- Two AFLW players were allegedly caught with cocaine
- Incident allegedly occurred late last year
- Footy has been embroiled in a handful of drug scandals
Two AFLW players were allegedly caught with cocaine during the off-season in a bombshell development for the game.
According to 9News Melbourne, two unnamed stars from the Sydney Swans’ women’s team were charged by police late last year, during the off-season.
The pair received conditional release orders, similar to good behaviour bonds in Victoria, with the AFL revealing it is aware of the incident.
When contacted by Nine, the Swans declined to comment, but key officials were reportedly aware of the issue for months.
The latest story once again highlights footy’s relationship with drugs, with Melbourne Demons star Joel Smith facing a lengthy spell on the sidelines following a failed test.
Two female footy stars were allegedly caught with cocaine late last year
Unlike the two unnamed AFLW players, Smith allegedly failed the test in competition, meaning, if found guilty, he would face a more severe punishment.
Smith has been provisionally suspended since October, when he was notified of a positive cocaine test following the Demons’ round-20 win over Hawthorn on August 20.
Last month, the AFL confirmed Sports Integrity Australia (SIA) had charged Smith with three anti-doping rule violations (ADRVs) of the Australian Football Anti-Doping Code over alleged ‘trafficking or attempted trafficking’ of cocaine to third parties.
Under the code, trafficking is defined as ‘selling, giving, transporting, sending, delivering or distributing a prohibited substance by an athlete … to any third party.’
After reviewing Smith’s phone, officials allegedly discovered multiple text messages sent by the player referencing cocaine, reports News Corp.
In one message he is accused of sending to Demons 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 has also been notified of another ADRV for possession of cocaine on September 9, 2022.
The unnamed pair copped good behaviour bonds and the AFL is aware of the incident
He had already faced a maximum four-year ban under the AFL’s anti-doping code for his positive cocaine test.
It is unclear how much the additional charges could add to any suspension, or when that would be determined.
Smith will remain provisionally suspended and is unable to train or play with his teammates, and the AFL confirmed under the code the new asserted violations will be further investigated by SIA.
The 27-year-old’s matter could be heard at the AFL Anti-Doping Tribunal in the coming months.
More to follow.
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Read more at DailyMail.co.uk