‘Biggest scandal since Essendon’: AFL greats, pollies respond to drug test bombshell
Federal MP Andrew Wilkie has slammed the AFL’s “shocking unwillingness” to address illicit drug use as his bid to table documents in parliament on secret testing failed.
Victoria
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Tasmanian MP Andrew Wilkie has once again failed in his bid to table documents about the bombshell AFL drug test claims in parliament, after his first attempt was controversially shut down by the government on Tuesday night.
Speaking on the motion to allow him to table the evidence, which includes signed statements outlining the allegations, Mr Wilkie questioned whether the government had been involved in a “massive misstep or a cover up”.
“We now know that there’s a secret game happening behind AFL games, and the government needs to act urgently to stop this,” he told the parliament on Wednesday.
“I ventilated deeply troubling allegations of misconduct in the AFL, in particular concerning the systemic failure by the AFL to effectively test for and prevent the use of prohibited drugs, nor sanction players and officials found to have used prohibited drugs.”
Mr Wilkie said the whistleblowers who provided the material had “implored” him to do everything he could to ensure the documents were tabled and read by the Prime Minister “because they’re tired of cover-up”.
“Incredibly, the AFL have this morning chosen not to deny the allegations and the Swans CEO is even being reported as having spoken to the AFL who have admitted that the off the books drug testing regime does in fact exist,” he said.
“I’ve obtained documents indicating a shocking unwillingness by senior AFL executives to address drug abuse and, in particular, cocaine use, like the very detailed notes of a meeting between former AFL chief executive Gillon McLaughlin, AFL Commission chairman Richard Goyder and former Melbourne president Glen Bartlett.”
Goldstein MP Zoe Daniel seconded the push to table the documents, saying the allegations were serious and go to the duty of care the AFL has to its players.
“There’s a cost of not fully examining these allegations and releasing these documents, to the sport and to the players,” Ms Daniel said.
“I don’t stand here to make a judgement on recreational drug use. However, the point of this debate is what drugs can do to clubs and players, a culture of normalisation of cocaine use and in some cases addiction.”
Ms Daniel said the thing that “jumps out” most to her was the fact the allegations came from the former Melbourne Football Club doctor.
“In his statement, Dr Zeeshan Arain says ‘at the end of the day, it’s a business and the players are treated as a commodity. There is no desire to address this issue because it’s a fickle world particularly for people in power and people making money’,” she said.
“Ultimately, he says this is a management issue. The culture comes from management … Right now he says ‘I would not let my children play AFL’.
“As not only an MP but as a parent and a self-described football tragic, this goes to the future of our children and the very future of the sport.
“I therefore call on the government to allow these documents to be tabled to open this up to proper scrutiny.”
Ms Daniel questioned whether Australia’s sport integrity agencies endorsed the approach, saying it appeared to directly subvert their systems.
Mr Wilkie’s motion was defeated, with 51 votes from Labor MPs against the tabling of the documents and only 15 votes in favour.
Crossbench MPs Dr Monique Ryan, Zali Steggall, Rebekha Sharkie and Andrew Gee all spoke in support of the documents being tabled.
Mr Wilkie attempted to suspend standing orders — which interrupts the way the government runs the House — so that he could move the motion noting the allegations and table the evidence behind the claims.
It is understood to have failed because the government rarely grants leave for the tabling of documents.
The government expects members to use their parliamentary privilege for their speeches but not for other documents that they bring in.
Victorians among the 51 MPs that voted against the motion include: Higgins MP Dr Michelle Ananda-Rajah, Dunkley MP Jodie Belyea, Macnamara MP Josh Burns, Bendigo MP Lisa Chesters, Corangamite MP Libby Coker, Aston MP Mary Doyle, Isaacs MP Mark Dreyfus, Holt MP Cassandra Fernando, Chisholm MP Dr Carina Garland, Batman MP Ged Kearney, McEwan MP Rob Mitchell, Fraser MP Dr Daniel Mulino, Hawke MP Sam Rae, Lalor MP Joanne Ryan, Jagajaga MP Kate Thwaites and Gellibrand MP Tim Watts.
Ex-Liberal Russell Broadbent, who defected to the crossbench last year, also voted against the motion.
Speaking in favour of the tabling of the documents, Dr Ryan said the AFL was an important institution in Australia and the allegations made against it were serious.
“We know that the federal government does support the AFL very significantly in terms of funding and other material forms of support,” Dr Ryan said.
“We deserve transparency about that, not only as taxpayers who have contributed to the funds given to the AFL, but as people who feel very deeply about an important body.
“We deserve to hear more and we need for the government to take the appropriate action, which is to cast a light on what is happening at the AFL and whether or not we do have real cause for concern.”
