Revealed: The bombshell alleged text messages that saw footy star Joel Smith accused of trafficking cocaine
Suspended Melbourne utility Joel Smith has been accused by Sports Integrity Australia of trafficking or attempting to traffic in cocaine, casting further doubt on his already precarious AFL career.
Smith has been provisionally suspended since October, when he was informed of a positive cocaine test following the Demons’ win over Hawthorn on August 20.
But in a dramatic escalation on Tuesday, the AFL confirmed Sports Integrity Australia (SIA) had charged Smith with three Australian Football Anti-Doping Code anti-doping rule violations (ADRVs) for allegedly ‘trafficking or attempting to traffic’ cocaine to the third-place team. parties.
According to the code, human trafficking is defined as “the sale, giving, transportation, shipping, delivery or distribution of a controlled substance by an athlete… to a third party.”
After checking Smith’s phone, officials reportedly discovered multiple text messages sent by the player that referenced cocaine, reports said News Corp.
Joel Smith has been charged with trafficking or attempted trafficking in cocaine, with the shocking development putting his career in doubt
Officials have reportedly discovered text messages sent by Smith (pictured with partner Elise Carroll) referencing cocaine
In a message he allegedly sent to Demon teammates last year, Smith allegedly offered a quantity of the drug in question.
It has not been confirmed how much cocaine was offered or how many teammates the text message was sent to.
Smith was also served with another ADRV for possession of cocaine on September 9, 2022.
He was already facing a ban of up to four years under the AFL’s Anti-Doping Code for his positive cocaine test.
It is unclear how much the additional costs could add to any suspension, or when that would be determined.
Smith remains provisionally suspended and cannot train or play with his teammates, and the AFL confirmed under the code that the new alleged offenses will be further investigated by SIA.
The 27-year-old’s case could be heard at the AFL Anti-Doping Tribunal in the coming months.
Smith is said to have offered Melbourne Demons teammates a quantity of the drug in a text message
The 27-year-old is already in trouble after reportedly failing a drugs test taken on matchday last season
A source close to the investigation said Smith should not be made a scapegoat for what they suggested was a wider club issue.
“It appears they are planning to hang Joel out to dry due to behavior that is common in Melbourne,” the source told News Corp.
‘It’s not unusual for a group of young men to party together and share drugs. Joel may be foolish, but he’s certainly no Tony Mokbel.
‘The club should take responsibility for what is happening to Joel, rather than blaming him to cover up a much wider problem. Joel is not a bad apple in a barrel of clean apples; the whole joint is rotten.”
This adds to a nightmare off-season for Melbourne, with their culture repeatedly questioned.
Demons chief executive Gary Pert recently claimed the club’s culture was ‘the best I’ve seen in 40 years’.
His comment came amid significant concerns over Smith’s positive test and the conduct of teammate Clayton Oliver, who recently returned to the squad after taking personal leave.
The 27-year-old faces a ban of up to four years while SIA continues its investigation
The Demons released a statement late on Tuesday night confirming they had been informed by the AFL of Smith’s new alleged breaches.
Melbourne also said Smith’s management had contacted the Demons and insisted the comments to News Corp suggesting the 27-year-old was being scapegoated did not come from their camp and did not reflect his views.
“Joel has made it very clear that he has no issues or concerns with anyone at the Melbourne Football Club,” the Demons said.
Melbourne stressed they could not make public comments about the violations against Smith while the investigation was ongoing.
The versatile tall Smith has struggled with injuries throughout his career but played 14 of his 42 games for Melbourne last year, including the Demons’ two narrow final defeats to Collingwood and Carlton.
He is the son of former Melbourne and North Melbourne high flyer Shaun Smith.