Buzzby

Marijuana Tests Confirm AFL Concern
Jake Niall, Caroline Wilson & Michael Gleeson | The Age | 03/14/2006

A DISPROPORTIONATE number of indigenous players have tested positive to marijuana under the AFL's out-of-competition testing regime, heightening AFL concern about the impact of the new World Anti-Doping Agency drug code on Aboriginal players.

Sources have confirmed to The Age that the out-of-competition testing program has shown that Aboriginal players made up an extremely high percentage of positive tests to marijuana, the most widespread illicit drug.

There are 55 indigenous footballers on AFL lists in 2006 — about 8 per cent of all AFL players — and a much greater number of its stars, but The Age understands that indigenous players compromise several times that percentage — about 50 per cent in 2004 and close to 75 per cent in 2005 — of the positive tests to marijuana. The tests were all out of competition.

There is concern in club circles at the overwhelming proportion of positive tests involving indigenous players, a trend that has prompted senior club officials to alert the AFL of the problem. The AFL is already understood to have responded to club concerns and is already looking at establishing appropriate counselling services.

Cannabis accounts for the majority of the AFL's out of competition positive tests.

The AFL fought hard — and unsuccessfully — against the Federal Government's demand that it adopt the WADA drug code, on the grounds that as a non-performance-enhancing drug, cannabis should not carry such heavy penalties for positive tests in competition.

The positive tests to illicit drugs thus far — at least 15 players in 2005 — were all out of competition. Three players from non-Victorian clubs, including a premiership player, have recorded two positive tests to illicit drugs. A third positive test would force the player to face the tribunal.

The revelation of the disproportionate figures for indigenous players could create an image problem for the AFL, which has worked hard against racism and whose racial vilification rules were groundbreaking in Australian sport in the mid- 1990s.

The AFL has also placed great emphasis on development of indigenous players at grass roots level across Australia, viewing Aboriginal football as a significant source of talent and spectator appeal.

Marijuana poses a major problem for the league, too, because, unlike cocaine and ecstasy and amphetamines, the drugs stays within the user's system for several weeks. This makes it difficult to ascertain whether a test is in or out of competition.

The marijuana clause of the new AFL drug code was also strongly resisted by the players association, which continue to protest that such a test is a breach of the player's civil liberties.

The AFL could not be reached for comment last night.

Last Friday, The Age revealed that at least 15 players had tested positive to illicit drugs, with at least one player on the verge of a third strike, which would have led to them facing the tribunal and a potential ban.

A prominent player manager said yesterday he would press the AFL for a drug summit to reconsider the validity of tandem drug testing codes and evaluate if the current system is the most effective method of preventing drug use among players. Many player managers and clubs are troubled at the testing of players for drugs that are not performance enhancing.

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