Norwood SANFL and ex-Gold Coast Suns AFL player Josh Glenn banned by ASADA
A former AFL player has been banned for four years by ASADA – the first suspension for a performance enhancing drug breach in league history – after he tested positive for types of anabolic steroids.
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The SANFL has handed down the first suspension for a performance enhancing drug breach in league history after former Norwood player Josh Glenn was found to have two types of anabolic steroids in his system.
Glenn was banned for four years by the SANFL’s anti-doping tribunal for testing positive to prohibited substances 19-Norandrosterone and 19-Noretiocholanolone on June 16, 2018, following the Redlegs’ 32-point victory over Glenelg.
The 25-year-old, who played five AFL games for the Gold Coast Suns, was issued a provisional suspension on August 10, 2018.
Glenn acknowledged the violation, accepted the sanction and waived his right to a hearing before the SANFL anti-doping tribunal.
He will not be able to return to any SANFL or AFL-recognised football competition until August 10, 2022, including community level.
The Advertiser revealed in March that Glenn was under investigation by ASADA for allegedly testing positive to a banned substance.
Despite the test occurring eight games into his tenure at the Redlegs, Norwood president Paul Di Iulio issued a statement suggesting the substances entered his system prior to him joining the club.
“I would like to reinforce that the decision Josh made, resulting in this adverse finding, occurred well before his arrival at the Norwood Football Club,” he said.
“Josh admitted to taking the substances when he was not listed with any SANFL club and was therefore not bound by the code.
“However, the ongoing presence of the substances on June 16, 2018, while participating in a match for Norwood constitutes an anti-doping rule violation.”
On Monday, SANFL chief executive Jake Parkinson said the competition has the “right testing regime”.
“When the substance was taken is irrelevant, what is relevant is that testing took place on June 16, it was later analysed and found to have an adverse finding,” he said.
“It is a significant time to wait for the outcome, which has an impact on the competition, the club and the player.
“It’s also important the process is done with procedural fairness and natural justice.
The SANFL boss also refused to disclose how often the competition’s players are tested by ASADA.
“I won’t go into the details of our testing program, that’s important for the process that remains with us,” he said.
“Our testing has been going for some time, and there are a number of players that are tested.”
The Advertiser understands ASADA officials attend SANFL clubs after games or at training for testing during the season with intervals of up to 12 weeks between visits.
Players are randomly selected to provide urine samples.
Glenn was chosen following the round 11 match against Glenelg and ASADA officials then returned about two weeks later and tested Glenn for a second time.
This raised suspicion among his Norwood teammates, due to no other players having been asked to provide a sample twice in a short space of time.
Glenn collected 20 disposals and kicked a goal in the Redlegs 32-point victory over the Tigers in round 11 at Norwood Oval.
Glenn went on to play in wins against Port Adelaide, the Crows and Sturt before he missed a match against West Adelaide with calf soreness but returned in round 16 against the Eagles.
He missed the following two matches – Norwood cited the flu as the reason for his absence – before the Redlegs announced he had made himself unavailable for selection.
In October 2018, Glenn received a suspended sentence after pleading guilty to an aggravated charge of recklessly causing harm.
Glenn had broken the nose of an Australian Defence Force employee when repeatedly punching him after he was kicked out of the Gawler Exchange Hotel in March last year.
He had begun the season with Barossa, Light and Gawler football club Willaston, which dumped Glenn after the assault incident.
He joined Norwood a month later.
Glenn was playing for division four amateur club Elizabeth in 2012 before starring for Central District over the next two seasons then getting rookie-listed by Gold Coast.
He quit the Suns and returned to SA in 2015, citing homesickness, then played for Willaston in 2016 and Central again in 2017.