Lewis drug accusation isn't that far off the mark: Lyon
March 9 2002
Former Melbourne captain Garry Lyon has backed Dale Lewis over his controversial comments about recreational drug use in the AFL.
Lyon said the retired Sydney player "made a mistake" in put-ting such a high figure of 75 per cent on the number of players who had tried drugs.
But Lyon said Lewis had been made a scapegoat. He said there was consistent talk of players trying ecstasy and speed.
"If you're looking for a scapegoat in all this, Dale Lewis has certainly been it," Lyon told Channel 9 yesterday.
"I think it's brave and I really respect him for speaking out."
While agreeing the AFL could point to a history of negative tests, Lyon said that might not tell the whole story.
"There is recreational drug use around in AFL footy and I know the AFL will stand up and say, 'Our drug tests don't support that'," Lyon said. "They don't test in the off-season and there is some conjecture as to how long this [drugs] stays in your system.
"There's enough talk around to say, 'Let's not sweep this under the carpet, let's deal with this in a mature manner'."
Lyon said Lewis tried to have his story pulled, but went ahead with it after the former Swan spoke to his father.
AFL outrage over drug claims
March 6 2002
AFL Football Operations Manager Andrew Demetriou said today the drugs allegations from retired Sydney player Dale Lewis were an insult to the overwhelming majority of players.
Demetriou said the claim in this morning's press that up to 75 percent of players had taken some sort of recreational drug did not match reality.
He added the league had one of the strongest anti-drug programs of any sporting league in the world, but only two players had been suspended after returning positive tests.
"The suggestions of drugs being rife in the AFL are inaccurate and exaggerated," he said. Demetriou added any player breaching the doping rules could expect to be caught sooner rather than later.
The league said at a media conference this afternoon it would write to Lewis seeking clarification of the claims made in the media this morning.
