Australian Football League side Greater Western Sydney Giants player Lachie Whitfield "has told those closest to him that he categorically denies taking illicit drugs and is simply the victim" of a former lover’s "bitter revenge," according to Gusmaroli & Horne of the Sydney DAILY TELEGRAPH. His ex-girlfriend, Sammi Nowland, said on Monday that Whitfield was a "c ..." and admitted she "might" be the source that "sparked the investigation into allegations he tried to avoid drug testers." When asked if she had "helped the Giants" by supplying them with incriminating text messages, Nowland said, "I might (have), but I can’t talk right now." The drama started last year when Whitfield’s ex-partner "emailed the club’s former football manager Graeme Allan, with allegations of illicit drug use stemming from text message exchanges" between the player and Nowland (DAILY TELEGRAPH, 8/30). In Sydney, Wilson & Gleeson reported Allan's AFL career and reputation "hangs in the balance" amid allegations he deleted text messages concerning an attempt to protect Whitfield. Allan, Whitfield and former GWS Giants Welfare Manager Craig Lambert "face bans of between two and four years should the evidence against them be proven." The AFL, which has known about the allegations for almost 15 months, "will now hand details of its lengthy investigation to the Australian Sports Anti-Doping Authority" (SYDNEY MORNING HERALD, 8/30).
