Watchdog slams the AFL for opening the door to criminals with its secret policy on footy stars who take drugs

All major Australian sporting codes including the AFL have been urged to 'close gaps in their systems' amid an increasing threat of infiltration by criminals after an investigation into to the league's illicit drugs policy cleared it of any drug-code breaches.

The probe was launched after federal independent MP Andrew Wilkie used parliamentary privilege to allege that AFL players known to have used illicit drugs were being left out of games, under the guise of injuries, to protect them from testing positive on match day, and breaches of the WADA code.

After finding no evidence to suggest players feigned injuries to avoid match-day testing, the SIA said the confidentiality provision that AFL boss Andrew Dillon defended and which is key to players signing up to the league's policy had created a 'degree of suspicion'.

While making several recommendations to the AFL, including the independent oversight of the Illicit Drugs Policy, outgoing SIA boss David Sharpe sounded a significant alarm around the possible corruption of athletes through the supply of illicit drugs.

Sharpe, who recently announced his resignation, said there was a clear and present threat to all of Australian sport and policies needed to better align to 2024 needs.

'The illicit drug landscape was different in 2005 when the AFL's IDP was first developed to that of today and dictates the need for an immediate overhaul of the current policy to bring it into line with current societal trends and increasing integrity and health threats in sport,' he said.

'SIA, along with Australian law enforcement and intelligence agencies, have identified ongoing threats of criminal infiltration of Australian sport through the supply of illicit drugs and subsequent exposure of athletes and support staff to exploitation.

'All Australian sport has reached a crossroad in dealing with illicit drug use, player mental health and wellbeing and criminal infiltration of sport. Significant intervention is required immediately to address the illicit drug culture in sport and the increasing and unacceptable risks posed to players, officials, clubs, and sporting codes.

'All sports with an IDP should consider utilising deidentified data obtained from their illicit testing programs to address trends and threats to close gaps in their systems that can be exploited by criminal elements.'

He said all sporting codes needed to send a strong message that they were not 'open for exploitation' with policies that link in with law enforcement agencies.

'Sport has a critical role to play in social cohesion in our society. Sports, governments, medical professionals, educators, law enforcement and intelligence agencies must strengthen their partnerships in a nationally coordinated manner to put a ring around sport to ensure athletes are supported while also creating an environment hostile to criminal elements,' he said.

'The message must be sent now that sport is not open for exploitation.'

While clearing the AFL of any WADA code breaches, the SIA report also called for changes, including the independent oversight of the Illicit Drugs Policy and continued expansion of the intelligence capability in the AFL's Integrity Unit.

It said the issue of illicit drug use presented a significant challenge to Australian sport, not just the AFL.

'Without significant cultural intervention to address the illicit drug culture in all sports, Sport Integrity Australia is concerned about the dire impacts to player's health and wellbeing and the potential to bring a code or team into disrepute through integrity threats,' Sharpe said.

In its response, the AFL welcomed the findings with Dillon conceding there is 'room for improvement' in the league's policy which will be refined.

'We said from the outset that the allegations raised in parliament did not reflect either the intent or operation of the Illicit Drug policy and we welcome the findings of Australia's sport integrity agency that found zero evidence to support the claims.' he Dillon said.

'We take the integrity of our sport extremely seriously. It is important to reinforce the point that we do not in any way condone illicit drug use but we accept that we have a responsibility as a code to try and change behaviours of those that do make the mistake of trying/using illicit drugs.'