Email on Whitfield ‘deleted’
FORMER GWS football manager Graeme Allen reportedly told a welfare worker at the AFL club to delete an email from Lachie Whitfield’s girlfriend last season, telling him he would look after the drug concerns raised.
It was revealed last month that Whitfield had been investigated for trying to dodge drug testers in 2015, after his then-girlfriend had expressed concerns over his behaviour and potential use of illicit substances.
It’s also claimed that the Giants midfielder stayed at the home of welfare manager Craig Lambert to avoid ASADA, while Allen deleted key text messages in relation to the matter.
However, according to Fairfax Media, Whitfield’s girlfriend also emailed player welfare worker Brett Hand to express the same concerns, only for him to be told by Allan that she was erratic and that he would deal with the issue.
Hand is not accused of any wrongdoing given he was following orders from a manager.
It’s also believed that Whitfield may have been concerned the illicit substances may have been laced with performance-enhancing drugs (PEDs). The penalty for avoiding tests due to concerns surrounding PEDs is a minimum four-year ban for players or officials involved.
Allan has recently been employed as the football director at Collingwood, while Lambert is now at Brisbane.