AFL boss sends players a harsh warning after ending Joel Smith’s career with a monster ban for taking cocaine

AFL boss Andrew Dillon says the four-year ban imposed on Melbourne’s Joel Smith for trafficking cocaine is a “salutary lesson” for any player considering using illegal substances.

The ban for Smith, who has been sidelined since it was revealed he tested positive for cocaine on matchday in 2023, was confirmed on Friday afternoon and will last four years and three months, virtually ending his 42-match AFL career and banning him play football at every level until 2028.

Dillon welcomed the outcome, which came after a lengthy investigation that found Smith sent a text message to teammates asking if they wanted to share the drugs he obtained, leading to the human trafficking charge.

“The outcome in this case, in which Joel Smith has been banned for more than four years, reflects the seriousness with which the AFL treats breaches of the Australian Football Anti-Doping Code and is a salutary lesson for any player who uses illegal substances that are illegal. prohibited under the WADA code,” Dillon said.

‘The use of performance-enhancing substances is strictly prohibited in Australian football and the AFL will continue to work with Sport Integrity Australia to identify and investigate the use of such substances in competition and other conduct prohibited by the Australian Football Anti-Doping Code prosecute.

“The AFL in no way condones the use of illegal drugs. If a player chooses to use illegal drugs, the potential consequences are significant, including risks to health and safety and loss of the privilege of playing professional football, as happened here.”

Under the terms of the suspension, Smith is barred from competing in sports that have adopted an anti-doping policy compliant with the World Anti-Doping Code until January 9, 2028, although he may return to training from November 2027.

The ban means Smith will not be allowed to play at any level in Australian football until early 2028.

The 28-year-old (pictured with fiancée Elise Carroll) is also not allowed to practice any other sport that falls under the World Anti-Doping Code.

Text messages sent by Smith referencing the drug were discovered during the investigation as a result of his positive test result

Smith, now 28, initially tested positive after the Demons’ Round 23 win at Hawthorn on August 20, 2023.

During the subsequent investigation, text messages sent by Smith referencing cocaine were discovered.

Smith was banned for:

– Presence of cocaine and its metabolite, Benzoylecgonine, detected in a sample provided during an in-match doping control test on August 20, 2023, following a match between Melbourne and Hawthorn at the MCG;

– Trafficking and/or attempted trafficking in cocaine on and/or between July 28, 2022 and July 30, 2022;

– Trafficking and/or attempted trafficking in cocaine on and/or between September 5, 2022 and September 10, 2022;

– Trafficking and/or attempted trafficking in cocaine on and/or between April 12, 2020 and September 7, 2020; And

– Possession of cocaine on September 9, 2022.

The Australian Football Anti-Doping Code states that human trafficking in an anti-doping context is relevantly defined as ‘the selling, giving, transporting, sending, supplying or distributing of a prohibited substance by an athlete… to a third party’.

Smith will not face criminal charges.