Former St Kilda star Nick Riewoldt’s claims on illicit drug use in the AFL must force the league to put test figures on public display again

AFL House has a simple way to deal with former St Kilda captain Nick Riewoldt’s claims on illicit drug use in the league — release the now-secret data on drug testing across the AFL.

AFL Players’ Association president Patrick Dangerfield, left, and union chief executive Paul Marsh are under greater pressure to take the seal off AFL drug test results after former St Kilda captain Nick Riewoldt’s strong claims on illicit drug use being “out of control” among league players. Picture: Alison Wynd

• Robbo: AFL’s silence on Riewoldt claims deafening
• Club chiefs slam drugs policy
• Drug use in AFL out of control: Riewoldt

Who do you believe in the AFL drugs debate?

Former St Kilda captain Nick Riewoldt, who says the use of illicit drugs among AFL players is out of control — because the welfare policy created by the league and the players’ union allows for a “free for all”.

Keep in mind, Riewoldt recently released an autobiography in which he insisted there be the “warts” — for credibility. He is now out of the AFL bubble and marking his patch in the media where former players do stand out for creating headlines on arrival.

AFLPA boss Paul Marsh who keeps defending the illicit drugs welfare policy on the basis of advice from medical experts (recommending anonymity of those failing illicit drug tests to enhance their chances in rehabilitation).

The AFL? Headquarters has the welfare policy “under review”, particularly after last week’s claims that players are putting up the “mental health” flag to over-ride the consequences of their positive drug tests.

Former St Kilda star Nick Riewoldt on the book signing circuit. Picture: MATT THOMPSON

Considering 88 per cent of the AFLPA base labelled, in a recent union survey, mental health as a serious issue, such mockery is disturbing.

Amid this battle for credibility, the best reaction to Riewoldt’s explosive claims came from former Australian Sports Anti-Doping Authority boss Richard Ings.

He tweeted: “I was invited by several media to comment on the Nick Riewoldt AFL illicit drugs allegations. I declined as who knows how big a drug problem AFL players have. Only the AFL knows and they aren’t sharing.”

Indeed.

The AFL and players’ union in October 2015 agreed to no longer to publicly release — as had become the norm on an annual basis — paperwork detailing how many illicit drug tests were conducted across the league, how many players had failed and what substances were being picked up.

AFLPA CEO Paul Marsh. Picture: Alison Wynd

The last data on public display was in June 2014 referring to the tests in the 2013 season. There were 1998 tests (up from 1489 the year before). There were 15 failed tests (compared with six a year earlier). The percentage of failed tests rose from 0.4 per cent to 0.75.

Such transparency highlighted the effectiveness (or otherwise) of the AFL lecturing on drugs — and if the players were subject to a greater problem than that generally noted in society.

Riewoldt’s disturbing claims can be easily put to the test by looking at the results from drug tests in the past five seasons. How many tests have there been — and how many fails? And what is the drug of preference for these erring AFL players?

The AFL made a mistake in conceding to the union for no public disclosure of the test results. It is easy to understand why the league did such considering the black eyes the drug results presented each year.

As for the union’s claims — from the medical experts — that anonymity helps resolve the issue ... why is it that the players, such as Collingwood midfielder Josh Thomas, seem to learn stronger lessons from the public pain and bans created by their positive tests?

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