Banned West Coast Eagle Willie Rioli says sorry as Eagles coach expresses hurt for young Eagle
As Willie Rioli returns home, West Coast is coming to terms with an end to its AFL season and questioning how the forward’s incredible ‘mistake’ was allowed to happen.
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West Coast will review how it manages the drug testing of players in the wake of Willie Rioli’s provisional suspension.
The forward was this week hit with the provisional ban after allegedly substituting his urine during a mid-week anti-doping test with another substance.
He was informed of the adverse analytical finding on Wednesday and was withdrawn from Friday night’s semi-final against Geelong.
Rioli immediately returned to Darwin to be with family members and will return to the Tiwi Islands in coming days.
But the saga could change in how the Eagles deal with testing procedures, according to chairman Russell Gibbs, who said having a club official present with players during testing could be considered.
“Good governance and process would say that whenever something happens — certainly something as serious as this happens — we have to review it and really improve on whatever the processes are,” Gibbs said on ABC Perth radio.
“It’s important that we look after our players and our staff, so yeah it’s something that will be part of a review no doubt.”
Gibbs said while it was “always disappointing” to be caught up in such an incident, Rioli’s welfare was paramount for the “united and resilient” club which is in “constant contact” with the forward.
“We very quickly got him back to the support of his family and he’ll make his way to the Tiwi Islands in the next few days,” Gibbs said.
“He was, as you can imagine, extremely upset in those first few days and having the family around, we really feel, is going to help.”
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There is no definitive timeline on the next steps in the process for Rioli, but he said the club was already considering how it could continue to support the premiership star, including whether it can send staff to him to maintain his fitness.
“Definitely — it’s already been talked about making sure that the club stays in contact with him, people possibly going up and visiting him,” Gibbs said.
“Who that’s going to be and how often that will be is yet to be determined.
“Certainly it’s something needs to be looked at — he’s one of our players and he’s a very much an important part of the list.
“Our priority … has to be making sure that Willie’s welfare is looked after.
“We can’t affect the process at all and the timeline — that will be dictated by the authorities. We’ll really have to wait and see.
“I’ve heard (it could take) anything from three-to-six months (from here). So I really can’t say.”
Gibbs said the team was adamant that the incident had not derailed its preparations or mindset for Friday night’s clash with Geelong, which the Cats won by 20 points.
“It has been a tough couple of days, but it’s a very united club, it’s a very resilient club and I think with the assistance of the player leadership group, they really were able to compartmentalise the events of earlier this week and really get on and play,” he said.
“It’s been tough. We’re human, and so these things affect us.”
West Coast coach Adam Simpson says the Eagles are hurting for a “gentle soul”.
“They (the players) are human. We really care about Willie — we still do,” Simpson said.
“We addressed it on Wednesday night. We looked pretty tight and we looked pretty galvanised. But we’re hurting for him.
“We’re really worried about his mental health and making sure he’s got his family and support around him.
“He’s a gentle soul, a lovely man. He’s got a partner with a child and another one on the way. We just throw our arms around him at the moment.”
Simpson admitted the Eagles only had a short period of time to come to terms with the loss of one of their most talented and popular players.
“We knew nothing until Wednesday night,” he said.
“We found out when we arrived at the hotel.
“We are really worried about his mental health and making sure he has got a lot of family and support around him.”
He confirmed speaking to Rioli but could not say if he would travel to the Northern Territory to see him.
“I haven’t thought that far,” he said.
Asked how Rioli had seemed in the conversations he had with him he said: “You can only imagine. It is probably not the time to talk about this. It is under investigation and we will work through it in the coming weeks.”
“It has just been a bit of a shock that it has happened so quick and now we have got to deal with it as a club and Willie has got to deal with it himself.”
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Rioli, on Friday, apologised for his “lil mistake” as he fled to the embrace of family in Darwin.
The under-siege livewire forward broke his silence, offering an emotional sorry as AFL chief Gillon McLachlan backed efforts to look after Rioli’s wellbeing, amid reports he is a “mess” after the provisional ban after he received a provisional suspension after an alleged drug test urine substitution.
“The priority for West Coast and for us is Willie’s mental health,” McLachlan told 3AW.
At the same time, former ASADA boss Richard Ings told the Herald Sun the scenario unfolding around Rioli seemed to be unprecedented.
“We don’t see tampering very often. I haven’t seen a case in Australia. I am not aware of one. We see people refuse to give samples but I haven’t seen a case of tampering in Australia,” Ings said.
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Rioli was in Darwin on Friday after a night flight from Sydney on Thursday.
Passengers on the flight claimed he was with a West Coast manager and embraced by family when he arrived.
Posting on his Facebook page on Friday, Rioli wrote: “Just want to thank all my real family and friends for all the love and support through this tough time.
“I’m so so sorry I had to put yous (sic) all through this. We will get through this. I’ve gone through tougher times life support, depression, bullying and we’ve gotten through. Hopefully this lil mistake is a lesson to be learnt. This definitely doesn’t define me as a person.
