Collingwood club doctor Chris Bradshaw stripped of medical licence

COLLINGWOOD’S chief doctor has been stripped of his medical licence, forcing yet another key staffing change at the Magpies.

Collingwood’s doctor Chris Bradshaw has been stripped of his medical licence. Picture: Michael Klein

COLLINGWOOD’S chief doctor has been stripped of his medical licence, forcing yet another key staffing change at the Magpies.

As the club prepares to launch into pre-season, the Australian Health Practitioner Regulation Agency on Monday moved to place Dr Chris Bradshaw on suspension.

The ruling means Bradshaw is banned from practising medicine in Australia. He was consequently stood down by the Magpies.

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Collingwood bosses held a meeting on Thursday night and only a handful of staff were told of the situation.

Senior players learned of Bradshaw’s reprimand when heraldsun.com.au revealed the shock ruling before noon on Friday.

Bradshaw’s deputy Greg Shuttleworth is expected to step up in the interim.

Collingwood is still searching for a chief executive and the Pies cut ties with high performance boss Bill Davoren after the season, although they appointed highly-regarded head physo Chris Howley to that vacant position.

Collingwood’s doctor Chris Bradshaw has been stripped of his medical licence. Picture: Michael Klein

AHPRA confirmed to the Herald Sun: “The Medical Board of Australia suspended Dr Bradshaw’s registration on Monday, October 30”.

Limited details are available due to confidentiality provisions.

Bradshaw’s patients at the Geelong branch of the Olympic Park Sports Medicine Centre have been encouraged to find a new doctor.

They were told Bradshaw was unlikely to return soon.

Bradshaw joined the Magpies for the 2015 season after eight years at Geelong. He headed up the Cats’ medical department during their 2007, 2009 and 2011 premierships.

Bradshaw previously spent more than a decade at Richmond and also worked for EPL club Fulham.

He won the national 1989 decathlon championship and represented Australia at the 1990 Commonwealth Games in Auckland. Bradshaw also was Australian athletics team doctor at the Sydney Olympics.

Dr Chris Bradshaw during his time at Geelong.

Collingwood said in a statement to the Herald Sun: “Collingwood is aware of, but not involved in, a matter pertaining to Dr Chris Bradshaw and the Australian Health Practitioner Regulation Agency.

“Chris will not be fulfilling his role as Collingwood physician in charge while this matter proceeds.

“Collingwood is not in a position to make any further comment.”

Bradshaw’s registration details in the AHPRA database state: “Pursuant to section 191(3)(c) of the Act Dr Bradshaw is reprimanded”.

That section states: “If a panel decides a registered health practitioner or student has an impairment, or that a practitioner has behaved in a way that constitutes unsatisfactory professional performance or unprofessional conduct, the panel may decide to ... for a performance and professional standards panel, caution or reprimand the practitioner”.

AHPRA defines a reprimand as: “A chastisement for conduct; a formal rebuke”.