The heaping pile of shit resting atop the shoulders of West Coast Eagles gun Willie Rioli has only gotten that much bigger this afternoon, with the AFL confirming the embattled 24-year-old has returned a positive test for a “metabolite of cannabis” via an in-competition drug test.
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Rioli was sensationally sat down on the eve of the Eagles ultimately unsuccessful AFL Semi Final clash against Geelong after ASADA levelled accusations regarding an alleged attempt at tampering with a urine sample during an out-of-competition drug test on August 20th.
Rioli’s new test result follows an in-competition test – which, unlike the one the tampering accusations concerns, tests for both illicit substances and performance enhancing ones, not just the latter – conducted on September 5th, the day of the Eagles elimination final match with Essendon.
In a statement issued this afternoon, AFL officials confirmed Rioli returned a positive result for a “metabolite of cannabis” on the game day test conducted by ASADA.
That test was conducted before Rioli was given the tap on the shoulder regarding his earlier botched urine sample.
As a result, the two charges will be considered a concurrent matter, and not consecutive events. That means, should he be found guilty of both charges, Rioli will only face one penalty. According to former ASADA boss Richard Ings, that penalty will be “whichever is worse.”
Rioli update
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
— Richard Ings : 🇷🇺 stop attacking 🇺🇦 (@ringsau) September 24, 2019
Rioli is facing a potential four-year suspension for the alleged attempted urine substitution offence.
The positive match-day test for cannabis carries a potential suspension of multiple years as well, should he be ultimately found guilty.
The West Coast Eagles have stated that Rioli’s health and wellbeing is their chief priority throughout this matter. The young forward returned to Darwin following the initial reports two weeks ago, and Eagles officials have sent staff to Darwin to support him.
Rioli begun serving a provisional suspension on September 11, meaning any potential penalty will be backdated to that date.
