- Koch called code drug testing bombshell ‘beyond belief’
- TOFL greats Garry Lyon and Mick Malthouse equally surprised
- ‘Off-the-book’ drug tests exposed by federal MP Andrew Wilkie
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Port Adelaide president David Koch has criticized the AFL after a politician accused the league of covering up stars’ positive drug test results, saying the allegations are “unbelievable”.
This follows Federal MP Andrew Wilkie airing the explosive allegations in Parliament on Tuesday, with the AFL confirming secret tests had been carried out.
“I’m reluctant to comment because I only know what we’ve all read in the newspaper and the accusations,” Koch told FIVEaa.
“Obviously the AFL will look into it closely. “Having a deliberate route to avoid testing seems incredible to me.
‘If you are a serious participant signing up for WADA (World Anti-Doping Agency) procedures, you would think that every ‘I’ would be dotted and every ‘T’ crossed to do the right thing.
Power boss David Koch was left in a state of disbelief after explosive allegations against the AFL were leveled in federal parliament on Tuesday night.
AFL great Garry Lyon (pictured with Demons coach Simon Goodwin after winning the 2021 Grand Final) was equally stunned.
“So I’m as surprised as anyone.”
Koch’s damning criticism comes as Melbourne Demons great Garry Lyon feels Wilkie’s explosive claims will result in greater scrutiny around the code’s controversial three-strike policy.
“Everyone has been saying the same thing in football for almost 18 years,” he said on SEN Breakfast on Wednesday.
‘How is it possible to have a three-strike drug system that catches just one person?’
“Now there will be suspicion about anyone who retires late… the average fan will say, ‘Oh, late retirement, what’s going on here?’
AFL Hall of Fame coach Mick Malthouse is still struggling to understand Wilkie’s revelations.
‘It’s quite damning, it’s a big surprise. “I can’t believe how angry I am,” Malthouse told the Today show.
“We have an obligation to the health of the players and an obligation to the game… we want the players to play good football without compromises.”
AFL Hall of Fame coach Mick Malthouse told Today: “This is almost on the same level as the Essendon saga – in fact, it might even go further.”
‘This is almost on the same level as the Essendon saga; in fact, it could even go further. This suggests that AFL officials are involved in this.
“It’s so damning… it will put all the players, all the club officials and, in particular, the club doctors, under scrutiny.”
“I’ve been in football for 50 years and do you think how that can be possible?”
Former Hawthorn and Gold Coast player Campbell Brown also claimed the current illicit drug allegations leveled at the AFL are the “biggest controversy” since the Essendon drugs scandal.