FEARS: Darren Glass says he'd be devastated if the AFL's reputation was tarnished in the wake of the ACC's drugs report. Picture: Daniel Wilkins Source: PerthNow
WEST Coast captain Darren Glass would be "devastated for the game" if allegations over widespread substance use in Australian sport sent the AFL's reputation down the path of cycling.
The Australian Crime Commission today released the findings of a 12-month investigation into illegal drug use throughout Australian sport, across all codes.
Glass, who was appointed captain of West Coast in late 2007 following a series of off-field dramas at the club, said he was confident the Eagles were adhering to legal practises.
But the four-time All-Australian also said the damage caused to cycling by Lance Armstrong's drug saga proved an entire sport could be tarnished by illegal substance use and he feared for the reputation of the AFL if the findings revealed a dirty underbelly of Australia's game.
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"I'd feel devastated for the game, not necessarily feel cheated personally, but I'd just be disappointed to hear that it was going on," Glass said.
"(Integrity) is critical, I think, that's what people want to see; they want to see a fair, honest contest, so let's hope this doesn't take that away.
"Clearly, performance-enhancing drugs have been a part of sport for a long time and it does take away (from sports proven to be influenced).
"I used to enjoy watching the cycling, but now I can't help but think it's a dirty sport.
"So, hopefully, the Australian sporting codes don't get branded like that."
Glass said West Coast used powder-based supplements - and had done for years - but they had all been approved by the club's medical staff.
The ACC's report also found the use of illicit drugs in some sporting codes to be "significantly higher" than official statistics.
Glass admitted the age-range of AFL players meant they fell into the group of people considered more likely to use illicit drugs, but said battling the issue was a case of on-going education that West Coast and the AFL were committed to.
"We're talking about kids coming in, males 18 and 30, that's the illicit age-group demographic, so that's an issue we'll always have at sporting clubs and we'll continue to work on it," Glass said.
"But we think we've got good processes in place and guys are educated from the moment they get to the footy club.
"I think it is tough (to educate everyone), but we're prepared to do it and put the work in.
"But the majority of guys are committed to their football and the majority of AFL players are very good in regards to their professionalism."
Glass spoke as part of an Eagles Community Camp visit to Northam Senior High School, where the West Coast skipper attended until he was 15 years old.
"I grew up here and spent the first 15 years of my life here and it was a great place to grow up in," he said.
"We got some spare time, so I took a few of the boys around to visit my nan, she's 94 in June.
"She knew a few of them (the players). I had a few young boys with me who I don't think she knew, but she knew (Mark) Nicoski; she picked the hair."
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