Lachie Whitfield: GWS Giants star denies drugs scandal, says former lover is source of allegations
GWS Giants star Lachie Whitfield, who is at the centre of an AFL probe, claims he is the victim of revenge. His ex-girlfriend, meanwhile, admitted she “might” be the source of the allegations and called him a ‘c***’.
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GWS Giants AFL star Lachie Whitfield has told those closest to him that he categorically denies taking illicit drugs and is simply the victim of a former lover’s bitter revenge.
His ex-girlfriend, Sammi Nowland, told The Daily Telegraph yesterday Whitfield was a “c***” and admitted she “might” be the source that sparked the investigation into allegations he tried to avoid drug testers.
Whitfield, 22, and Miss Nowland were once a glamour couple gracing red carpet events like 2014’s Kevin Sheedy Medal before the pair split in June last year.
When asked if she had helped the Giants by supplying them with incriminating text messages, Miss Nowland replied: “I might (have), but I can’t talk right now.”
The drama started last year when Whitfield’s ex-partner emailed the club’s former football manager Graeme Allan, with allegations of illicit drug use stemming from text message exchanges between the player and Miss Nowland.
It’s understood there are messages from Whitfield attempting to find out why Ms Nowland was trying to ruin his career.
The messages also allegedly highlight the role played by Allan and former Giants welfare manager Craig Lambert, who both stand accused of secretly hiding the former No. 1 draft pick away from drug testers at Lambert’s home.
The AFL confirmed yesterday that its Integrity Department has been investigating the matter and will now forward its findings to ASADA.
Why the AFL has allowed the inquiry to drag on for more than 12 months only for the details to leak out on the eve of the club’s historic finals’ debut against premiership favourites Sydney remains unclear.
It’s understood Whitfield has stressed his innocence in the drug drama that threatens to derail or at least overshadow the Giants’ historic maiden finals match against the Sydney Swans.
GWS has cleared Whitfield of any wrongdoing in an independent investigation conducted by a senior counsel last July and have given him their full backing — declaring he will play against the Swans on Saturday week.
Whitfield was investigated by an independent QC hired by the Giants and as far as GWS are concerned he has no case to answer after the QC found there was no grounds to sanction him based on the evidence at hand.
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