“Love yous all.”
Rioli could face four years out of the game if an investigation finds he substituted another substance for his own urine during an August 20 out-of-competition drug test.
Eagles star Luke Shuey said Rioli’s teammates had been unable to contact him after he had his phone confiscated by officials.
“I think we’re looking forward to seeing him and wrapping our arms around him and giving him a hug,” Shuey said.
“But he’s probably got a long road ahead of him.”
Passengers said Rioli kept a low profile during the Qantas flight from Sydney to Darwin.
They said Rioli kept his hoodie on during the entire flight.
It is not known if Rioli will head to the Tiwi Islands or remain in Darwin.
Sources have told the Herald Sun the Eagles star had been caught pouring a liquid — possibly an energy drink — into a drug-test beaker in a panicked attempt to dupe anti-doping officers.
AFL chief Gillon McLachlan said that while the case was yet to be proven, West Coast had accepted the suspension.
“They will be fully co-operative and their focus, I know, is working with Willie and making sure Willie’s okay,” McLachlan said.
“This is clearly a case that’s different from the standard ones. I’m sure it will take some time.”
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McLachlan defended the process around the incident, which could lead to a four year ban for Rioli.
He said Australian Sports Anti-Doping Authority testers only confirmed this week that a urine sample given by Rioli during an August 20 drug test was something else.
“We were notified of the analytical findings on Wednesday. So we issued the notice of the provisional suspension by then. West Coast arrived in Melbourne from Perth that night.”
“We’re all committed to the integrity of our game and also we need to make sure we look after the welfare of our players.”
The Eagles have engaged top silk David Grace, QC, who represented the Essendon 34 during the Bombers’ drug scandal.
Rioli had flown to Melbourne with teammates on Wednesday and was informed of the suspension by league investigators on the team’s arrival at the Parkview Hotel on St Kilda Rd.
Sources on Friday shed more light on the intricate process that Rioli allegedly attempted to subvert.
It is understood Rioli was caught out by what ASADA officers call a “mission” in which they show up at clubs unexpectedly.
“It’s a bit of a SWAT operation because you go in there and almost pounce on your targets with some gusto,” a source said.
Rioli’s emotional apology will not save him from months in football limbo, even before he receives his official sanction for a tainted ASADA drug test.
The issue of an Australian sportsperson caught tampering with their urine sample is believed to be unprecedented.
Rioli filled his beaker with a substance other than urine — which sources suggest could have been Gatorade. AFL stars past and present were stunned that he would attempt that brazen move because he would have had his pants around his ankles and his top above his stomach as he faced the doping control officer at close range.
The first chance to tamper with the sample could have seen him pouring fluid from his mouth as he was supposed to be urinating into the sample.
The other chance to tamper with that sample would have come as he poured the 210mm sample into two 90m separate containers that make up his A and B samples.
Players place those containers on a bench, but also routinely have bottles of water or Gatorade close by as they try to hydrate enough to pass urine. The AFL confirmed on Friday that Rioli’s case was unlikely to be expedited, and he is set to be handed an infraction notice that will offer him a four-year ban, but be able to contest that penalty.
Magpie Sam Murray’s hearing took 12 months to unfold before he was suspended for 18 months for a match-day cocaine positive.
It is understood subsequent tests showed Rioli did not have a performance-enhancing substance in his body, which means he panicked needlessly.
He was not taking performance-enhancing drugs and he was not being tested by ASADA for an illicit substance such as cocaine or marijuana.
Illicit drugs are only an ASADA offence on match day.
Ings told the Herald Sun ASADA would take control of the case, adamant Rioli and his lawyer David Grace had few options to reduce the penalty.
“It is predominantly meant to be an ASADA investigation. I hope the AFL have learnt from the Essendon scenario,” Ings said.
“He will get a show-cause notice and eventually he will get an infraction notice which tells him he has a right to have a hearing.
“We don’t see tampering very often. I haven’t seen a case in Australia. I am not aware of one. We (sometimes) see people refuse to give samples. I very much doubt there will be an expedited hearing.
“His season is over and they already have sufficient evidence to show they have evidence on him.”
Ings confirmed Rioli would have had no chance to tamper with the sample while actually urinating into the beaker.
“You are full frontal, you urinate into plain view into the beaker,” he said.
“It isn’t the role of the doping officer to say, ‘Don’t do that, let’s throw it away’.
“But they could have said, ‘Let’s do another test’, and also report the first test. Whatever comes back in the second test doesn’t negate the first test.”
AFL chief executive Gillon McLachlan said on 3AW on Friday there was no prospect of an expedited hearing.
“The priority for West Coast and us is Willie’s mental health, and I think (expediting the hearing) is not something that’s in contemplation,” McLachlan said.
West Coast players were told of Willie Rioli’s provisional drug suspension at a meeting on Thursday morning where they were urged to refocus on Friday night’s do-or-die semi-final against Geelong.
Eagles coach Adam Simpson has described his team as “hurting” for Willie Rioli amid concerns for his mental health.
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