The Dolphins have covered up their jersey sponsor, Alternaleaf, a clinic that prescribes medical cannabis, following legal advice as the Therapeutic Goods Administration (TGA) reviews the world’s first sponsorship.
The TGA has launched legal action in the Federal Court of Australia against Montu Group Pty Ltd, its subsidiary Alternaleaf Pty Ltd and its joint director, Mr Christopher Strauch.
Montu and Alternaleaf are alleged to have illegally advertised medicinal cannabis using terms including “medical cannabis” and “medicinal plant” to promote the Alternaleaf online clinic, which allowed patients to purchase prescription-only medications after completing an online consultation process. .
They are accused of illegally advertising medical cannabis on websites and social media, including the Dolphins’ controversial sponsorship deal, which is a world first in terms of the medical cannabis brand being displayed on a jersey.
Dolphins’ Jamayne Isaako with the Alternaleaf logo plastered during the game against Parramatta in Darwin
Jack Bostock is also pictured with Alternaleaf’s medical cannabis logo covered with the company embroiled in a legal dispute with the Therapeutic Goods Administration (TGA).
The Dolphins are not involved in the court case and there is no suggestion of wrongdoing by the NRL club.
However, the club has been forced to hide the sponsor’s logo while legal proceedings continue.
The decision to remove the sponsor did little to dampen the Dolphins’ enthusiasm against Parramatta on Friday, winning 44-16 in TIO Stadium in Darwin.
Despite missing several key players, the Dolphins picked apart Parramatta’s tired defense from long range, escaping eight tries to one in the second half.
The Dolphins made history in March by becoming the first NRL club to sign a sponsorship deal with a medicinal cannabis company, signing a two-year deal with Alternaleaf, Australia’s largest plant medicine clinic.
Some players, such as Dolphins forward Josh Kerr, had their tape fall off in the wet conditions of the Northern Territory.
And eagle-eyed NRL fans would have noticed that the Dolphins players had the tape on their chest to cover the Alternaleaf sponsor logo.
It was, a plan that backfired in Darwin’s wet conditions when the tape came off many players as the second half began.
The Dolphins are likely to continue covering the logo with duct tape while the sponsorship deal is investigated for potentially violating Australian advertising laws.
Although medicinal cannabis is legal in Australia, the TGA prohibits the advertising of prescription medicines, including medical cannabis consultations.
A club spokesperson said covering the Alternaleaf logo was based on legal advice pending the TGA’s review of the sponsorship deal.
“There has obviously been some noise around this issue this week,” a club spokesperson told the Sydney Morning Herald.
“The Dolphins have taken some advice to be proactive until the matter can finally be resolved with a definitive conclusion.”
Previously, Montu spokeswoman Kelly King said she did not believe the Dolphins’ sponsorship deal breached the TGA’s advertising laws.
“What we are promoting is a health care clinic, and while there are rules on how to do that, we have reviewed them accordingly,” he said.
‘The TGA has confirmed to us in writing that partnerships between sports teams and entities involved in the supply of therapeutic products are not prohibited by law.
‘Alternaleaf is a healthcare clinic with over 150,000 patients and we are promoting our expert doctors and the ease of the booking process. We do not consider the promotion of our clinic problematic.’
The Dolphins showed no sign the sponsorship drama was impacting them, running out eight tries in the second half to blitz the Eels.
Dolphins livewire Trai Fuller had a great game filling in for the injured Hamiso Tabui-Fidow at fullback in the big win.
Last week, Foxtel and Channel Nine adapted their broadcasts to avoid showing the controversial logo.
Fox Sports did not conduct player interviews during its last broadcast of a Dolphins game, unlike before, but Channel Nine did show a post-game interview where the Alternaleaf logo was visible.
Injuries ruled out Dolphins players Tom Gilbert, Thomas Flegler, Felise Kaufusi, Herbie Farnworth and Hamiso Tabuai-Fidow for the game against Parramatta, with coach Wayne Bennett also absent due to illness.
However, the team managed to dominate the game, showing impressive attacking skills despite the challenging weather.
“I’m very proud of the effort,” said substitute coach Kristian Woolf.
“There were many reasons for us to make excuses and not put on a performance, but we didn’t.”