AFL boss Andrew Dillon says four-year drugs ban for Joel Smith should be a wake-up call to players

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

The ban for Smith, who has been sidelined since it was revealed he tested positive to cocaine on match day in 2023, was confirmed on Friday afternoon and is for four years and three months, all but ending his 42-game AFL career and prohibits him playing football at any level until 2028.

Dillon welcomed the outcome which came after a lengthy investigation during which it was established Smith had sent a text message to teammates asking them if they wanted to share drugs he had obtained, which brought about the trafficking charge.

“The outcome in this matter, in which Joel Smith has been suspended 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 using illicit substances that are 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 prosecute the use of such substances In-Competition and other conduct prohibited by the Australian Football Anti-Doping Code.

“The AFL does not in any way condone the use of illicit drugs. If a player chooses to use illicit drugs, the potential consequences are substantial, including risks to health and safety and of losing the privilege of playing professional football, as has occurred here.”

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

The ban means Smith is prohibited from playing at any level of Australian Football until early 2028.

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

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

Smith was banned for:

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

- Trafficking and/or Attempted Trafficking of Cocaine on and/or between 28 July 2022 and 30 July 2022;

- Trafficking and/or Attempted Trafficking of Cocaine on and/or between 5 September 2022 and 10 September 2022;

- Trafficking and/or Attempted Trafficking of Cocaine on and/or between 12 April 2020 and 7 September 2020; and

- Possession of Cocaine on 9 September 2022.

The Australian Football Anti-Doping Code states trafficking in an anti-doping context is relevantly defined to be “Selling, giving, transporting, sending, delivering or distributing a Prohibited Substance, by an Athlete … to any third party”.

Smith is not facing any criminal charges.