The AFL career of Melbourne Demons star Joel Smith appears to be all but over after he allegedly tested positive to cocaine use and was charged with drug trafficking.
Smith will be slapped with a four-year ban from the code in a joint announcement by the AFL and Sport Integrity Australia (SIA) on Friday, News Corp reported.
Smith has been provisionally suspended from the AFL since October, 2023 when he was notified of a positive cocaine test after playing for the Demons against Hawthorn on August 20.
The star defender allegedly returned a positive result for cocaine and its metabolite Benzoylecgonine from a urine test after the match.
The SIA then charged Smith with three anti-doping rule violations [ADRVs] of the Australian Football Anti-Doping Code over alleged ‘trafficking or attempted trafficking’ of cocaine.
Under the code, trafficking is defined as ‘selling, giving, transporting, sending, delivering or distributing a prohibited substance by an athlete … to any third party.’
Smith’s suspension could have a wide impact on the Melbourne Demons Football Club with News Corp reporting that he allegedly sent text messages to as many as four teammates informing them he had obtained the drug and asking if they were interested.
The texts were reportedly uncovered as part of the SIA investigation.
It has been reported that Smith and the Demons club had been hoping for a suspension of three months.
Smith had the option of contesting the charges at the AFL’s anti-doping tribunal but elected to not fight the allegations.
His father and former Melbourne Demons star Shaun Smith previously said his son had been pressured to ‘stay silent’ according to News Corp.
‘It feels like my son is being manipulated into being the fall guy here, in order to protect the AFL brand,’ Smith said in April.
‘He’s being made a scapegoat, and I’m really worried for him.’
The Demons denied Smith had been pressured by anybody at the football club in response.
‘Joel has made it very clear that he has no issues or concerns with anyone at the Melbourne Football Club,’ the Demons said in a statement.
Shaun Smith also said that he had encouraged his son to seek independent legal advice during the SIA process, a decision that strained their relationship.
‘Because I’ve been pushing for another legal opinion, it’s really hurt my relationship with Joel,’ he said.
‘They have driven a wedge between my son and his family.’
Smith played 42 matches for the Melbourne Demons since being selected with the 41st pick of the 2016 rookie draft.