Richmond fined $2,500 over failing to provide players' holiday plans (afl site)

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Carlton headlines a list of four clubs sanctioned by the AFL on Thursday for failing to update their players' post-season movements.

The Blues have been slapped with a $10,000 fine under the League's drug testing code with the Australian Sports Anti-Doping Authority where players are required to provide up-to-date information on their whereabouts to permit out-of-competition drug testing.

AFL players are given a phone app to keep their location posted, however it is the clubs that are handed the sanction if rules are broken.

Melbourne was hit with $5000, while reigning premiers Richmond and the Western Bulldogs received $2500 each.

The Tigers were previously fined in December 2017, also forced to pay a further $5000 at the time for a previously suspended sanction.

https://www.afl.com.au/news/2019-11-07/blues-fined-10k-three-others-sanctioned-for-breach-of-drug-code

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'Cheap way out': Footy boss slams 'disingenuous' AFL system

7 News
8 November 2019[/i]

Richmond footy boss Neil Balme has taken exception to a $2500 fine dished out by the AFL.

The league slapped the Tigers, Western Bulldogs ($2500), Melbourne ($5000) and Carlton ($10,000) with financial sanctions on Thursday.

The four clubs ailed to follow anti-doping whereabouts rules for players on end-of-season holidays, with the breaches coming on the AFL's end of the anti-doping administration.

It's understood the Blues' breach involved multiple players, while Melbourne's involved two with individual problems at the Tigers and Dogs.

The whereabouts system is a key part of ASADA's anti-doping regime and in the AFL, it's the responsibility of the clubs to keep the information up to date – a fact that peeves Balme.

"I don't think there's any suggestion that any of these players who weren't where they thought they were going to be were actually taking drugs," he told SEN.

“If they fine them for not being somewhere, I think they need to go through the process of actually testing them for drugs because I think it's a bit disingenuous I reckon.

“The fact that it is the club's responsibility is a pretty cheap way out as well. The Players' Association and the AFL negotiate time off for the players, which they get and it's significant and they need it.

"But then they say it is our responsibility for the player to tell someone where they are during that time and if a player doesn't tell someone where they are, then it's our problem. I'm not quite sure how we’re supposed to fix that."

The whereabouts information means ASADA can conduct out-of-competition tests without warning.

If an athlete is unavailable for testing, in some cases it can count as an anti-doping violation and lead to a ban.

"All clubs need to constantly ensure that whereabouts requirements are met at all times," said AFL general counsel Andrew Dillon.

https://7news.com.au/sport/afl/neil-balme-slams-disingenuous-asada-afl-system-after-richmond-fined-c-546526