Demons have claimed the board was in unison in requesting Glen Bartlett step down in April last year, while also launching a spirited defence of coach Simon Goodwin.

www.theage.com.au

 

[Demonic Ascent]

This is all legal, we know some countries don’t have as good work place practices that we do, but we have to take them in good faith and not be patronising. And as the world goes hopefully it is in the direction that it’s always has been and we are all getting freer and wealthier. As for cocaine production and trafficking, this should even be compared, the misery is unbearable for millions of people because of the crime syndicates involved.

That's some nice rationalisation there, keep enjoying your bloodstained overpriced sneakers.

Try using that argument to a policeman when you get arrested. Of course it is against the law to use, possess, cultivate or traffic a drug of dependence, including marijuana, heroin, amphetamines, cocaine, LSD and ecstasy. Look up the Commonwealth laws.
As far as the argument, "what people do in their spare time is up to them", it's a poor one. People like Ivan Milat and Gerald Ridsdale probably thought the same thing.

Wow, so now you're comparing people getting high with people brutally murdering people or sexually assaulting kids. Have a Bex and a lie down mate, you're going round the bend.

Avoiding the test is the crime .. I don't know how else to frame this.

No, it's not.

No, it's about circumventing the process and then lying about it.

No, it's not.

They are using it to avoid a drug test. It's a bit of a loophole at the moment, just like using a masking agent once was. Just about guaranteed that WADA will close it. Pre testing to avoid a drug test will be prohibited. The East Germans used similar methods to hide the drug use of their athletes back in the 70's.

Have a think about this, if a player is tested by WADA on Tuesday and tests positive to cocaine are they served with a show cause notice if they haven't played since the previous Saturday and aren't playing again until the following Saturday?

It’s a way of avoiding the ‘official’ tests and reducing the risk of getting a strike or getting busted on game day.

Sure they aren’t playing if they are a risk of failing, but it’s literately designed to avoid the system that is in place.

I cannot imagine WADA (or who ever) would in anyway consider this to be something they are happy about. It just completely lacks integrity.

It’s self serving either way - the club/player like it because they avoid risking a ban, the league like it because they avoid the negative press, which is ultimately what they care about above all else.

WADA's role is to police athletes using PED's. Cocaine is a PED only if used on game day. It's not a PED if used on Tuesday night at Revs even though this could still lead to a positive test on game day later that week due to the latency of the drug in the system. The level of hysteria around this is mind blowing.

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?

There is a consequence. They are missing a game (or maybe more), effectively a suspension.

 

[Demonic Ascent]

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

Won't somebody think of the gamblers!

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.

Why should they be subject to bans for a substance which is not performance enhancing? I don't understand why they are subject to non-PED testing by the AFL anyway.

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're right, nothing is stopping them



except for the fact they can still be tested by WADA for taking those PED's regardless of whether they've played or not.

Easy to simplify this mess.

Just make it the same as many other jobs.... test positive, get sacked.

Or make it the same as many other jobs...don't allow the employer to require mandatory drug testing.

 

[memoryofmchale]

Won't somebody think of the gamblers!


Why should they be subject to bans for a substance which is not performance enhancing? I don't understand why they are subject to non-PED testing by the AFL anyway.



You're right, nothing is stopping them



except for the fact they can still be tested by WADA for taking those PED's regardless of whether they've played or not.



Or make it the same as many other jobs...don't allow the employer to require mandatory drug testing.

I love the dedication to defend the situation even though I disagree with it all.

 

[Demonic Ascent]

Odds are they probably do have PEDs in their system but they aren’t being tested for when you do a basic drug/cocaine test. Especially if they are $12 tests…

Many athletes have lost their careers to PEDs like Clenbuterol being laced with cocaine. I doubt these mid week tests are actually testing for clenbuterol but only the common illicit substances.

Clenbuterol can stay in your system for up to 10 days by some studies. The AFL faking injuries mid week, ensuring they don’t get WADA tested on gameday is likely also resulting in them not getting positive results for these PEDs when in fact they are consuming them. They are just skipping the testing due to this system.

Good chance a number of players have taken these type of PEDs but since they have been removed from testing for this, they are circumventing it.

By circumventing testing, the AFL are likely also allowing and turning a blind eye to PEDs.

They will be picked up by WADA during their regulation out of competition testing if that's the case. It is not dependent on them playing on a specific weekend or not, PEDs in your system breach WADAs code whether it is in competition (ie on game day) or not. So you don't have to worry about it

Bloody hell flicked through a few of the monthly reports coke purity testing in some months between 5-10 per cent and others 5- 81 per cent !! That would be a shock to the system.
Might not be coke is the sole issue but all the other associated crap that's mixed with it doesn't help.