In Question Time on Wednesday, Mr Wilkie asked the Prime Minister why his government had twice prevented the tabling of the documents.
“Why are you trying to keep them secret? Or can I walk down and give them to you personally right now?” Mr Wilkie asked.
In a quick gibe, Anthony Albanese responded by saying walking around the chamber was disorderly, before adding that he could be contacted via the phone.
The Prime Minister said he was aware of the allegations made by Mr Wilkie but was “not aware of whether they are correct or not”.
“I have a big job. My job is not to, on the job description, isn’t the control of the Australian Football League,” Mr Albanese said.
“Sport Integrity Australia is aware of the issue and they have begun their assessment, and I’m sure that the Member for Clark will forward any documentation to the appropriate body.”
Biggest controversy since Essendon
Former AFL player Campbell Brown says claims the AFL authorised “off the books” drug tests to help players evade detection on match days is the “biggest controversy” to hit the league since the Essendon drug scandal.
The Hawthorn Premiership player said the allegations had rocked the football community.
“This is the biggest controversy since the Essendon drugs scandal as far as I’m concerned,” he said on Sunrise on Wednesday.
Brown said he was “interested” to see how the AFL would respond.
A furious Mick Malthouse said the “damning” allegations could have even greater consequences than the Bombers’ supplement saga.
The coaching great said he was “angry” about the bombshell claims.
“This is almost on the same level as the Essendon saga – in fact it might even go beyond that, because this is suggesting AFL officials are involved in this,” Malthouse said on Today.
“It is just so damning. It is going to place every player, every club official and, in particular, club doctors under scrutiny.
“The ramifications are very broad.
“To hear these allegations … I can’t describe how angry I am”.
It comes after a former Melbourne Football Club doctor-turned-whistleblower sensationally admitted that players who confessed to having taken drugs in the days before AFL games were given secret tests to ensure their systems were clear or were advised to “fake an injury” so they would not risk being tested and suspended for breaches of the World Anti-Doping Agency Code.
Federal MP Andrew Wilkie told parliament on Tuesday night he had received a signed statement from former Demons head doctor Zeeshan Arain in which he accused the AFL of facilitating the clandestine drug tests at Dorevitch Pathology in Heidelberg.
Mr Wilkie called on Prime Minister Anthony Albanese to intervene in the scandal.
Victoria’s Sports and Major Events Minister Steve Dimopoulos said he had spoken to AFL chief executive Andrew Dillon on Wednesday morning and that Victorians should not make assumptions until they had “the full picture”.
“A member of the federal parliament has put something out in the public domain. You can’t just assume that’s accurate,” he said.
“I was speaking to the AFL, to Andrew to find out the full picture and I think he’ll be with you this morning.
“I think it will be interesting to see the full picture.”
Mr Dimopoulos said he was not aware of the allegations prior Mr Wilkie’s speech.
He refused to be drawn on whether the government or the gambling regulator should launch an investigation, saying it was a “matter for the AFL”.
“I really think we need to see what the AFL says,” he said.
“They run the code, they’re the regulators, the owners of the code.
“Let them respond first.”
Geelong Premiership captain and Sydney Swans chief executive Tom Harley said “it’s absolutely news to me”.
“I, like a lot of footy fans, read Michael Warner’s article last night and thought it was a bombshell claim and I was really surprised by that – certainly nothing that I’ve seen,” he told SEN radio on Wednesday morning.
“I’ll be watching to see how this unfolds.
“My first response in reading it was as a reader and then you move pretty quickly to your club and the competition more broadly.
“We adhere to the illicit drug policy of the AFL and WADA and that’s, as far as I’m concerned, strict compliance.”
The Herald Sun understands that Sport Integrity Australia is aware of the claims but is not currently investigating.
One source said the approach was rationalised as a preventive health measure because the drugs were being taken for recreation.
Home Affairs Minister Clare O’Neil said there were high expectations about the AFL.
“These people are such important leaders for our community and the young people, we
do want them to do the right thing so it will be important to get to the bottom of this,” Ms O’Neil told Sunrise.
Victorian Liberal Senator Jane Hume said the allegations, made under parliamentary privilege, needed to be investigated.
“AFL players are not above the law but … officials in the AFL have a duty of care to the welfare of the players and I think that is worthy of certain investigation,” Senator Hume said.
Kooyong MP Dr Monique Ryan said it was not the first time that there has been concerns around clubs and their actions regarding players who will be exposed and have access to recreational drugs.
“One of the concerns here is whether the clubs are acting in the best interests of their players or acting in the best interests of the club,” Dr Ryan told Today.
“We need to know a bit more about these accusations, exactly what they entail.”
A WADA spokesman on Wednesday morning said the agency had no comment to make at this stage.
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