Melbourne coach Simon Goodwin says he has “no line of sight” on whether doctors direct players to fake injuries to avoid failing drug tests on match days as it emerged the AFL’s medical policy does include “off the books” testing for illicit drug use.
Sydney Swans CEO Tom Harley also said he was aware of the testing as per the AFL’s medical policy but had “never seen” doctors lying about injuries for players.
Goodwin said he was “surprised” to hear accusations that the AFL was involved in a “multi-hundred-million-dollar fraud” in parliament on Tuesday night.
Federal MP Andrew Wilkie told parliament he had received a signed statement from former Melbourne doctor, Zeeshan Arain, in which he accused the AFL of facilitating clandestine drug tests at Dorevitch Pathology in Heidelberg.
It was alleged the drug testing operation was designed to stop players from testing positive for cocaine amid claims drug use was rife across the AFL .
Melbourne swingman Joel Smith is currently serving a provisional suspension after he failed a drug tests on match day after the Demons’ Round 23 win over Hawthorn on August 20, 2023.
Responding to the claims on Wednesday morning, Goodwin said he and all clubs would be “interested” in finding out more information from the AFL and the AFL Players Association with reports that the league didn’t deny the secret tests happened.
“Every club would want answers and how the policy works and is it a success,” he said.
“We’ve been through a bit but this is an AFL policy and we will be asking the appropriate questions.
“This policy is an AFL policy, it’s an AFLPA policy and its led through a medical model. It’s something I have never really thought about. I back in the process and what the policy is.
“I understand the policy but I don’t get information that people would expect to get.
“I get information that I am required, and the policy says it’s information that should remain confidential. It’s not unexpected I don’t have information, that’s the way the policy is designed.
“This is a process that the AFL and the AFLPA and the club doctors put together from a confidentiality perspective. So to haven line of sight is not unusual. But I have enormous trust in our doctor to be able to do their job. I am not going to question how they go about their job.
“I’m sure it’s something the AFL will give good clarity on, and we’ll all move forward.
Goodwin said he had no thoughts about the ex-Melbourne doctor who was central to the claims.
“This is an AFL-wide thing … we need to get to the bottom of it and we can have some more information going forward,” he said.
Two Sydney AFLW players were yesterday suspended after being charge by police with cocaine possession and CEO Harley said he was aware of the testing as per the AFL’s medical policy but had “never seen” doctors lying about injuries for players.
“I’ve never seen that,” Harley said on Wednesday morning, with calls growing louder for the AFL to review its strikes policy for drug use.
“The illicit drugs policy in the AFL, we are absolutely all aware that it’s a medical model. We put enormous trust and faith into our medical practitioners and our doctors.
“I can only comment on what I’ve seen and the clubs that I’ve been involved in, and I’ve never seen that (doctors lying).
“There’s no doubt that what’s been reported is having some cut through this morning. As a representative of the club, I’m sure there’ll be more information passed through in the next 24-48 hours into what it really means.
“All I can say is that it’s not a practice or a behaviour that I’ve been privy to.”
In his address to the House of Representatives on Tuesday night, Mr Wilkie said he had signed testimony from three whistleblowers and,, using the protection of parliamentary privilege, also claimed.
— Drug abuse and illicit behaviour is prevalent across the AFL
– The Melbourne Football Club ran a secret operation of drug testing players at Dorevitch Pathology in Heidelberg (Melbourne’s north) in order to catch them from potentially testing positive when tested for doping violations by SIA agents.
— Former chief medical officer of the AFL, Peter Harcourt; was aware of the operation.
— There is evidence of wilful inaction by AFL chairman Richard Goyder and former CEO Gillon McLachlan.
— The AFL’s illicit drug policy is a “systemic failure” to protect players.
The AFL is yet to respond.
