quentinProtecting AFL drug cheats is a disgrace...
September 1st 2006 04:57
Forget tribunal inconsistencies and forget bad umpiring. A new monster has arrived and is threatening to rip the heart, and integrity from the AFL.
Drugs in sport will never go away. There will always be cheats using performance enhancers, and fools who succumb to the falsified attractions of illicit, so called ‘recreational’ substances.
Most sporting bodies seek to weed out of its system those who knowingly choose to cheat or break the law. Yet the AFL recently took action against the Sydney Morning Herald to suppress the names of three current players who have twice tested positive to taking illicit drugs outside of game days.
The SMH had confirmed the information it had acquired and went to the AFL for a comment on its drug policy. Not a day later, the AFL had a suppression order stamped on the information by a Sydney Supreme Court.
The judge ruled that it was not in the best interest of the public to be made aware of the players’ names, and doing so would only lead to the vilification of those involved.
So let’s get this straight. Three players in the AFL have twice tested positive to taking banned and illegal substances, yet we, the supporters, members and audience of the code are censored from discovering the names of those involved.
The AFL has a three-strike system when it comes to illicit drugs. Players can take ecstasy, get caught, take cocaine, get caught and still not be named nor prosecuted.
Why does the AFL believe it exists above and beyond the law in Australian society? These substances are illegal, if you or I were caught smoking a joint, not only would we be arrested but also face the prospect of appearing before a Magistrate’s Court.
The AFL spends $5 million a season educating its players about the perils of performance enhancing and illegal drugs – yet still gives its chargers another three shots and learning the rules. AFL players are human, of course and are just as likely to be coaxed into taking banned drugs as anyone else.
But, if they choose to do so and get caught, they should be named, fined and suspended – if not expelled altogether – from the sport.
The AFL is communicating the wrong message, especially to its under-18 TAC Cup competitors. That it is OK to break the law and knowingly use illicit drugs – so long as you are willing to rehabilitate yourself.
What a disgrace. AFL players earn an average wage of $300,000 a year, every athletic male between the ages of 17 and 22 in Australia would line up to play football on the proviso they don’t use illegal drugs.
This is not about character assassinations. It’s about protecting the integrity of Australia’s number one sport.
The AFL must stop protecting those who cannot abide by common law.
The AFL must wash its hands of drug cheats once and for all.
Drugs in sport will never go away. There will always be cheats using performance enhancers, and fools who succumb to the falsified attractions of illicit, so called ‘recreational’ substances.
Most sporting bodies seek to weed out of its system those who knowingly choose to cheat or break the law. Yet the AFL recently took action against the Sydney Morning Herald to suppress the names of three current players who have twice tested positive to taking illicit drugs outside of game days.
The AFL protects players who take illegal drugs - such as cocaine - under it's three-strikes system
The SMH had confirmed the information it had acquired and went to the AFL for a comment on its drug policy. Not a day later, the AFL had a suppression order stamped on the information by a Sydney Supreme Court.
The judge ruled that it was not in the best interest of the public to be made aware of the players’ names, and doing so would only lead to the vilification of those involved.
So let’s get this straight. Three players in the AFL have twice tested positive to taking banned and illegal substances, yet we, the supporters, members and audience of the code are censored from discovering the names of those involved.
The AFL has a three-strike system when it comes to illicit drugs. Players can take ecstasy, get caught, take cocaine, get caught and still not be named nor prosecuted.
Why does the AFL believe it exists above and beyond the law in Australian society? These substances are illegal, if you or I were caught smoking a joint, not only would we be arrested but also face the prospect of appearing before a Magistrate’s Court.
AFL players can take ecstasy and escape the law
The AFL spends $5 million a season educating its players about the perils of performance enhancing and illegal drugs – yet still gives its chargers another three shots and learning the rules. AFL players are human, of course and are just as likely to be coaxed into taking banned drugs as anyone else.
But, if they choose to do so and get caught, they should be named, fined and suspended – if not expelled altogether – from the sport.
The AFL is communicating the wrong message, especially to its under-18 TAC Cup competitors. That it is OK to break the law and knowingly use illicit drugs – so long as you are willing to rehabilitate yourself.
What a disgrace. AFL players earn an average wage of $300,000 a year, every athletic male between the ages of 17 and 22 in Australia would line up to play football on the proviso they don’t use illegal drugs.
This is not about character assassinations. It’s about protecting the integrity of Australia’s number one sport.
The AFL must stop protecting those who cannot abide by common law.
The AFL must wash its hands of drug cheats once and for all.
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Comment by dave
Taking a drug substance for heeling a injury nice and fast is understandable.
The afl should look carefully at this rule and change it Immediately. This will make champion players the likes of hirds,buckleys etc stay longer in the game.
Comment by Glen Atwell
Thanks always for your insightful comments.
I agree that their should be some consideration for injured players (long-term) to be allowed to take steroids for rehabilitation.
But of course, they would have to effectively serve a suspension to ensure no after-effects are still in their system when they return.
The point wasn't about drugs to heal injuries, it was players taking illegal and illicit drugs at nightclubs, parties etc to create desired feelings.
The AFL are protecting drug cheats.
Comment by Anonymous