West Coast star Willie Rioli faces an anxious wait to discover his football fate after his long-awaited doping hearing was completed on Wednesday.
Rioli is facing a ban of up to four years after allegedly tampering with his urine sample during a routine drug test in August last year.
The 25-year-old tested positive to a metabolite of cannabis several weeks later, but it is the urine substitution allegation that is the most serious.
The Eagles confirmed Rioli’s hearing had been completed with the star appearing via video link from Darwin.
“The hearing was completed but the outcome will not be known for some time, and until a conclusion has been reached neither the club nor Willie can make any comment,” a statement read.
“Under the AFL Anti-Doping Policy, all proceedings before the AFL Anti-Doping Tribunal are confidential and the outcome will be published by the governing body in due course.”
ASADA and WADA are notoriously tough when it comes to dealing with allegations of tampering with samples.
The Melbourne hearing ended a long wait for Rioli, who has been provisionally suspended since September 12, 2019. However, a verdict is not expected until next year.
It means Rioli’s Christmas will be full of nerves and anxiety as he waits to find out whether his AFL career is over.
A ban of four years would make it extremely hard for the premiership player to return to AFL ranks.
In contrast, a ban of 18 months would mean Rioli would be free to play again from round one next season, given he has already been provisionally suspended for 15 months.
AFL chief executive Gillon McLachlan had expressed his dismay about the length of time it took for Rioli’s case to be heard.
“It needs to be done quicker,” McLachlan said in October.
“We need to work with ASADA to take our share of accountability, but we need to get these things resolved quicker.”