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AFL star Joel Smith drops bombshell about his future as he breaks his silence after copping monster ban for taking and trafficking cocaine Joel Smith was hit with massive drugs ban in 2023 Ex-Demons star hopes to return to the AFL after ban By JAMES COONEY FOR DAILY MAIL AUSTRALIA Published: 00:48, 1 April 2025 | Updated: 01:05, 1 April 2025 e-mail View comments Former Demons star Joel Smith has spoken publicly for the first time since his four-year ban for violating the anti-doping code as he insists he can make a miracle return to the AFL once his suspension is over. Smith, 29, was slapped with the lengthy ban after he allegedly tested positive to cocaine on match day in 2023 and was later found to have sent a text message to teammates asking them if they wanted to share drugs he had obtained, which brought about a trafficking charge. He will not be eligible to in any World Anti-Doping Authority-compliant competition until January 9, 2028 - but he can return to training again in November 2027.
Smith, the son of ex-Melbourne and North Melbourne forward Shaun, will be 31 by the time his ban ends, but has expressed his desire to return to football. 'I'm going to go back to play footy. Jeez, if I get another crack, AFL, or whatever it is playing local.
But I'll definitely go back into playing footy of some sort,' Smith told The Watch podcast. 'I'll be a young 31, at least the body isn't going to get knocked around. Ex-Melbourne star Joel Smith (pictured) copped a four-year ban from the sport for testing positive to cocaine on match day in 2023 Smith (pictured with his sister Amy) says he is working hard at being a good dad and hopes to return to the AFL when his suspension is over 'Still got two and a half years so we'll just stay fit and work and just be a good dad in that time.
'I haven't really properly looked at [the pathway to return to the AFL], I haven't really spoke to anyone. I just think it is something I'll start looking into closer, but right now I am just working and being a dad and just staying happy and healthy. 'And when it gets closer, that's when I'll start asking the questions about it all, but it's definitely something that is in the background that I would be keen to give another crack.
'Even if I just come back, play four years, like 36 [years old]. If I can come and potentially give a team something that are chasing a flag, like that'd be great. Four years, I feel like I'd get a lot out of that.
'But it's just about staying healthy and keeping the body ticking over. Because if it does, you never say never really. 'Like if it does happen, it'd be great, but there's always local footy as well.
' Smith initially tested positive after the Demons' round 23 win over Hawthorn on August 20, 2023. During the subsequent investigation text messages sent by Smith referencing cocaine were uncovered. Smith (pictured with fiancee Elise) will be 31 by the time his ban ends - but he believes he will still be in good enough shape to break back into the league Smith was banned for: - Presence of Cocaine and its metabolite, Benzoylecgonine detected in a sample provided during an In-Competition doping control test on 20 August 2023, following a match between Melbourne and Hawthorn at the MCG; - Trafficking and/or Attempted Trafficking of Cocaine on and/or between 28 July 2022 and 30 July 2022; - Trafficking and/or Attempted Trafficking of Cocaine on and/or between 5 September 2022 and 10 September 2022; - Trafficking and/or Attempted Trafficking of Cocaine on and/or between 12 April 2020 and 7 September 2020; and - Possession of Cocaine on 9 September 2022.
The Australian Football Anti-Doping Code states trafficking in an anti-doping context is relevantly defined to be 'Selling, giving, transporting, sending, delivering or distributing a Prohibited Substance, by an Athlete ...
to any third party'. AFL Share or comment on this article: AFL star Joel Smith drops bombshell about his future as he breaks his silence after copping monster ban for taking and trafficking cocaine e-mail Add comment Comments 0 Share what you think No comments have so far been submitted. Why not be the first to send us your thoughts, or debate this issue live on our message boards.
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