Willie Rioli Snr tells of ‘relief’ after son Willie Junior’s tribunal hearing

WILLIE Rioli’s father has spoken of his son’s relief to finally have his drug case heard during in Darwin via videolink

Territory footy product and West Coast Eagles premiership player Willie Rioli appeared before a tribunal in Darwin for allegedly tampering with a urine sample. Picture: AFL PHOTOS

WILLIE Rioli’s father has spoken of his son’s relief to finally have his doping infraction tribunal hearing heard in Darwin via videolink on Wednesday.

The West Coast Eagle fronted an AFL tribunal at the NT Institute of Sport in Marrara on Wednesday afternoon more than a year after he was provisionally suspended for allegedly tampering with a urine sample.

Rioli Snr said his son was ‘feeling better’ after the hearing.

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

“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.”

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The NT News understands the hearing was held early Wednesday afternoon in Darwin’s Marrara sporting precinct.

Rioli Snr 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.”

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 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.

Territory footy product and West Coast Eagles premiership player Willie Rioli appeared before a tribunal in Darwin for allegedly tampering with a urine sample. Picture: Robert Cianflone/Getty Images

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.

After the hearing representatives from the West Coast Eagles returned to the Mantra Hotel on the Esplanade.

Rioli Jnr was in meetings with his manager John Meerson following the hearing.

Mr Rioli’s lawyer, David Grace QC, and Integrity Services Manager for the West Coast Eagles club, Peter Staples, returned separately to the Mantra hotel on the Darwin Esplanade just after 4pm.

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Mr Staples was wearing a West Coast uniform and is believed to have been Mr Rioli’s support person throughout the trial.

Mr Grace travelled to Darwin from Melbourne for the tribunal while Mr Staples travelled from Perth.

However, when asked for comment outside the hotel, Mr Staples said he “wasn’t involved” in the tribunal.

Mr Rioli did not make an appearance at the hotel and is believed to be staying with family in Darwin.

Originally published as Willie Rioli Snr tells of ‘relief’ after son Willie Junior’s tribunal hearing