PORT Adelaide chief executive officer Keith Thomas has committed the club to following the AFL’s harder line in the wake of an Australian Crime Commission report into the use of performance enhancing drugs in sport.
Mr Thomas has reviewed Port Adelaide’s supplement and sports science practices this week and is comfortable with its internal processes and the people who oversee them.
“I’m really comfortable that our club’s guiding principles in this area are really sound and safeguard against some of the issues that you could be open to,” Mr Thomas said.
“For us it’s about great people in charge of our programs and Dr Mark Fisher and Darren Burgess who head up our medical and sports science areas are at the top of their game and internationally renowned, and they take a very conservative approach to these issues.
“Our policy involves only purchasing substances and supplements from recognised brands; they’re all batch-tested.
“We have a standing policy that no supplements can be taken without the permission and authority of our medical team … everything is monitored, our players are educated to inform the medical and sports science teams of any substances they are offered outside of the club.
“We feel as if we’ve got a pretty good handle on those things and our principles are founded in good sense and a conservative approach.”
Mr Thomas conceded no club could be certain beyond doubt that there had been no breach of the rules, but confirmed authorities had not contacted Port Adelaide to make it aware of any investigation.
While the ACC report did not specify any code that was suspected of doping violations, Mr Thomas was adamant football fans could maintain faith in their game.
“They can,” he said.
“We are talking at the edges, I presume. What the ACC are saying is ‘Be aware. There is danger all around the sports we are in in regards to illegal activities. Be on your guard. Get on top of it.’ And I’m sure that’s what we’ll do.”
Mr Thomas pointed to the AFL’s long-established leading role in tackling issues including performance enhancing and illicit drugs and gambling, but said the new report would warrant an even tougher approach.
“My personal feeling is that the AFL brand and the game have stood for something very, very special and that’s why you’ll see the code react really, really strongly and correctly in this matter,” he said.
“It’s really important that we do that and as a club we will be supporting the industry as best we can.
“It’s a broad ranging issue across all sport, but it’s a big issue and I don’t think we should hide from that. I think it’s a good thing that it’s on the radar and we’ll be dealing with it.”
Mr Thomas revealed he had spoken with player Angus Monfries who joined Port Adelaide at the end of 2012 and who was at Essendon during a period where sports science practices are now under a separate investigation.
“We have chatted to Angus and we’ve got Henry Slattery who also came from Essendon (and is now an SANFL-listed Port Adelaide player) and they were both involved in the program under the period of investigation,” Mr Thomas said.
“They will be part of that investigation I am sure. They have been really open about it. They have spoken to us, but I won’t go into it because it’s part of a broader investigation.”
Mr Thomas also restated his concern about the potential use of illicit drugs by footballers, given their rise in popularity in wider society.
“I’m pleased that the AFL and the clubs are active in this area,” Mr Thomas said.
“Port Adelaide will be at the leading edge in regards to the way in which we deal with this issue internally.
“We will wait for the working party that is in place to get that policy tightened up wherever we feel it is necessary. I’m confident that will happen and we will look at it from our point of view and if we feel we need to take it further then we’ll take it further.”
