The Australian Football League (AFL) is currently embroiled in a significant controversy following allegations aired in federal parliament by Andrew Wilkie and reported by multiple news outlets. It has been claimed that the AFL's top medical officer authorized secret illicit drug tests on players to help them evade detection on match days. These allegations were notably discussed in federal parliament and have been described as a potential 'cover-up' by the AFL. The Melbourne Demons, a team in the AFL, have been specifically accused of conducting these off-the-books drug tests, as revealed by a former Melbourne Demons doctor. In response to these allegations, the AFL has released a statement regarding its Illicit Drug Policy, and AFL chief executive Andrew Dillon has addressed the media. This scandal has been compared to the Essendon drugs scandal, indicating the severity of the allegations and the impact on the AFL community.
The AFL has admitted it empowers club doctors to remove players from matches if they are at risk of testing positive for illicit drugs on match day, after Melbourne were accused of conducting off-the-books drug tests on their players. https://t.co/VtSpOlKnq7
Claims the AFL authorised secret drug tests to help players evade detection on match days have rocked the football community, with greats calling it the “biggest controversy since the Essendon drugs scandal”. > https://t.co/5nfmwPyS4i https://t.co/HvikqkPzNq
#LIVE: The AFL addresses the media over bombshell drug claims by a former Melbourne Demons doctor. #9News https://t.co/ehmd5JMo2W
Watch live: AFL chief executive Andrew Dillon is speaking after bombshell drug test claims. https://t.co/VtSpOlKnq7
The AFL has released a statement regarding its Illicit Drug Policy. https://t.co/wjY9lmqJrb
AFL drug scandal: Andrew Wilkie reveals alleged secret drug tests on players – video https://t.co/UHhvvNLklP
#LIVE: The AFL addresses the media over bombshell drug claims by a former Melbourne Demons doctor. https://t.co/HkGIvBQaLi
Melbourne have been accused of conducting off-the-books drug tests on their players in a bid to avoid them testing positive to illicit substances on match days. https://t.co/VtSpOlKnq7
The AFL has been hit with an illicit drugs bombshell, bizarrely aired in federal parliament last night. #9News https://t.co/G5wZh7tnJz
‘I did off-the-books drug tests of AFL players’ https://t.co/vImCrroJv8
‘Off the books’ drug test claims in bombshell AFL ‘cover-up’ https://t.co/lh6yVU4rfW
Federal parliament has been told of secret illicit drug tests allegedly authorised by the AFL’s top medico to help players evade detection on match day > https://t.co/NtetXBTvJx https://t.co/OcHTRi1tOt