Crowley faces tough fight to save career
The lawyer who represented St Kilda's Ahmed Saad during his drugs defence has warned Ryan Crowley to prepare for a "tough stoush" to save his AFL career.
Crowley faces a ban of up to two years after he broke club protocols to source a pain-killer before Fremantle's round 17 win over GWS last year.
The Dockers revealed yesterday that the AFL told the club in September that the Australian Sports Anti-Doping Authority had issued the 31-year-old with a show cause notice after his sample tested positive to a banned substance under the AFL's Anti-Doping Code.
_The West Australian _has learnt the person alleged to have supplied Crowley with the drug that resulted in the positive test has also sought legal advice from Perth lawyer Simon Watters.
Saad's lawyer George Haros said Crowley's experience would count against him at the AFL Tribunal.
Saad was banned for 18 months in 2013 after testing positive to methylsynephrine, which was contained in an energy drink.
Mr Haros said it seemed extremely unlikely Crowley would play again this year. He said off-season back surgery would be unlikely to help Crowley's case.
"It will also not assist Crowley that he is a mature player and probably considered a leader at Fremantle," he said. "ASADA will emphasise that Crowley should have cleared all substances with the club doctor.
"While it does not seem fair that Crowley could be suspended for taking a pain-killer, there may be little Crowley can do to avoid a long suspension.
"Unfortunately, some would say, the code is unforgiving to players who 'foolishly' take substances without the consultation or endorsement of their club. If Crowley intends to play again, then he better brace himself for a tough stoush."
Crowley has already served almost six months of a voluntary provisional suspension. He was allowed to continue playing because he tested positive to a "specified" substance, a less serious category of banned drug.
Crowley has promised to co- operate fully with ASADA and the AFL and said he looked forward to his AFL tribunal hearing, expected within a month.
He must pay for his own defence and has employed Melbourne barrister Ben Ihle, who is part of the team representing the 34 Essendon players issued with infraction notices.
Fremantle chief executive Steve Rosich said he was not concerned about the club's image in the wake of the news.
"The way the process works with the AFL doping code, it is a player matter, not a club matter," he said.
"We're very comfortable with our people, our structure our processes and our protocols with respect to the AFL anti-doping code and also the AFL's illicit drugs policy."