Does it pick up the crushed glass or it doesn't test for that?

So your problem is that they have abused drugs and not got caught. That happens >99% of the time with the general public out there using drugs. Maybe we could have random drug checks on people in the street. that may put your mind at ease.

Jesus mate, don't give these authoritarian loons any ideas!

 

[peetoo]

Let’s not kid ourselves AFL is the only sport wit ‘unexplained no shows’

Doping's shadow looms large over athletics

For Sally Pearson and other athletes, they race not just against their contemporaries, but against the dark history of the sport.

www.abc.net.au

 

[peetoo]

It’s not an issue that medical doctors would give a flying tossbag about. It’s not our job.

A caller on SEN was wondering if one of these doctors could lie about a long term injury for him so he could retire on an insurance payout

 

[Crankyhawk]

A caller on SEN was wondering if one of these doctors could lie about a long term injury for him so he could retire on an insurance payout

Big difference in the probability of having your documentation disputed by collateral (insurance people will fight for their money)

 

[memoryofmchale]

It’s not an issue that medical doctors would give a flying tossbag about. It’s not our job.

Player wellbeing should be your job. Taking PEDs is something a club doctor should be very much concerned about.

 

[Crankyhawk]

Player wellbeing should be your job. Taking PEDs is something a club doctor should be very much concerned about.

The issue of whether we make a police report for a player (or any member of the public turning up to ED) taking cocaine absolutely is not something we would do.

A straight out PED well yes if we were in the position of being a club doctor then yes. Cocaine is not a straight out PED apart from match day.

 

[T2B_]

What's so funny Demonic Ascent ?

 

[Ashman23]

In this thread.

People who more than likely regularly take illegal substances themselves and defend the AFL's position.

People who don't take illegal substances regularly and are against the AFL's position.

 

[go_the_dockers]

 

[VicBased]

In this thread.

People who more than likely regularly take illegal substances themselves and defend the AFL's position.

People who don't take illegal substances regularly and are against the AFL's position.

Let's not forget that the majority, for and against will all be defending their pay packet.
All the way up to the CEO, past and present.
Something on this scale could implode the AFL.

 

[basashi]

So the league is cooperating.... with some but not all clubs.... to secretly subvert the random nature designed into the regular testing.... and not applying the positive test strikes as per the policy they have committed to publicly...

an organisation in need of serious reform

 

[Cairnsman]

I think the Enanced Games is where ultimately the AFL wants to end up.

Home - Enhanced Games. A Better Version of the Olympic Games.

Enhanced Games Home

enhanced.org

 

[Kane McGoodwin]

So the league is cooperating.... with some but not all clubs.... to secretly subvert the random nature designed into the regular testing.... and not applying the positive test strikes as per the policy they have committed to publicly...

an organisation in need of serious reform

Has it been confirmed this program only applied to some not all clubs?

 

[speedpeck23]

In this thread.

People who more than likely regularly take illegal substances themselves and defend the AFL's position.

People who don't take illegal substances regularly and are against the AFL's position.

Yeh some go with wisdom, others believe punitive measures actually work........incredible...

 

[Some Idiot]

Won't somebody think of the gamblers!


Why should they be subject to bans for a substance which is not performance enhancing? I don't understand why they are subject to non-PED testing by the AFL anyway.



You're right, nothing is stopping them



except for the fact they can still be tested by WADA for taking those PED's regardless of whether they've played or not.



Or make it the same as many other jobs...don't allow the employer to require mandatory drug testing.

I don't know any industries where employers aren't allowed to drug test. Corporate drug testing is becoming more and more common.

 

[Proper Gander]

Random people do face drug tests at work, which is different from the steeets. Idk what your industry is but they’re not uncommon in everything from government work right through to trades. Government workers and ADFA students in Canberra are expected to stay clean, even on weekends and during the week when normally that wouldn’t apply. They face random drug testing and it’s enforced.

And it’s not like they aren’t caught. They’re evading the people who’ll catch them with a system designed to do so to avoid headlines which nobody has argued about.

The AFL aren’t even handing out strikes. It’s just claim mental health, urinate in a cup, hamstring awareness and rinse and repeat because of confidentiality. Can’t dare punish players.

I’ve worked in Federal Government for 20 years. They don’t drug test. They have no power to do so. You’re talking crap.

There are no directives whatsoever for Government workers to stay ‘clean’ on weekends.