By Jake Niall
Collingwood's Sam Murray argued that he had inadvertently ingested a tiny amount of cocaine before he was given an 18-month suspension that has given him hope of reviving his football career.
Murray, who has already served 12 months of suspension, will be free to play from February 17 next year, after the AFL Anti-Doping Tribunal accepted that he had not deliberately taken the drug to improve his on-field performance and that he was not significantly at fault.
Magpie Sam Murray during last year's match against the Tigers.Credit: AAP
In evidence before the hearing, Murray suggested there was no deliberate use of the drug in the events that led to his positive test.
Murray could have received a four-year penalty, but the fact that the tribunal accepted he had not taken the drug for performance enhancement meant he was facing, at worst, a two year ban.
To get the suspension further reduced, the Collingwood defender had to reduce his level of fault or negligence. The fact that he received 18 months, rather than two years, indicated that the tribunal accepted that he had ingested the very low level of the drug inadvertently.
ASADA had actually offered Murray a two-year ban before there was a hearing, a deal that he declined to take.
By fighting the case, Murray has given himself a chance to play again in 2020, because a two-year ban would have wiped out next year as well. He will be free to train with a club from December 17.
ASADA has 21 days in which to decide whether to appeal the finding. The World Anti-Doping Agency also is entitled to appeal the verdict, including the length of the suspension.
For Murray, who was put onto Collingwood's rookie list after the ASADA investigation, it is a question of whether Collingwood will keep him on their list, if another AFL club picks him up or if he plays in a second-tier competition such as the VFL. He has been training up in Wangaratta this year.
Murray and his legal team used a toxicologist to give evidence at last week's tribunal hearing, to explain that the extremely low level of the drug found in a urine test showed that the drug could not have been taken deliberately. ASADA also had an expert in that field give evidence.
In a statement, Murray said he was committed to continuing his AFL career. “I note the penalty given to me by the AFL Anti-Doping Tribunal.
"I want to thank my family and friends, management, Collingwood Football Club, legal team and the AFLPA for their continued support.
"During the past 12 months I have been able to reflect on what is important to me. I’m more committed than ever before to continue my AFL career and can now focus on doing everything in my power to keep that dream alive.
"I will wait for the Tribunal to deliver the full reasons for its decisions and will be in a position to provide further comment at that time.”
Murray had been under provisional suspension since August 17 of last year, having tested positive to markers of cocaine on game day back in July.