Victoria Police has revealed it’s “assessing info” with regard to Joel Smith’s cocaine probe because the drama takes one other twist.
On Tuesday evening, it was revealed that Sports activities Integrity Australia had accused the 27-year-old of a “drug trafficking” anti-doping breach after uncovered textual content messages despatched by Smith referencing cocaine.
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One of many alleged messages despatched to teammates final yr reportedly concerned providing a amount of the drug.
In October final yr, Smith was named by the AFL because the participant who had been discovered to have cocaine and benzoylecgonine – the drug’s main substance – in his system, which is prohibited below the Australian soccer anti-doping code.
The urine pattern was collected after the Demons’ spherical 23 win over Hawthorn on August 20, 2023.
Nevertheless, the shock twist dropped when Sports activities Integrity Australia revealed three Anti-Doping Rule Violations for “Trafficking or Tried Trafficking” of cocaine to third-parties had been asserted towards Smith.
This features a violation on September 9 2022 — the day the Demons had been eradicated from the 2022 AFL semi-finals.
It was sooner or later earlier than Smith performed in Casey’s VFL preliminary remaining victory.
Additionally it is 9 days earlier than Casey, the Demons’ reserve grade connection, received the VFL grand remaining.
Smith will not be dealing with any felony fees, however police revealed on Wednesday they’re monitoring the state of affairs.
“Victoria Police is conscious of numerous allegations of drug trafficking in relation to a 27-year-old Hillside man,” the assertion from Victoria Police learn.
“We’re presently assessing info supplied by Sport Integrity Australia and as such it might be inappropriate to remark additional presently.”
Smith has performed 42 matches for the Demons since being picked up with the forty first choose of the 2016 rookie draft.
It’s not what the Demons would have wished to see after an low season tormented by controversy surrounding Clayton Oliver, whereas the membership’s tradition has landed within the highlight.
It additionally noticed membership captain Max Gawn face questions over the membership’s tradition in a media alternative on Wednesday.
Gawn mentioned he hadn’t learn the main points of the SIA allegations as he repeatedly denied there was a tradition of illicit drug use on the membership.
AFL chief government Andrew Dillon additionally backed Melbourne to proceed to handle its personal off-field points as he mentioned the league’s illicit drug coverage was “below overview”.
Gawn mentioned allegations regarding Smith had been “fairly stunning” however mentioned the ahead would proceed to have his assist because the SIA investigation continues.
“I feel you’ll respect that there’s an investigation. I haven’t learn quite a lot of it to be truthful … but it surely clearly is sort of stunning,” Gawn mentioned.
“I haven’t spoken to (Smith) for the reason that 7pm final evening – to be truthful, 7pm in my family is sort of troublesome,” Gawn mentioned.
“So I’ll (converse to him on Wednesday).”
Gawn was agency that there not widespread illicit drug use on the Demons, as he defended chief government Gary Pert’s low season feedback that the membership had the perfect tradition he had ever seen throughout his time in soccer.
“All I can say is for 16 years I’ve been getting drug examined, 10 years I’ve been getting hair examined … in that 10 years I’ve by no means been advised that our membership has a drug tradition,” Gawn mentioned.
“Sure, the investigation if it proves to be true, there’s a participant who’s taken illicit medication, however we’re naive to suppose that doesn’t occur in society … I get we’re a excessive stage performing trade and we’d love zero, however till I get advised that we’ve got a difficulty or I can see the problem with my very own eyes, I can solely go off face worth.
“I prefer to suppose I’ve received a great grasp on our group. I’m extremely bullish that we’ve received the proper tradition. We’re at all times engaged on it.
“I’m not hiding, there are points and we’ve got to verify we get that proper.”
AFL CEO Andrew Dillon mentioned there was no purpose for the league to intervene on the Demons and he backed the membership to take care of the problem itself.
Initially revealed as Victoria police âassessing informationâ in Joel Smith cocaine probe
