- Demons’ Joel Smith faces two-year ban from sport
- Allegations of secret illicit drug testing raised in parliament
- Players were also reportedly told to fake injuries to avoid testing.
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The father of AFL star Joel Smith, charged with cocaine trafficking and facing a two-year ban from the sport, has criticized the code’s “toxic” drug culture amid explosive cover-up allegations.
Shaun Smith, who scored 109 career games for North Melbourne and the Demons, believes his son, 28, is to blame for his alleged conduct.
But he also points to Joel’s club, the Demons, and the AFL.
It follows explosive allegations from a Melbourne Football Club whistleblower doctor who alleges illicit secret testing is being carried out to allow AFL players to avoid being caught with drugs in their systems on match days.
Others were also allegedly told to fake injuries in an attempt to avoid being tested and suspended for violations of the World Anti-Doping Agency (WADA) code.
The father (pictured left) of AFL star Joel Smith (centre), accused of trafficking cocaine to teammates, has criticized the code’s “toxic” drug culture.
Melbourne Demons star Joel Smith, 28, faces a two-year ban from the sport after testing positive for cocaine on match day last October.
speaking in Radio 3AWSmith claimed his son never used cocaine before playing in the AFL.
“If my son was 17 right now, I’d say you’re not going to AFL football because there’s obviously a bad culture there,” he said.
“The AFL needs to fix that as soon as possible, because it doesn’t just affect the player, it affects friends, partners, everyone.”
While acknowledging that his son bears ultimate responsibility for his actions, Smith also lashed out at the Demons.
“If you create a work environment that is toxic and you know it and you don’t do anything about it, it certainly doesn’t help,” he said.
“Obviously there are a lot of broken players… there is another player in Melbourne who has had his problems.”
It comes as the AFL, led by chief executive Andrew Dillon (pictured), remains “unapologetic” for its secretive drug testing policy.
“If they had fixed it years ago, they might not have had this situation.”
When asked if the AFL needs to review its illegal drugs policy, he offered a hardline solution.
“If you test twice a week, I’m pretty sure the players won’t do it,” Smith said.
“If you know you have a problem with cocaine, which is widespread in society, it’s a horrible drug, it’s a professional sports team, and if you know you have a problem and you choose not to do anything about it, that’s very negligent of you.” of the AFL.’
Host Tom Elliott said he viewed fake injuries as a way to avoid being caught high as a form of cheating, and Smith agreed.
Federal MP Andrew Wilkie (pictured) sparked a storm in the football world when he made sensational allegations against the AFL and the Melbourne Demons in parliament.
“One hundred percent,” he said.
“A lot of people bet on sports…if a player has to retire because he’s going to pass a drug test and his team loses, it opens a huge can of worms.”
Smith added that he did not see a drug culture in football when he played between 1987 and 1998.
Meanwhile, the AFL remains “unapologetic” for secret drug testing that has allegedly been carried out.
They also defended the rights of players to maintain the privacy of their medical information, stating that “doctor-patient confidentiality” is of utmost importance.