AFL Bans Joel Smith for Four Years Over Cocaine Use and Trafficking

The Melbourne player faces a lengthy suspension after testing positive for cocaine and being implicated in trafficking violations.

Joel Smith has been banned from playing any level of Australian football until January 2028, with a return to training allowed from November 2027.
Smith tested positive for cocaine on match day in August 2023, leading to a four-year and three-month suspension.
In addition to the positive test, Smith faced charges of trafficking or attempted trafficking of cocaine to third parties.
The ban was agreed upon by the AFL, Sport Integrity Australia, and the World Anti-Doping Agency.
Smith's suspension underscores the AFL's strict stance on breaches of the anti-doping code, emphasizing the serious consequences of using illicit substances.