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.

 

[brutus76]

Perhaps Dale Lewis was CORRECT in 2002

 

[Bombermania]

But testing never happens just like testing never happens for the middle aged blokes at the pub at Friday on their lunch break.

Nobody adheres to that stuff so expecting AFL players to be any different is ridiculous.

The only people being tested are those with dangerous jobs or jobs where they are responsible for the safety of others.

The AFL is trying to walk two sides of the street, on one hand, they want to be seen to be wholesome and tough on drugs, but on the other hand, they know drug use is a fact of life and want to try to help players away from drug use without coming own too harshly.

 

[RandB]

Wilkie has seriously over cooked this.

I agree that it isn't a good look to advise players to fake injury but that's about it.

All the WADA stuff is tripe and as if he gives a * about the punters.

 

[Pure_Ownage]

The only people copping consequences for drug or alcohol use while at work are those endangering safety.

Thats not true.

 

[adonski]

I have 5 years of Geelong's late changes to analyse. To the lab!

 

[PP34]

So you’d be happy for your son, daughter, nephew, niece to be successful enough to play AFL under the watchful eye of an administration that will facilitate any drug habit they happen to develop rather than have a zero tolerance / intervening approach?

They do intervene….

 

[Pure_Ownage]

But testing never happens just like testing never happens for the middle aged blokes at the pub at Friday on their lunch break.

Nobody adheres to that stuff so expecting AFL players to be any different is ridiculous.

The only people being tested are those with dangerous jobs or jobs where they are responsible for the safety of others.

You have been working with the wrong organisations if you think the testing doesnt happen. I can say that with 100 % certainty.

 

[PP34]

Thats not true.

Yes there are some exceptions (ie government employees) but for the most part it’s people on worksites etc.

Joe in finance or marketing sure as s**t isn’t getting tested.

 

[PP34]

Testing does happen when a suspected breach has occurred.

That's the point. break the rules, face the consequences.

The consequence in the AFL is meant to be a strike, but they are avoiding it. They face no consequence for their action aside from a week off.

You don't think some players who are already on a first or second strike would think twice before partaking in season?

Been in the corporate game for ages. Yet to ever hear of anyone getting tested for a potential breach


I don’t care about players doing drugs and as I said they get tested far more than many people.

 

[Chunky09]

The afl do not give a flying * about drugs of any kind, all they care about is brand management.

Hird and Essendon got blasted in the ass coz they called out the afl for being complicit in what was happening, it clearly points to an administration that spends its time and money defending themselves rather than looking after its employees (the players)

 

[DragoDelph]

Been in the corporate game for ages. Yet to ever hear of anyone getting tested for a potential breach


I don’t care about players doing drugs.

Yep, so because you've never seen it, it doesn't happen.

Have seen it.

 

[Back One Out]

Is it just me or is Shaun Smith a bitter individual who has bottom feeder levels of integrity?

Not just you. Many on the Melbourne board seem to feel this way.

It's pretty common for people to get defensive, 'circle the wagons' and lash back at whistleblowers (and those who criticise their beloved club.)

Probably asking too much to expect your average knuckle-headed AFL fan to show some empathy for people with a personal stake whose lives are affected.

 

[Present Not Past]

The AFL is trying to walk two sides of the street, on one hand, they want to be seen to be wholesome and tough on drugs, but on the other hand, they know drug use is a fact of life and want to try to help players away from drug use without coming own too harshly.

I’d like to know where the players are getting all this cocaine.
Are they buying it from dealers or are they getting it through more ‘legitimate’ means like the Club doctors as ‘medicinal use’.

 

[Tjblues]

So I think this gets down the crux of it.

There is no 'illicit drugs policy' per se.

There is an 'illicit drugs risk management program'.

Yeah I agree it’s deliberately designed corporate speak stuff.

But it protects them when s**t hits the fan

 

[Hoops]

Probably should in all honesty as it’s a crime to take an illicit drug but understand the strain this would put on our judicial system. I just don’t think people doing illegal things should be getting away with it. Why is it ok to turn a blind eye?

I try and live my life by this quote

“The standard you walk past is the standard you set”

Wow! A person goes to a doctor likely with mental issues and a drug dependency and you think they should report it to authorities. I'm gobsmacked.

 

[Dazb86]

I highly doubt Melbourne are the only club involved in this.

We had a guy on our list that missed plenty of games for mysterious reasons 2 years in a row before he was asked to look for a trade. Not much was made of it in the media which seemed weird at the time.

 

[DragoDelph]

I highly doubr Melbourne are the only club involved in this.

We had a guy on our list that missed plenty of games for mysterious reasons 2 years in a row before he was asked to look for a trade.

Doesn't said individual now play for Melbourne?

 

[thejester]

You know me better than that TJ.
Im deadly serious (and for good reason).

The standard you walk past is the standard you accept and that needs to change.
The afl and the players need to own their choices which they are unwilling to do.

Doesn’t address the practical problem of the AFLPA and is essentially meaningless - what standard are we setting? Zero tolerance as Australian jurisdictions steadily move to decriminalization? Good luck!

 

[Hamingja]

So what happened with Joel Smith then?

Did he not tell Melbourne and therefore jot get pre-tested because he wanted to play?

Or did he get tested and the club allowed a player they knew not to be WADA complaint to play because it was an important game?

On SM-G975F using BigFooty.com mobile app

Or is the scheme only open for good players and they don't give a s**t about the Joel Smith's of the world?

 

[PP34]

Yep, so because you've never seen it, it doesn't happen.

Have seen it.

Plenty of light headed blokes coming back from the pub after lunch.

Everyone knows where they’ve been.

Yet to hear of all those breathalysers being pulled out.

Regardless AFL players get tested.

Sorry I don’t want half the league missing because of some ridiculous zero tolerance policy because they did a few lines.

 

[MP_]

Wow! A person goes to a doctor likely with mental issues and a drug dependency and you think they should report it to authorities. I'm gobsmacked.

Reporting and being arrested and charged are different things. I can’t believe you seem to think people can do illegal things and get away with it and it is of no concern unless it affects you personally. Your ignorance must be bliss .People need consequences to their actions, those that don’t become entitled.

 

[010203]

Wowee

 

[GoEaglesGoSGIO]

should local GPs have to report?

Yes as should hospitals.

It would stop timewasters taking up medical resources which should be for people with real medical issues and not internationally self inflicted ones

 

[The 747]

Will be interested to see what comes of this.

 

[Crankyhawk]

All of that is true, but none of that is relevant to the AFL covering this up and using a dodgy pathology lab to circumnavigate its own drug policy.

um, nothing dodgy about Dorevitch, they just perform the tests they are being paid to do by medical practitioners. Its not their job to whistleblow.