The tragic death of 25-year-old Harley Balic has ignited outrage, with his father pointing the finger at the Australian Football League (AFL) and its alleged secretive illicit drugs policy. The AFL has come under fire for reportedly failing to properly address the issue of illicit drug use among players, which Harley Balic’s father believes contributed to his son’s untimely demise.
Former AFL coach Ross Lyon has expressed deep emotions while discussing the tragic passing of Harley Balic and his personal experience with the league’s illicit drugs policy.
The father of former AFL player Harley Balic has blamed the league for his son’s death at the age of 25, alleging that the ‘medical model’ allowed him to use illicit substances without facing penalties. An investigation by Sports Integrity Australia is underway following allegations that the league covered up positive drug tests. The AFL’s ‘medical model’ prioritizes player health and well-being, but critics argue it enables drug use and fails to adequately support vulnerable players.
Sport Integrity Australia (SIA) is investigating the death of Harley Balic, a former Melbourne and Fremantle player, as part of its probe into the AFL’s illicit drug policy. Balic died in January 2022 at age 25, reportedly struggling with drug addiction and mental health issues. Dr. Zeeshan Arain, a former Melbourne doctor, implicated Balic’s case in a statement submitted to SIA by MP Andrew Wilkie. Arain alleged that clubs often use list management to remove players with substance abuse problems, neglecting their duty of care. SIA’s investigation follows accusations from Wilkie that club doctors conducted illicit drug tests on players who had previously failed tests to avoid anti-doping violations. Dr. Arain has clarified that his statements aimed to expose cultural issues within the AFL, not the illicit drug policy itself. Balic played four games for Fremantle in 2017 and spoke publicly about his mental health battles.
