Don't scapegoat players: Greens

Australian Greens spokesperson for sport, Senator Richard Di Natale, today rejected calls to immediately name individual players involved in doping until the full extent of the involvement of sports clubs and administrators was known.

“We need to stop the witch hunt for individual players embroiled in the doping issue,” said Senator Di Natale, a doctor and former VFA footballer.

“Scapegoating a few individual players might make some people feel better will do little to change what appears to be an institutional problem.

“Doping is a very serious issue and we need to take every step to stamp it out. However it seems that players caught up in this scandal have been let down by the institutions that are supposed to be looking out for their welfare.

“As an 18 year old fresh out of school who joins a professional club there's an expectation that any medication or supplements dispensed will be within the law.

“Of course personal responsibility is always important but so is the duty of care of sporting institutions.

“The issue is not helped when people like Jeff Kennett conflate the use of performance enhancing drugs with the use of illicit drugs, calling for a zero tolerance approach to both. One gives the player an advantage while the other causes harm and the only thing they have in common is that scapegoating individuals won't fix the problem.”

Media contact: Andrew Blyberg 0457 901 600