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Everything you need to know about the drug allegations against Joel Smith

By Andrew Wu

February 21, 2024 — 1.20pm

The news

Melbourne forward Joel Smith has been accused of trafficking cocaine as part of a probe into his failed drugs tests last year.

In an alarming development for Smith and the Demons, who are already under scrutiny over their club culture, Smith is facing three fresh doping violation allegations from Sport Integrity Australia for the alleged trafficking, or attempted trafficking, of cocaine.

Joel Smith celebrates one of the three goals he kicked against Carlton in last year’s semi-final.Credit: AFL Photos

Smith is also alleged to have been in possession of cocaine on September 9, 2022, the day of the Demons’ semi-final defeat against Brisbane. He was an unused substitute in that match.

A report in the Herald Sun alleged that Sport Integrity Australia officials had found multiple text messages sent by Smith referencing cocaine, including one where he offered a quantity of the drug to a teammate. The integrity body has access to athletes’ phones as part of their investigations.

Under the AFL’s anti-doping code, which follows the World Anti-Doping Agency’s code, Smith faces a minimum four-year ban if found guilty of trafficking or attempted trafficking.

How we got here

Smith tested positive for cocaine and its metabolite, benzoylecgonine, on August 20 last year after Melbourne’s round 23 match against Hawthorn.

The AFL was not notified of the adverse finding by Sport Integrity Australia until mid-October, after Smith had taken part in the Demons’ failed finals campaign.

Smith’s troubles come as champion on-baller Clayton Oliver battles what the club says are personal issues, which led to an extended absence from pre-season training.

Coach Simon Goodwin and chief executive Gary Pert defended the Demons’ culture last October, the latter, whose involvement at the elite level as a player or administrator started in 1982, saying it was the best he had seen “in 40 years”.

Who’s investigating?

Because Smith’s positive test was returned on match day, this is a Sport Integrity Australia investigation. Neither the AFL nor Melbourne are investigating. This means Smith’s future in the game does not rest in the hands of the league or his employer.

It is similar to the situation of Essendon players during the supplements scandal – the players’ bans were handed down by WADA, not the AFL.

Police have said they are assessing information given to them by Sport Integrity Australia.

What they said

Melbourne skipper Max Gawn said he found suggestions the Dees had a drugs culture “quite shocking”.

“All I can say is, for 16 years I have been getting drug tested, for 10 years I have been getting hair tested, AFL and AFLPA look after that, and in that 10 years, I have never been told our club has a drug culture,” Gawn said.

The Demons released a statement on Tuesday night denying claims from an unnamed source in a Herald Sun report suggesting Smith’s problems were part of a wider issue at the club.

Melbourne coach Simon Goodwin.Credit: AFL Photos

“It should be noted since the article has been published on the Herald Sun website, Joel’s management has contacted the club on his behalf to advise that the comments made by the source within the article are not reflective of Joel’s views and the source is not speaking on any authority from Joel,” the club said.

“Joel has made it very clear that he has no issues or concerns with anyone at the Melbourne Football Club. As the club has previously stated, we will wait for the investigation to be completed before we update our supporters further.”

AFL CEO Andrew Dillon said on Wednesday that “there have been issues over the off-season, but I think they [the Demons] have great leadership, they have a great list. They do have things to work on, but they are a very experienced club led by a very experienced CEO and a great captain.”

What is the world anti-doping code and what does it enforce?

The aim of the world anti-doping code, of which the AFL is a signatory, is to ensure an athlete’s right to participate in doping-free sport, and imposes sanctions for those found guilty of doping.

Under changes in the WADA code, Smith had initially been hoping for a three-month sanction “if the athlete can establish that any ingestion or use occurred out-of-competition and was unrelated to sport performance”.

The penalty could be reduced to one month “if the athlete or other person satisfactorily completes” an approved substance of abuse treatment program.

But Smith is liable to a minimum four-year penalty under the AFL’s anti-doping code if found guilty of trafficking.

If he had returned a positive test out of competition in round 23, instead of on game day, he would have fallen under the AFL’s illicit drugs code and would not been subject to such heavy penalties.

What’s next

Smith’s career remains in limbo, and could stay that way for several months. The AFL said Smith remains provisionally suspended, which means he cannot take part in the Demons’ pre-season training.

The new trafficking charges will be further investigated by Sport Integrity Australia and may also come before an AFL anti-doping tribunal in the coming months.

The Demons will be counting down the clock to the season opener against Sydney on March 7 when, after months of headlines, they can finally talk via their actions on the field.

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