In a stunning revelation to parliament, federal MP Andrew Wilkie disclosed allegations made by a whistleblowing doctor concerning clandestine drug tests purportedly conducted within the AFL to allow players to evade detection on game days.
Wilkie relayed the accusations from a former Melbourne Demons club doctor and football club president, characterizing them as credible and backed by detailed signed statements. These assertions, provided by Glen Bartlett, Zeeshan Arain, and Shaun Smith, father of Melbourne player Joel Smith, were delivered to parliament on Tuesday evening.
The allegations include claims of widespread drug abuse and prohibited behavior across the AFL, off-the-record drug testing of players at Dorevitch Pathology in Heidelberg, overseen by former AFL chief medical officer Peter Harcourt, and the subsequent sidelining of players who tested positive under the guise of injury. Additionally, Wilkie accused AFL officials, including chairman Richard Goyder and former CEO Gill McLachlan, of neglecting to act upon these matters. He also alleged that Bartlett was removed from his position as Melbourne’s president after suggesting regular drug testing for AFL officials.
According to Wilkie, Arain asserted that the AFL prioritized players competing at any cost, even instructing those with illicit drugs in their system to feign injury. He further claimed that the results of these covert tests were withheld from Sports Integrity Australia and WADA.
Wilkie emphasized Arain’s assertion that the issue extended beyond Melbourne, characterizing it as an AFL-wide problem, with players arriving from other states with pre-existing cocaine dependencies. He highlighted a concerning lack of action from senior AFL executives in addressing drug abuse, particularly cocaine use.
Both the AFL and Melbourne Football Club have been approached for comment on these allegations.
