Willie Rioli will reportedly still only face sanction for one anti-doping rule violation despite the news of the West Coast forward returning a positive match-day test.
The AFL and West Coast confirmed on Tuesday that Rioli had tested positive for a cannibis metabolite following their elimination final win over Essendon on September 5th.
That sample was taken after Rioli had allegedly been caught attempting to tamper with a test on August 20, though that wasn't reported until September 12th.
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While the news of the adverse test result is obviously another blow to the 24-year-old, who is currently provisionally suspended by ASADA, a former anti-doping boss has shed some positive light on the situation.
Richard Ings, who was the CEO of ASADA, said Rioli is still likely to face sanction for just one of the violations as they will be considered concurrent.
That means the worse of the violations, which according to Ings is the alleged tampering, will be the one that Rioli faces sanction for.
Rioli update
— Richard Ings (@ringsau) September 24, 2019
A positive drug test for cannabis in-comp.
As it happened on Sep 5, which was before he was notified of on Sep 11 of his alleged substitution, it is considered a concurrent and not a consecutive matter.
So is still facing one consequence.
Whichever is worse. https://t.co/jKkauN2RsX
A free tip for athletes.
— Richard Ings (@ringsau) September 24, 2019
If you have to choose between an ADRV allegation for substitution or an ADRV allegation for cannabis, choose cannabis.
The sanction for cannabis is much less and cannabis is only tested for on match day.
The bad news for Rioli is the maximum sanction of four years that comes with the violation, though the official ruling from the notoriously slow ASADA is unlikely to be handed down any time soon.
West Coast released a statement on Tuesday, reaffirming their concern for Rioli's wellbeing.
"The West Coast Eagles have recently been made aware that a sample taken from Willie Rioli has tested positive for a metabolite of cannabis," they said in a statement.
"As stipulated two weeks ago, the club’s primary concern remains the health and wellbeing of Willie. We will continue to support him through this particularly challenging time to assist him while this ongoing investigation runs its course.
"The club will respect the process of the investigation into the circumstances surrounding this case and will co-operate fully with it.
"We expect that these processes will take some months to complete and the club will not be in a position to make further comment until such completion."
