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]

Sidebottom "managed" and will miss tomorrow night while Hoskin-Elliott who was managed last week is clean (sorry cleared) to play.

WHAT'S HE ON???????? LOL

 

[Pure_Ownage]

Because there wouldn’t be any players left.

Maybe you just want to watch a bunch of VFL plodders run around I guess.

Im not sure why you think thats such a negative thing.

 

[DragoDelph]

how is 0 tolerance ridiculous, never taken drugs in my life and most of my friends don't

And most of us aren't even advocating for zero tolerance. Just adherence to the 3 strike policy instead of finding ways around it.

 

[PP34]

Im not sure why you think thats such a negative thing.

Wiping out all the good players is good for the game?

Heard it all now.

 

[mighty_lions]

Because there wouldn’t be any players left.

Maybe you just want to watch a bunch of VFL plodders run around I guess.

no, im saying the ones taking drugs can just not do it, everyone acts like it such a burden on the players to not take drugs, and that's not true saying there wouldn't be any players left

And most of us aren't even advocating for zero tolerance. Just adherence to the 3 strike policy instead of finding ways around it.

I agree with that if they actually followed through with it

 

[theouthouse]

For me I just want more transparency on what has actually transpired. If people are being tested mid week and have returned positive results what records are being kept and what actions are being taken by the club to help these players? I don’t like the fact that people are doing illegal things and getting away with it, ethically and morally it upsets me but I’m not sure there is a solution to it unless the police actually catch them .

There needs not be any transparency.

The fact that a player from Melbourne tested positive in competition for cocaine and is being accused of trafficking this substance, a past player from St Kilda trafficking substances, as well as many of the swept under the rug incidents of a current player, show the AFL and AFLPA stance on, and backing its IDP to be for the health and wefare of its players is severely lacking, and quite frankly unprofessional for a national sporting code. This is backed up by the statement from the melbourne doctor of many drug dependant players coming into the club from other clubs.

It could be quite easily argued that the IDP is designed to turn a blind eye to these indiscretions for the betterment of the image of the game and not player welfare in any sort.

Unless of course the AFL and AFLPA are totally fine with drug abuse, possibly even support it, and somehow are linked into the importation and distribution networks of these substances, which then would likely trigger an interest from the AFP and the ATO. But I digress.

 

[PP34]

no, im saying the ones taking drugs can just not do it, everyone acts like it such a burden on the players to not take drugs, and that's not true saying there wouldn't be any players left

I agree with that if they actually followed through with it

You’ve obviously got your head in the sand about how many players have touched an illicit drug over the course of the season.

It would be a sizeable number.

 

[mighty_lions]

Wiping out all the good players is good for the game?

Heard it all now.

you are saying they wouldn't stop, put in 0 tolerance and testing every daily and you will see a change

 

[mighty_lions]

You’ve obviously got your head in the sand about how many players have touched an illicit drug over the course of the season.

It would be a sizeable number.

no I don't have my head in the sand, there's no consequences currently, if there was there would be change

 

[Devington]

And most of us aren't even advocating for zero tolerance. Just adherence to the 3 strike policy instead of finding ways around it.

Apparently every second player is doing lines each week, but barely anyone ever gets a third strike. It's curious isn't it?

 

[PP34]

no I don't have my head in the sand, there's no consequences currently, if there was there would be change

Yeah just like in society…

 

[Devington]

Yeah just like in society…

Except your club membership and taxes usually don't go towards paying Joe Blow the Plumber to NOT work his one day a week simply because he partied too hard a few days earlier.

 

[mighty_lions]

Yeah just like in society…

that's not entirely true also many jobs have 0 tolerance

 

[mrmonkey]

Love to see a vote on this board on who thinks the league is openly corrupt

Well I tipped Richmond on the weekend and I'm convinced the AFL are corrupt in regards to Richmond games. Richmond most definitely have a different set of rules to disadvantaged them.

 

[LTT]

Wiping out all the good players is good for the game?

Heard it all now.

Are you saying that all the good players are on illicit drugs? Do you have any evidence to back that up

 

[PP34]

that's not entirely true also many jobs have 0 tolerance

And people still do drugs.

Way to miss the point.

 

[mezaire]

Drugs are banned for safety reasons. Also integrity. It is different to personal reasons or injuries. This is far from a personal matter like a death.

BS!!!
I this was the case then Alcohol and Cigs would be banned.....Alcohol is the worst drug by a loooooong way and the AFL still have a brewery as a major sponsor......and a bloody betting agency!
Probably worth looking up why LSD and Marijuana are illegal......ZERO to do with safety!

 

[The Tilt]

Unless of course the AFL and AFLPA are totally fine with drug abuse, possibly even support it, and somehow are linked into the importation and distribution networks of these substances, which then would likely trigger an interest from the AFP and the ATO. But I digress.

We've reached the tin foil phase of the thread. Cool.

 

[Struggle]

Will look forward to all the recently retired players in the media claiming they've never heard of such a loophole

 

[Altum Volantes]

If only this could be directly linked to a non Victorian club, they are the ones with the illicit drug problems worth really digging into and exposing.

Are we meant to just give Melbourne another * for their premiership to go with the COVID one?

 

[PP34]

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.

I think we should just make it easier and execute all drug users.

That’ll show others.

 

[76woodenspooners]

Because there wouldn’t be any players left.

Maybe you just want to watch a bunch of VFL plodders run around I guess.

Everybody needs to make choices and compromises in their life.

Would have thought “Professional AFL footy player” / “Don’t put unregulated stuff into your system that causes a risk to (a) health (b) mental health (c) long term performance (d) falling foul of WADA and getting long term banned (e) falling foul of the law (f) falling foul of your club / AFL bringing club into disrepute” would be one of life’s easier choices.

Not judging anybody who wants to do that, just don’t choose a career as an AFL footballer. Easy. Don’t see why it needs to be any more complicated than that?

And if it means that the EDFL under 16’s becomes the premier competition in the land, so be it. You will adapt quickly enough.

 

[MP_]

I think we should just make it easier and execute all drug users.

That’ll show others.

Hey if you don’t get caught killing them then it isn’t a crime right?

 

[Altum Volantes]

Will look forward to all the recently retired players in the media claiming they've never heard of such a loophole

Joel Selwood wouldn’t tell a lie!

He’s never heard of this loophole and he definitely doesn’t have CTE!

 

[PP34]

For me I just want more transparency on what has actually transpired. If people are being tested mid week and have returned positive results what records are being kept and what actions are being taken by the club to help these players? I don’t like the fact that people are doing illegal things and getting away with it, ethically and morally it upsets me but I’m not sure there is a solution to it unless the police actually catch them .

How about it’s none of your bloody business?

Just like it’s none of your business who they sleep with, what they cook for dinner, if they’re an alcoholic etc.

Hilarious that you think you are entitled to know about players lives.

Hope you can recover from the horrific ordeal of knowing there are people out there doing illegal drugs. The horror…..