West Coast star Willie Rioli gives evidence in doping case

Even if West Coast forward Willie Rioli receives a reduced doping ban, a recent appeal is a clear sign his fight is far from over.

Willie Rioli was finally able to give his version of what happened. Picture: AFL Photos

West Coast and Willie Rioli fought for the small forward’s AFL career on Wednesday as appeals against swimmer Shayna Jack’s reduced ban for a doping infraction cast a fresh shadow over the Rioli case.

Rioli’s lawyer David Grace and Eagles minder Peter Staples were spotted in Darwin where Rioli had been expected to give evidence via video link up to an AFL tribunal in Melbourne.

It was expected that the tribunal would give its finding with a penalty at a later date.

The Eagles went into the hearing acutely aware that the AFL tribunal would have to find a balance between recognising the seriousness of Rioli’s alleged offence – tampering with a urine sample – and applying too tough a penalty which would effectively end the skilful forward’s career.

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Rioli’s father spoke on Wednesday night of his son’s relief to finally front the tribunal hearing.

Rioli Sr said his son was “feeling better” after leaving the hearing at Darwin’s Marrara sporting precinct.

“(We’re) Glad it’s over and my son got a fair hearing,” he said.

“He’s (Willie Jr) OK, feeling a bit better after giving his account of what happened and at last getting a chance to have a hearing.

“Glad we‘ve got the opportunity to meet with the relevant people.”

It will be a few weeks before Willie Rioli finds out his fate. Picture: AFL Photos

Rioli Sr said it would be about a few weeks before a decision was made.

“Willie won’t be back playing quite yet, they won’t make a decision on it for the next couple of weeks,” he said.

Rioli, 25, has played 38 games for the Eagles including the 2018 Grand Final win against Collingwood.

It is alleged that Rioli spat an energy drink into a urine sample container during a random drug test after a training session late in the 2019 season.

Sample tampering offences are considered one of the more serious doping infractions and carry a maximum penalty of four years.

West Coast and Rioli were expected to argue that the act was one of frustration, naivety and stupidity borne of dehydration and inability to produce a urine sample rather than any attempt to conceal a prohibited substance.

The case from a second infraction for Rioli, a positive test for cannabis in the wake of West Coast’s 2019 elimination final win against Essendon at Optus Stadium, was also to be heard.

The Eagles are hopeful of a sympathetic hearing for Rioli.

But they are mindful that WADA and Sport Integrity Australia (which has absorbed the Australian anti-doping agency ASADA) can appeal any penalty they consider too lenient, as they did in the case of 34 Essendon players.

They are also concerned that recent events may signal a hard line approach by Sport Integrity Australia, who have appealed swimmer Shayna Jack’s reduction in penalty from four years to two.

Jack had tested positive to the banned substance Ligandrol before the 2019 World Swimming Championships and was handed a four year ban.

She appealed to CAS and had her ban cut to two years last month by successfully arguing she did not knowingly ingest the banned substance.

But SIA and WADA have since launched their own appeals against the reduced sentence to spark fears for the Eagles and Rioli of a hard line stance against doping infractions.

Originally published as West Coast star Willie Rioli gives evidence in doping case