Illicit drug use allegations

Articles have appeared in daily newspapers about a statement in the Senate from independent MP Andrew Wilkie covering allegations by former Melbourne club doctor Zeeshan Arain, ex-club president Glen Bartlett and Shaun Smith, father of Melbourne player Joel Smith.  

According to Wilkie, the trio had alleged players who tested positive had faked injuries and withdrawn from games to avoid match-day drug testing by Sports Integrity Australia (SIA), and that details of the "off-the-books" tests were never shared with SIA or the World Anti-Doping Agency (WADA).

 Wilkie said Arain alleged it was not a Melbourne problem but an "AFL problem" with a number of players arriving at the club with pre-existing cocaine dependencies.

 Melbourne coach Simon Goodwin is reported today as saying he has "no line of sight" on allegations of secret drug-testing of players facilitated by the AFL.

 The AFL has defended what it calls “intervention” drug testing, backed its privacy policy and issued its statement on Illicit Drug Policy (AFL statement on Illicit Drug Policy)

 We have not seen evidence of the allegations referred to by Senator Wilkie and are not able to comment further on them.

 We are cognisant of the fact that some of the issues covered in the allegations might relate to matters under litigation and in order to pay respect to all parties, we have decided not to publish any further comment on the subject.

 We also refer you to the notice entitled on our Home Page ”IMPORTANT: PLEASE READ BEFORE POSTING”.