Dopey Pies blasted over positive drug tests
Collingwood chief executive Gary Pert says the players at the centre of the club’s drugs scandal have denied knowingly taking a banned substance and were “shell-shocked” when told they had tested positive to performance-enhancing drugs.
Lachie Keeffe and Josh Thomas are facing the prospect of long suspensions after testing positive to clenbuterol, a steroid banned by the World Anti-Doping Agency.
The AFL confirmed the positive tests yesterday.
But Edith Cowan University’s Dr Andrew Gaff, who published reports on drug use in America, said it was inexcusable for a urine sample to contain the drug.
He scoffed at suggestions the pair could use the contaminated-meat excuse, which has been invoked previously by cyclists, notably multiple Tour de France winner Alberto Contador.
The Magpies duo returned from a pre-season training camp in New Zealand a few days before they were tested on February 10.
“Getting caught for clenbuterol is probably the dumbest thing you could ever do because it’s been on the banned list for a long time,” Gaff said.
“It’s pretty well known that it’s one you’ll test positive to. I doubt it’s been used in meat in New Zealand.
“The places that show the biggest use of clenbuterol above the standards are Asia and Mexico.
“I’ve not heard of anything in New Zealand. The likelihood of it being in meat is pretty damn slim.
“We would probably see more New Zealand athletes testing positive.”
Yesterday’s announcement came on the eve of the AFL anti-doping tribunal’s finding on the 34 past and present Essendon players involved in the Bombers’ supplements saga, prompting league chief executive officer Gillon McLachlan to flag a review of drugs policies.
“I think right now if the policies aren’t working then we need to look at them and have a look at what’s going wrong, because after today I think it’s time to actually have a look at them,” McLachlan said.
Earlier this month, it was revealed Fremantle tagger Ryan Crowley tested positive to a specified substance last season.
Like Keeffe and Thomas, he is provisionally suspended.
The Collingwood pair’s B samples are due to be analysed and returned next month.
Pert and Collingwood football director Neil Balme spoke to Keeffe and Thomas after learning of the positive tests last week, but said they still had few details on how the positive tests came about.
The club will speak with the players again this week after Keeffe and Thomas have spoken with their legal representatives.
“They looked close to being in shock on Friday,” Pert said.
“You’ve got to keep in mind that these are two young men that were at home and had ASADA (the Australian Sports Anti-Doping Authority) knock on their door.
“Both Neil and myself spoke to them shortly after and the only way I could describe it would be they were quite shell-shocked.”
Pert said he had asked ASADA if other players were involved and was told no.
Collingwood cleared their diet-ary and nutrition program after reviewing it over the weekend.
Magpies coach Nathan Buckley said Keeffe and Thomas had stayed the course after battling injuries throughout their careers.
“Keeffe has come off an ACL four years ago and Josh has had two years of feet problems and shin splints,” Buckley told AFL 360.
“Both of these boys have had reasons throughout their careers why they might want to go to it (drugs), but they’ve had their opportunities (to do it) and they haven’t.
“They’ve just worked hard and they’ve plugged away and they’re right in the sweet spot of their careers ready to have a real crack at it.”
