Club says AFL forward returned ‘positive preliminary test indication’
NSW police issue a notice for driving with a suspended licence
The Sydney Swans forward Tom Papley has allegedly returned a positive preliminary drug test after being pulled over by New South Wales police on Monday.
The 30-year-old was stopped by police for a roadside licence check which led to a court attendance notice for driving with a suspended licence as well as a random drug test.
“Papley was issued with a court attendance notice for driving with a suspended licence due to non-payment of a parking fine,” the club said in a statement.
“During the roadside stop, Papley completed a random drug test which returned a positive preliminary test indication. A second sample was taken for analysis. The results from the second test are expected to take at least four weeks.”
Papley immediately advised the Swans of the matter and the club informed the AFL.
The small forward played 20 matches and kicked 33 goals this season before an undermanned Sydney were knocked out in a preliminary final defeat to Fremantle.
Papley’s incident is the latest off-field drama at the Swans as they face a cultural reckoning after five players were suspended for breaching the club’s standards, including drinking and bringing women back to their hotel after an AFL game in Melbourne in August.
Isaac Heeney, Nick Blakey, Chad Warner, Riley Bice and James Jordon were stood down for the rest of the AFL season by the Swans.
It is understood police are treating Bice as a potential witness in a separate investigation into an alleged sexual assault at the Pullman hotel, while Heeney, Warner, Blakey and Jordon remain part of their investigation which is ongoing.
No one has been arrested or charged and the players have reportedly denied any criminal wrongdoing.
Blakey has since left the Swans and will continue his career with North Melbourne after being the centrepiece of a high-profile trade last month.
