Melbourne captain Max Gawn denies the Demons have a “drug tradition” following the revelation teammate Joel Smith is dealing with anti-doping rule violations from Sport Integrity Australia (SIA).
The AFL confirmed on Tuesday SIA had charged Smith with three anti-doping rule violations (ADRVs) over alleged trafficking to 3rd events, and an additional ADRV for possession of cocaine on September 9, 2022.
He was already provisionally suspended after allegedly testing optimistic for cocaine throughout an in-competition check in August of final yr.
It’s unclear how a lot the extra prices may add to any suspension, or when that may be decided.
Smith will stay provisionally suspended and is unable to coach or play together with his teammates, and the AFL confirmed beneath the code the brand new asserted violations shall be additional investigated by SIA.
Chatting with the media on Wednesday, Gawn described the allegations as “fairly surprising”.
However he stated drug use was not a systemic downside on the Demons.
“For 16 years, I have been getting drug examined, for 10 years I have been getting hair examined,” Gawn stated.
“The AFL and AFLPA take care of that and in that 10 years I’ve by no means been informed our membership has a drug tradition.”
Gawn added: “Till somebody tells me that the hair exams we have achieved are proving that [we have] a drug tradition, that is the one marker that we’ve got.
“So in my 10 years [at the club], no-one’s come and informed me that our membership has a drug tradition, so I’ll go by that.”
Gawn stated the very fact the usage of illicit substances was a difficulty in wider society meant it will be “naive” to suppose AFL golf equipment didn’t face the identical downside.
“There’s a good tradition at our membership,” he stated.
“There are issues to iron out and that is the identical with each membership and each society situation, so I am not hiding.
“There are points and we are going to be certain that we get that proper however there’s going to be points each single yr whether or not you guys write about it or not.”
Gawn stated he would supply emotional help to Smith.
“I am there for Joel to help as a result of he is nonetheless a good friend,” he stated.
Gawn and AFL chief government Andrew Dillon famous the SIA investigation into the costs was ongoing and nothing had but been proved.
Dillon stated he had confidence within the Demons’ management staff, whereas backing the AFL’s illicit medicine coverage.
“The usage of illicit medicine is a society situation, and we do not shrink back from that,” he stated.
“We’ll proceed to coach. I feel we have been one of many first sports activities within the nation to herald a bootleg medicine coverage and there are various gamers over practically 20 years who’ve modified behaviours due to that.”
Smith’s matter could possibly be heard on the AFL Anti-Doping Tribunal, however there isn’t a timeline on when which may occur.
ABC/AAP
