Melbourne captain Max Gawn denies the Demons have a “drug culture” following the revelation teammate Joel Smith is facing anti-doping rule violations from Sport Integrity Australia (SIA).

The AFL confirmed on Tuesday SIA had charged Smith with three anti-doping rule violations (ADRVs) over alleged trafficking to third parties, and a further ADRV for possession of cocaine on September 9, 2022.

He was already provisionally suspended after allegedly testing positive for cocaine during an in-competition test in August of last year.

It is unclear how much the additional charges could add to any suspension, or when that would be determined.

Smith will remain provisionally suspended and is unable to train or play with his teammates, and the AFL confirmed under the code the new asserted violations will be further investigated by SIA.

Speaking to the media on Wednesday, Gawn described the allegations as “quite shocking”.

But he said drug use was not a systemic problem at the Demons.

“For 16 years, I’ve been getting drug tested, for 10 years I’ve been getting hair tested,” Gawn said.

“The AFL and AFLPA look after that and in that 10 years I’ve never been told our club has a drug culture.”

Gawn added: “Until someone tells me that the hair tests we’ve done are proving that [we have] a drug culture, that’s the only marker that we have.

“So in my 10 years [at the club], no-one’s come and told me that our club has a drug culture, so I’m going to go by that.”

Gawn said the fact the use of illicit substances was an issue in wider society meant it would be “naive” to think AFL clubs did not face the same problem.

“There is a good culture at our club,” he said.

“There are things to iron out and that’s the same with every club and every society issue, so I’m not hiding.

“There are issues and we will make sure we get that right but there’s going to be issues every single year whether you guys write about it or not.”

Gawn said he would offer emotional support to Smith.

“I’m there for Joel to support because he’s still a friend,” he said.

Gawn and AFL chief executive Andrew Dillon noted the SIA investigation into the charges was ongoing and nothing had yet been proved.

Dillon said he had confidence in the Demons’ leadership team, while backing the AFL’s illicit drugs policy.

“The use of illicit drugs is a society issue, and we don’t shy away from that,” he said.

“We’ll continue to educate. I think we were one of the first sports in the country to bring in an illicit drugs policy and there are many players over nearly 20 years who have changed behaviours because of that.”

Smith’s matter could be heard at the AFL Anti-Doping Tribunal, but there is no timeline on when that might happen.

ABC/AAP

Source: AFL NEWS ABC