Carlton recruit Elijah Hollands facing drugs charges – on same day Melbourne’s Joel Smith was suspended after testing positive for cocaine

New Carlton recruit Elijah Hollands is set to appear in court on drugs charges – in the second drugs scandal to rock the AFL in 24 hours.

Hollands, 21, joined the Blues from Gold Coast on deadline day on Wednesday.

The club already knew about his upcoming court appearance for allegedly possessing an illicit substance and he will start training at Carlton with the rest of the squad in November. 

‘The club was notified last month by Hollands, who was a Gold Coast Suns player at the time, given its existing interest in bringing him to the football club,’ Carlton said in a statement.

‘An informed decision was then made to proceed with the recruitment and the club will now provide the necessary support to Hollands.

‘He will commence pre-season training upon its scheduled resumption in November.

‘As the matter is currently before the courts, the club will make no further comment at this time.’

Gold Coast also released a statement saying the charge related to a ‘small quantity of an illicit substance’.

‘All players receive extensive education on the AFL’s Illicit Drugs Policy and are fully aware of the behaviours and standards expected of them as AFL players,’ the club said.

‘The AFL Integrity Unit have been made aware and are in the process of conducting their own investigation.’

It comes on the same day Melbourne Demons star Joel Smith was provisionally suspended by the AFL after testing positive to cocaine.

Melbourne Demons star Joel Smith has been provisionally suspended by the AFL after testing positive to a banned substance, believed to be cocaine

The league confirmed they are ‘working with’ Smith on the matter, with the ban effective immediately.

The AFL said a urine sample taken from Smith after the round 23 game versus Hawthorn at the MCG returned a positive test to cocaine.

Smith, 27 – who featured in Melbourne’s two losing finals – is aware of the result after he was informed by Sports Integrity Australia.

The maximum penalty for an in-competition test is a four-year ban.

But if Smith can prove the breach was unintentional, he will only be sidelined for a month.

Smith, 27, was tested on August 20 after the Demons beat Hawthorn at the MCG

Smith kicked three goals in Melbourne’ semi-final loss to Carlton and became a father for the first time in September

‘It is asserted that a sample provided by Smith during an in-competition doping control test on 20 August 2023 returned an AAF for the presence of cocaine and its metabolite benzoylecgonine being a prohibited substance under the code,’ the AFL said in statement.

‘Smith was tested after the Round 23 Melbourne vs Hawthorn game on Sunday August 20, 2023 and was notified by Sport Integrity Australia last week in relation to the finding. 

‘The AFL was made aware of the test results at the same time.

‘The matter is now progressing in accordance with the code, initially involving further investigation by Sport Integrity Australia supported by the AFL.

‘In the interim Smith will not be part of Melbourne’s football program.’

Smith forced his way into the Demons side in round 12 against Carlton and then featured in every game for the remainder of the season.

He kicked three goals in Melbourne’ semi-final loss to Carlton and became a father for the first time in September.