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The SIA said the allegations were “based on a lack of familiarity with the way the AFL operates”.
Drug policy (illegal drugs policy and separate compliance with WADA rules for performance-enhancing drugs)” and “lack of understanding of WADA rules and what constitutes in-competition and out-of-competition testing.
The report also states: “While the idea of AFL club doctors carrying out screening tests may be uncomfortable and may sometimes make it difficult for club doctors to decide whether to disclose the reasons for withdrawal from a match to a player, based on the information available to us this action does not in itself constitute a (doping offence).”
In a statement, the SIA added that the AFL’s voluntary illegal drugs policy was not inconsistent with the National Anti-Doping Program. The SIA agreed that the policy was also developed in accordance with the National Drug Strategy.
“The confidentiality of the medical model (which guides the AFL’s illegal drugs policy) between doctors and players prevents the AFL from sharing information openly, creating a level of skepticism,” the agency said.
SIA is calling for AFLW players to be included in the league’s illegal drugs policy.
“The review made a number of key recommendations but importantly found that no anti-doping rules were breached by AFL players or support staff, no breaches of the World Anti-Doping Code were committed, and no AFL or club doctors feigned injury to cover up this week’s positive drug test results.”
The SIA review found “the purchase of illegal drugs by athletes poses a threat to integrity and noted it is an issue relevant to all sports in Australia”.
It recommended that the AFL expand its BroadCast Unitedligence capabilities to respond to emerging threats.
“Sports Integrity Australia and several partner organisations have found clear evidence across Australian sport of criminals seeking to influence sport through the provision of illicit drugs, including through targeting players or support staff to gain inside information,” Sharp said.
“Without significant cultural intervention to address the culture of illegal drugs across all sports, Sport Integrity Australia is concerned it will have serious impacts on the health and wellbeing of athletes and has the potential to bring the code or teams into disrepute through integrity threats.”
Based on its findings, SIA made a series of recommendations, including:
- independent oversight of the AFL’s illegal drugs policy;
- Introducing AFL-approved guidelines for illegal drug testing within the policy;
- the continued expansion of the AFL Integrity Unit’s BroadCast Unitedligence capabilities;
- Testing of AFLW players in new policy;
- Develop strategies to address the use of illegal drugs by non-athletes;
- Strengthen education on illegal drug policies and anti-doping policies;
- Continue to expand the AFL’s education programs.
The full SIA report is available here here.
AFL chief executive Andrew Dillon said the review vindicated the league’s position since Wilkie made his case in parliament.
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“We have said from the outset that the allegations made by Parliament do not reflect the intent or operation of the illegal drugs policy and we welcome the findings of Sport Integrity Australia which found no evidence to support those allegations,” Mr Dillon said.
He said the AFL supported the SIA’s call for a national roundtable on professional and Olympic sport in Australia with the government, health, law enforcement and education sectors.
Dillon said the roundtable would “discuss how sport should deal with the issue of illegal drugs outside of competition and the AFL will support a national discussion on this topic”.
The results of the study are as follows The Times Exclusive Interview Kate Hall, AFL Head of Mental Healthhe said the league is committed to taking a “harm-minimizing” approach to players.
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