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The AFL has revealed that West Coast Eagles star Willie Rioli has failed an in-competition drug test, in addition to allegations of urine substitution in an earlier test.
Key points:
- Willie Rioli tested positive for a metabolite of cannabis immediately after the Eagles' elimination final on September 5
- Rioli had already been notified of an adverse analytical finding for urine substitution after a drug test on August 20
- The Eagles said they would continue to support Rioli during ASADA's investigations
The Eagles star tested positive for a metabolite of cannabis following a drug test on September 5, after the Eagles' elimination final victory over Essendon.
Under current doping rules, a positive test for an illicit substance on match day is considered performance-enhancing and could attract a ban of several years.
Rioli was previously notified of an adverse analytical finding for urine substitution in an out-of-competition test in August 20, two days after a loss to Richmond in round 22.
The 24-year-old was notified of that adverse finding on September 11, leading to a provisional suspension on the eve of the Eagles' semi-final against Geelong — a match they lost by 20 points.
After being provisionally suspended, Rioli released a statement saying he was sorry for what he described as a "lil mistake".
The penalty for tampering with an ASADA sample is considered a serious breach of anti-doping rules and carries a potential penalty of a four-year ban from football.
Testing timeline:
- August 20: Willie Rioli allegedly supplies ASADA testers with something other than urine in out-of-competition drug test
- September 5: Rioli plays in West Coast's elimination final win over Essendon and provides a positive test for "a metabolite of cannabis" after the game
- September 11: ASADA tells Rioli and AFL about "adverse analytical finding for urine substitution" from test on August 20
- September 12: AFL reveals provisional suspension for Rioli
- September 13: West Coast's premiership defence ends in 20-point semi-final loss to Geelong
- September 24: AFL reveals Rioli's in-competition test on September 5 showed traces of cannabis
"It is important that Rioli be provided a fair process. As a result, the AFL will not be providing further detail on this case at this time," today's statement from the AFL said.
Former ASADA chief executive Richard Ings said it would not be surprising if Rioli was targeted by drug testing officials after the elimination final.
"If a player (allegedly) attempted to substitute a sample one day, then it is guaranteed they would be target tested very soon afterwards," Ings tweeted.
The Eagles released a statement, saying they would continue to support Rioli, who is currently in the Northern Territory with family.
"The club's primary concern remains the health and wellbeing of Willie," the statement read.
"We will continue to support him through this particularly challenging time to assist him while this ongoing investigation runs its course.
"The club will respect the process of the investigation into the circumstances surrounding this case and will cooperate fully with it.
"We expect that these processes will take some months to complete and the club will not be in a position to make further comment until such completion."
West Coast told the ABC that they were going to review drug-testing procedures in the wake of Rioli's previous test.
"Whenever something happens, certainly something as serious as this happens, we have to review it and really improve on whatever the processes are," Eagles chairman Russell Gibbs said.
"It's important that we look after our players and our staff, so it's something that will be part of a review no doubt.
"Our priority therefore is making sure Willie's welfare is looked after."
Rioli was a member of the Eagles' premiership team last year and has played 38 senior matches since being recruited by the club via the 2016 national draft.
Topics: sport, australian-football-league, doping-in-sports, australia, wa, perth-6000
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