Banned former Brisbane Lions midfielder Rhys Mathieson has publicly addressed his three-year suspension from football due to a positive doping test. In a candid discussion on the “Rip Through It” podcast with ex-teammate Mitch Robinson, Mathieson took responsibility for the test results but dismissed claims that his actions were intended to enhance his football performance.
Mathieson’s anti-doping sanction, confirmed by the AFL in a statement on Thursday, was reduced from a potential four-year ban. This reduction followed extensive meetings and was partly due to Mathieson’s admission of guilt after testing positive on August 10 of the previous year. The in-competition sample, collected while he was playing for Wilston-Grange in the Queensland Australian Football League (QAFL), revealed the presence of the banned steroid Oxymetholone.
The news of Mathieson’s positive test was first reported in August this year. Mathieson, who learned about the test results in November while vacationing in New Zealand, is suspended until August 10, 2027. However, he will be allowed to resume training with a club starting June 10 of that year.
From AFL to Bodybuilding: A New Chapter
Following the end of his 72-game AFL career in 2023, Mathieson shifted his focus to bodybuilding, a passion that had long simmered in the background. His physical transformation quickly drew attention, with Mathieson embracing the rigorous discipline of timed meals, supplements, and intensive workouts.
“I’d been waiting eight years for this,” Mathieson shared on the podcast. “Yes, AFL was the No.1 priority, but I always had this in the back of my head, and once I started doing it, I fell in love with it.”
Mathieson acknowledged that his interest in bodybuilding and fitness extended back to his AFL days, where he adopted a bodybuilding-style lifting regime against club advice, hoping it would give him an edge. “I dived into a lot of gym supplements [after my AFL career ended],” he said. “I mean, a lot – a lot of it, and some you just buy off the shelves and whatever, and some boys had their own. I was willing to put anything in my body to transform.”
Challenges of Transitioning Back to Football
Despite his passion for bodybuilding, Mathieson faced significant challenges when transitioning back to football. After being recruited by Wilston-Grange, coached by former AFL player Brent Moloney, Mathieson struggled with the physical demands of the sport.
“I couldn’t run laps, my lower back was sore, I was doing soft tissues [injuries],” he explained. “I felt so disappointed that I couldn’t give [my best] because of what I’d done to myself. I was thinking, ‘Man, this team’s gone all out there for me, so I’ve got to find a way here’. So, I cut back on everything – all my supplements, all my vitamins, everything.”
Mathieson admitted that adapting his body for football was challenging, especially given the 10 kilograms he had gained since his AFL days. “It took me a long time [to get going again in football],” he noted.
The Anti-Doping Process: A Personal Account
Mathieson described the anti-doping process as “bizarre,” detailing the extended period before he was informed of his positive test and the invasive nature of the investigation. He recounted how authorities door-knocked his girlfriend and relatives, demanded his phone, and scrutinized his personal information.
“One night my girlfriend was calling me, and they’re pounding this door down, and she was scared … turns out it was ASADA,” Mathieson said. “They wouldn’t [tell her who they were], or why they’re there. So, again, I didn’t like that side of it. It’s way too much.”
“What they wanted back was my phone … if you don’t give your phone up, it’s [like] you’re hiding something, and if you don’t agree, it’s a potential fine – it can get up to $60,000, and then potential jail time. I’m thinking, ‘Hang on a minute, I’m not a f—ing criminal!’.”
The AFL Players’ Association has acknowledged Mathieson’s ban and stated that it will continue to support him throughout this period.
As Mathieson navigates this challenging chapter, he remains focused on his bodybuilding aspirations, with hopes of one day competing professionally. “I like the science behind transforming your body, and I really have a passion for it. I love to see these guys compete, and one day, maybe, I will compete,” he expressed. “That’s where my focus went, when I knew AFL wasn’t going to be the plan.”
