AFL calls in the ex-cops
THE AFL’s integrity unit has swelled to 15 full-time staff, four medical consultants and nine casual security officers.
Former Victoria Police homicide squad senior detective Tony Keane heads the inhouse department responsible for policing gambling, doping, illicit drug use, ground security, the salary cap and player behaviour and associations.
Three other ex-cops and a former unsworn police intelligence analyst are also full-time members of the 28-person AFL integrity body — the biggest in Australian team sport.
Details of the unit’s powers and resources are contained in an AFL submission to a review panel assessing the merits of a proposed national sports integrity tribunal.
The AFL told the federal panel it had the power to: TAKE possession of “all documents, records, articles or things in the possession or control of a person relevant to any inquiry or investigation”. ACCESS any premises “occupied by or in control of a club”. SANCTION any person contravening AFL rules “in any manner they in their absolute discretion think fit”. STAND down “any person subject to an inquiry or investigation from participating in or in connection with the AFL competition”.
The AFL is a member of the Coalition of Major Professional and Participation Sports, an industry group that also represents the NRL, Australian Rugby Union, Football Federation Australia, Cricket Australia, Tennis Australia and Netball Australia.
COMPPS has told the review, chaired by former NSW Supreme Court judge James Wood, it is unlikely to favour a proposed stand-alone sports court to rule on drug cheats, match-fixers and other transgressors.
Federal Sports Minister Greg Hunt cited the AFL’s handling of the Essendon drugs scandal when floating the concept in May.
An AFL anti-doping tribunal initially cleared the Essendon 34 of doping before the global Court of Arbitration for Sport wiped them out.
Senior AFL figures were accused of leaks, threats, inducements and political interference in bids to reach favourable outcomes throughout the supplements saga.
“The notion of sports sitting in judgment of themselves is something that we should move beyond,” Hunt said.
“That would allow us to avoid the situation where the AFL had to sit in judgment of itself in relation to the Essendon doping case.”
The AFL integrity unit also took charge of the Melbourne tanking affair and the alleged leaking of inside information before the 2015 Western Bulldogs-Adelaide elimination final at the MCG.
Keane was installed as head of the AFL integrity unit last month, replacing Brett Clothier who has taken up a post in Monaco as head of the independent world athletics integrity unit.
The Wood review will also examine the adequacy and capability of the Australian Sports Anti-Doping Authority.
A spokesman for Hunt said: “The expert panel will be providing its report to the Government by the end of the year, which we will then consider.”