Retired Carlton star Andrew Walker hits out at AFL for clouding status of breakthrough drug
UPDATE: THE AFL has softened its stance on the new wonder drug being used by up to 50 AFL players, declaring it has been approved for use but it is up to the player and his doctor, despite saying earlier this week it’s wasn’t OK to use.
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THE AFL has softened its stance on the use of a new pain wonder drug amongst AFL players.
AFL chief executive Gillon McLachlan this morning confirmed pentosan polysulfate sodium, a breakthrough pain treatment which is being used by up to 50 AFL players, was not on the WADA prohibited list and said its use was a matter for club doctors.
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On Wednesday night the AFL angered players and the drug company behind the substance by saying it had not approved the drug’s use.
The substance is not available to the general public but is being accessed by players through the Therapeutic Goods Administration’s “special access scheme”.
It is used to combat osteoarthritis and help players recover from injury.
“I know it has been signed off by the TGA for use, so that it is legal to use,” McLachlan told 3AW.
“I know clearly some people have come out saying it is having a significant impact.
“It is not WADA prohibited.
“My advice is that our doctor advised that it wasn’t WADA prohibited and therefore, whether it was going to be used or not, was ultimately a decision for the player consultation with his club doctor.”
Retired Carlton star Andrew Walker hit out at the AFL for clouding the status.
But the former Blues champ told the Herald Sun he was angered by an AFL statement on Wednesday night which declared the league had not approved its use.
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Walker, 31, said he received a letter from AFL chief medical officer Dr Peter Harcourt before pursuing the treatment.
“I’m pretty frustrated — it’s really unfair on the players,” Walker said.
“We are expected to go to through the process, we do that, and yet we still have to talk to you guys (about the legitimacy of the treatment).”
Asked about the letter from Harcourt, Walker said: “I’m not in a position where I can forward on any of that stuff — that’s a privacy issue.
“But speak to him mate. Has anyone actually spoken to Peter Harcourt? He is the one who needs to talk.”
The drug company behind pentosan polysulfate sodium on Thursday revealed it had notified the Australian Stock Exchange in late 2015 that the AFL had “cleared” the drugs use by players.
Paradigm Biopharmaceuticals told the ASX: “Before the patient was treated, clearance was also sought from the Australian Football League as the patient is a current AFL player.
“The AFL cleared the use of Zilosul (pentosan polysulfate sodium) in treating the patient.
“During the treatment, involving a total of six intramuscular injections ... there were no adverse events and the product was well tolerated.”
Dr Harcourt has not returned Herald Sun calls, but in the statement on Wednesday night, the AFL said “Dr Peter Harcourt did not approve this medication”.
“It is a misrepresentation of the role and the views of the AFL medical director to say he approved this medication.”
The AFL Prohibited Treatments List bans “any experimental treatment or treatment as part of a research project, unless approved by the AFL”.
An AFL spokesperson declined to state its position on the ongoing use of pentosan polysulfate sodium by players.
Paradigm chief executive Paul Rennie called on AFL boss Gillon McLachlan to “make it absolutely clear that the appropriate steps were taken” before players were injected.
“We have copies of all of the emails that have gone back and forward between us and the AFL, including Peter Harcourt,” Rennie told SEN.
“I’ve asked to speak to Gill McLachlan, I can’t speak to him.
“He’s up there in the ivory tower and can only be contacted through an email.
“I think the AFL has created an absolute storm because of semantics. Clearly, our company adheres to every and all of the highest possible standards in clinical process. We just don’t go and say: ‘Here — use this drug’.”
Rennie added: “In 2015 an AFL club doctor and myself approached Dr Peter Harcourt ... and we informed him that the doctor wanted to treat this particular patient with this drug.
“Peter Harcourt reviewed the drug and said it that it did not appear on any ASADA or WADA banned substances (lists) and therefore it is cleared for use by elite athletes.
“Peter Harcourt was well aware that this drug was going to be used on an AFL player.
“At no stage was there any opposition given by Dr Harcourt, although he’s now saying in his statement that he didn’t give express authority.
“We can say categorically that Dr Harcourt was aware a club doctor wanted to use the drug.”
Originally published as Retired Carlton star Andrew Walker hits out at AFL for clouding status of breakthrough drug
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