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West Coast Eagles forward Willie Rioli handed AFL career lifeline, can play finals in 2021

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Braden QuartermaineThe West Australian
VideoWillie Rioli has at last learnt his fate, with the Eagles forward copping a two-year ban and able to return to AFL action in late August.

Willie Rioli’s AFL career has been saved after he received a reduced two-year doping ban, despite being found guilty of substituting his urine on two separate occasions 16 days apart.

Rioli will be eligible to play for West Coast from round 23 this season, after his suspension from the AFL Anti-Doping Tribunal was backdated to August 20, 2019 — even further back than his last appearance, in an elimination final win over Essendon on September 5 that year.

Combined with his ability to train with the Eagles from June 20, the crucial backdating decision will give the premiership forward the chance to push his case for a dramatic rebirth during this year’s finals series — should West Coast qualify.

Rioli could make his highly-anticipated return for the Eagles’ reserves outfit against Claremont in the final round of the WAFL regular season at Revo Fitness Stadium on August 21.

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The AFL said the 25-year-old’s sentence would begin from the date of his initial sample collection due to “substantial delays” in the hearing process or other aspects of doping control that were not Rioli’s fault.

A statement from the league said his ban was sliced from four years to two on the back of the footballer’s prompt admissions, while the Eagles said the discount was also related to “the absence of any intention by Willie to cheat by gaining a performance enhancing effect.”

Appeal rights from all angles have expired in recent weeks, meaning there is no prospect of Rioli being forced to serve a longer ban.

Rioli attended a funeral in Darwin yesterday as his sentence was revealed, but is understood to have been aware of the length of his suspension for some time.

Rioli, who has two young children with his long-time partner Lucy Campbell-Brogan, said he was pleased to finally reach the end of his 18-month legal ordeal.

He thanked his lawyer David Grace, the club, his management and the AFL Players’ Association for their support.

“The stress of waiting for the outcome over a long period of time has been difficult for me and my family,” Rioli said.

“I realise I have done wrong things and I have learned from it. I am sorry for letting people down. I am looking forward to putting all this behind me and playing footy again soon.”

West Coast chief executive Trevor Nisbett described the two-year sentence as both “fair” and “stiff” and called for the AFL to break away from the Sport Integrity Australia umbrella.

“When you reflect on it, I guess it’s a fair compromise considering what happened,” Nisbett said.

“We would have liked less so that Willie can get back to training earlier and so forth. But in saying that, I think the tribunal was fair in their assessment.”

West Coast chief executive Trevor Nisbett faces the media after the Willie Rioli doping-verdict was handed down.
Camera IconWest Coast chief executive Trevor Nisbett faces the media after the Willie Rioli doping-verdict was handed down. Credit: Iain Gillespie/The West Australian

Nisbett said the Eagles were not aware that Rioli had already tampered with a urine sample on August 20, 2019, before he did it again on September 5 following the elimination final.

He said West Coast would review their player education programs in an effort to prevent a repeat of the Rioli situation and referenced the club’s drug dramas from the 2000s.

“All of our players come from vastly different groups in the community and we need to make sure they all understand how important it is to follow all procedures,” Nisbett said.

“The AFL’s education system has failed Willie to some extent, but so did ours because we push this probably more than most because of our history and it’s an important thing for us to ensure our players are well educated.”

SIA, formerly known as ASADA, released a two-sentence statement on Rioli in an ironically brief ending to the drawn-out saga.

“Sport Integrity Australia acknowledged the decision handed down by the AFL Anti-Doping Tribunal in relation to West Coast Eagles player Mr William Rioli,” it said.

“Sport Integrity Australia has not filed any appeal against the decision of the AFL Tribunal and notes that all appeal rights are now expired.”

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