Top dope ban lawyer on job
THE Magpies’ Sam Murray has hired the same man who defended Essendon’s footballers and Collingwood pair Lachie Keeffe and Josh Thomas in his fight to reduce a potential four-year doping ban.
Prominent Melbourne barrister Ben Ihle confirmed yesterday he had taken on the case of Collingwood 20-yearold Murray, who tested positive to cocaine in a Round 19 match-day test.
Ihle is considered one of the experts in his field, having also defended Fremantle’s Ryan Crowley, who received a 12month ban after taking methadone to relieve back pain but testing positive.
But legal experts have already warned Murray faces an uphill fight to reduce a maximum four-year ban, with Keeffe and Thomas eventually accepting what was then a maximum two-year ban for unwittingly taking clenbuterol.
“Yes, I am representing Sam with the assistance of the AFLPA and his management group,” Ihle said yesterday.
“I will see him in the next couple of days and obviously he needs people around him that can support him through this tough time.”
Asked if it was possible for Murray to access discounts from that maximum ban, Ihle replied: “I am not prepared to make any comment on that.”
Murray is believed to have taken cocaine midweek before the Richmond clash.
AFL players are not only required to listen to AFLPA drug education sessions, they also sign documents attesting to the fact they understand those ASADA guidelines.