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AFL won’t seek out Wilkie drug documents: Dillon

Andrew Dillon isn't that interested in reading documents about alleged illicit drug use in the AFL.

Andrew Dillon isn't that interested in reading documents about alleged illicit drug use in the AFL. Photo: AAP

The AFL won’t examine documents alleging widespread drug use and a secret testing regime in the sport, the league’s chief executive Andrew Dillon says.

Sport Integrity Australia (SIA) is investigating claims about secretive illicit drug tests in the AFL raised under parliamentary privilege by federal MP Andrew Wilkie.

Wilkie told parliament last week he had documents alleging widespread drug use at the Melbourne club and also detailing a league-wide secret testing regime.

Wilkie said the documents came from the Demons’ former club doctor Zeeshan Arain and ex-president Glen Bartlett.

Despite the ensuing furore, the AFL’s Dillon says he hasn’t read the Wilkie documents.

“No, I haven’t seen them,” Dillon told reporters in Adelaide on Wednesday.

Asked if would like to, Dillion replied: “I heard what Andrew had to say.

“I’m not sure they (the documents) will necessarily add a great deal.

“The doctor that was there, he has been out of the game for four years. Glen Bartlett served Melbourne very well for a period of a time.”

The Wilkie documents revealed a secretive so-called ‘off the books’ regime where players were tested for illicit drugs mid-week by club doctors.

If testing positive, doctors told the player in some cases to fake an injury and not play the next weekend to avoid the risk of a positive match-day test.

Dillion last week said the AFL was “unapolegtic” about the practice, which prompted surprise from many coaches and players that it existed.

The AFL runs its own illicit drugs policy in addition to falling under the World Anti-Doping Authority code, enforced by in Australia by SIA.

The AFL is currently reviewing its illicit drugs policy introduced in 2005.

“The illicit drugs policy has been in place for 19 years, it has served our game really well,” Dillon said.

“It has looked after a number of players, it continues to serve us well.

“We are reviewing the policy. It needs to be cutting edge, it needs to be fit for purpose for 2024 and beyond.

“I think informed debate is good as well, and the more informed debate we have the better.”

– AAP

Topics: AFL
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