Willie Rioli back in Darwin amid alleged doping scandal

WEST Coast Eagles star Willie Rioli has flown into Darwin to be with family amid an alleged doping scandal

• WEST Coast’s Willie Rioli provisionally suspended after duping anti-doping officers
• WILLIE Rioli drug test saga: How did this even happen? The questions that need answering
• OPINION: Jon Ralph: Willie Rioli may have derailed West Coast’s flag bid

WEST Coast Eagles star Willie Rioli has flown into Darwin to be with family amid an alleged doping scandal.

Rioli, 24, took a late night flight from Sydney to Darwin following his suspension after allegedly being caught pouring a liquid — possibly an energy drink — into a drug-test beaker by officials.

Willie Rioli has touched down in Darwin to be with family. Picture: SUPPLIED

Rioli will remain sidelined until a joint ASADA-AFL investigation is completed.

It means he will miss tonight’s semi-final match against Geelong at the MCG.

He faces a maximum four-year ban if found guilty.

NORTHERN Territory Thunder: NT’s elite AFL pathway team set to be scrapped

A passenger on the plane, who did not want to be named, said Rioli made a swift exit with a West Coast Eagles manager when the plane touched down.

Upon exiting the plane he was embraced by family.

The passenger said Rioli kept a low profile during the Qantas flight from Sydney to Darwin.

According to the passenger, two ladies and a man greeted him at the gate before whisking him away to a waiting car.

The passenger said Rioli kept his hoodie on the entire flight.

EXCLUSIVE OFFER: Get this $249 Samsung tablet with our latest, you-beaut, NT News+ digital subscription offer

“I realised it was him when he was walking on the plane,” the passenger said.

“He probably wouldn’t have been in the greatest space, the poor guy.”

It is not known if Rioli will head to the Tiwi Islands or remain in Darwin.

Originally published as Willie Rioli back in Darwin amid alleged doping scandal