EXCLUSIVE: AFL players have been accused of supplying cocaine to one another as part of an off-season drug culture that is severely under-reported in official league data.
As the troubled 2013 home-and-away season draws to a close, the Sunday Herald Sun can reveal police are in possession of credible information that a player from an AFL club has repeatedly supplied cocaine to teammates.
It has been alleged this has happened mostly outside of the season, although the alleged supply has also taken place during competition months.
The alleged drug use occurs in private homes rather than public venues, making it harder for authorities and club officials to detect.
The allegations have been raised with police this year.
In a separate allegation made to police, another player from a different club has also been named as arranging illicit drugs for teammates, also out of season.
Victoria Police declined to comment on the allegations.
A former high-ranking official from a popular Victorian AFL club told the Sunday Herald Sun illicit drug use was more common than the league realised, and claimed it was not limited to players.
“Cocaine use is a huge problem in the AFL,” he said.
Collingwood chief executive Gary Pert placed the issue of illicit drug use on the agenda last November, describing the off-field behaviour of some players as “volcanic”.
“This is a serious issue with young men in the community and we’d be naive to think it didn’t happen in the AFL,” Pert said. The AFL held a forum on the subject in January.
The Australian Crime Commission’s February report into organised crime and sport warned illicit drug use among athletes from unspecified codes was more widespread than reflected in official testing statistics.
“There is also evidence to suggest that some athletes are supplying others with illicit drugs,” the report said.
AFL boss Andrew Demetriou warned clubs and players of the dangers of performance-enhancing drugs and illicit drugs after being briefed by the ACC, saying anyone doing anything illegal risked being caught.
Victoria Police deputy commissioner Graham Ashton has said illicit drug use was a bigger threat to the integrity of sport than performance-enhancing drugs.
The AFL has moved to strengthen its illicit drug testing regime after a dramatic increase in the number of positive drug tests - 26 last year, up from just six the previous.
The league has tightened the self-reporting rule, and will conduct more target testing, perform more off-season hair tests and have AFL medics give more feedback to club officials about test results.
with Grant Baker
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Kidding ourselves if we think this is going to take the spotlight off us.
Cocaine is a recreational drug which would be used by a large % of AFL players.
Unless its a serious trafficking issue (HIGHLY doubt that), it's a non story and I wouldnt wish it upon the Player(s) involved the ■■■■ we have put up with for 7 months.
I have an idea that they could be two clubs really close to us right now, given some of the rumours that have done the rounds over the last 8 months or so. Suffice to say one of our least favoured admirers would certainly be devastated if it transpires that it is the club I'm thinking of, and I can't say I would shed a single tear for them or for h**.
Seriously, if people have a problem with this they need to move to the real world.
People take drugs. People with money take, amongst other drugs, cocaine.
Despite what some might have us believe, the only thing drug use tells you about someone is that they take that drug. If you think less of someone for it, you're the one with the problem
Kidding ourselves if we think this is going to take the spotlight off us.
Cocaine is a recreational drug which would be used by a large % of AFL players.
Unless its a serious trafficking issue (HIGHLY doubt that), it's a non story and I wouldnt wish it upon the Player(s) involved the **** we have put up with for 7 months.
The problem with this being reported is that a large % of the media are doing it too. Self reporting? Yeah.... right.
So because everyone else does it the players should as well? Yes it is out there but surely something is wrong when a player is actually dealing it to his teammates.
Will go nowhere unless someone names the club(s) publicly. Players from two clubs have been linked to cocaine for several years but nothing has been done! i also heard that several prolonged unexplained absences were due to this being in players system on match day. Cocaine is banned in competition but not out of competition (that is why the comment "out of season").
If a player is convicted of supplying the drug it is a "life ban". That is what almost happened to Stokes from Geelong when he said he was purchasing the drugs for a friend. Very dangerous comment because it moved him from user to supplier which has more severe penalties.
I'd just like those players that use it to come out and publicly declare it so we can "boo" them at the game. AFL executive have actually supported the use of illicit drugs with their three strike policy. I think they believe it is a good look for the game that is why they don't leak this information (they fought like hell to keep this information confidential). Not sure why these players are protected yet a guy who has taken a substance cleared by ASADA is persecuted?