The AFL covered up players’ illegal drug use by giving them secret tests and getting them to fake injuries, politician claims

A whistleblowing doctor has revealed allegations of secret illegal drug tests carried out to allow AFL players to avoid detection on game days, federal MP Andrew Wilkie says.

Mr Wilkie told Parliament about the allegations made by a former club doctor and chairman of the Melbourne Demons football club.

He described the allegations as credible, detailed and provided in signed statements submitted to him, clearly identifying the sources of the documents.

“I rise to draw the attention of the House to deeply disturbing allegations of egregious misconduct within the AFL, led by former Melbourne Football Club president Glen Bartlett, former Melbourne Football Club doctor Zeeshan Arain and Shaun Smith, father of Melbourne- player and now alleged drug trafficker Joel Smith,” he told parliament on Tuesday evening.

Wilkie said the allegations include former AFL CEO Gillon McLachlan (pictured, centre) showing “deliberate inaction” on drugs in the game.

‘The allegations include the prevalence of drug abuse and other prohibited conduct in the AFL, off-the-books drug testing of players at Dorevitch Pathology in Heidelberg, facilitated by former AFL chief medical officer Peter Harcourt, the resting of players who test positive in these secret tests, ostensibly due to injury, deliberate inaction by AFL chairman Richard Goyder and former CEO Gill McLachlan and the removal of Mr Bartlett as Melbourne president after he suggested to Mr Goyder and Mr McLachlan that AFL officials regularly to have drugs tested.’

Mr Wilkie said Dr Arain had said the AFL wanted players to compete at all costs.

“If there are no illegal drugs in the player’s system they are free to play, and if there are drugs in their system the player is often asked to simulate an injury,” Mr Wilkie said.

Wilkie told parliament some AFL stars are dependent on cocaine (stock image)

‘They are advised to lie about a condition, while the results of the off-the-book tests are kept secret and never shared with Sports Integrity Australia or WADA (World Anti Doping Agency).

“In other words, hundreds of thousands of Australians will watch the match without knowing the match was secretly rigged by the AFL and thousands of Australians will bet on that match without knowing the match was secretly rigged by the AFL.”

Mr Wilkie said Dr Arain claimed it was not a Melbourne problem but an ‘AFL problem’ with a number of players arriving in the city from other states with pre-existing cocaine addictions.

The father of Melbourne star Joel Smith (pictured) – who has been charged with cocaine trafficking – said in a statement as Wilkie read out in parliament that the AFL has a “major drugs problem”.

“The documents in my possession also indicate a shocking unwillingness by senior AFL managers to tackle drug abuse by players and managers, particularly in relation to cocaine use.

‘For example, here are very detailed notes from a telephone meeting between Gill McLachlan, Richard Goyder and Glen Bartlett.’

Wilkie also filed a statement from Smith, which read in part: “If I had known of a huge drug problem in the AFL when my son was 14, I would have said you play baseball, you play something else.

“Something is wrong when you have so many broken players.”

The AFL and Melbourne Football Club have been contacted for comment.