Banned former Brisbane Lions midfielder Rhys Mathieson has publicly addressed the positive drug test that led to his three-year suspension from football. In his first comments since the ban, Mathieson took responsibility for the incident but clarified that it was not intended to enhance his athletic performance.
Speaking on the “Rip Through It” podcast with former teammate Mitch Robinson, the 28-year-old, who last played for the Lions in the 2022 preliminary final, stated that the notion of him using substances to boost his football performance was misguided. The Australian Football League (AFL) confirmed Mathieson’s anti-doping sanction on Thursday, noting that his suspension was reduced from the maximum of four years following his admission of guilt after testing positive on August 10 of the previous year.
Details of the Positive Test
The in-competition sample, collected while Mathieson was playing for Wilston-Grange in the Queensland Australian Football League (QAFL), revealed the presence of Oxymetholone, a banned steroid. The story initially broke in August this year, and Mathieson revealed he learned of the positive test result in November while vacationing in New Zealand. His suspension will last until August 10, 2027, though he will be eligible to resume training with a club starting June 10 of that year.
After his 72-game AFL career concluded in 2023, Mathieson shifted his focus to bodybuilding, gaining attention for his dramatic physical transformation. “I’d been waiting eight years for this,” Mathieson said 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.”
Bodybuilding and Supplements
Mathieson expressed a deep interest in health and fitness, adopting a bodybuilding-style lifting regime even during his AFL days, despite club advice to the contrary. “I fell in love with the process of timed meals, and supplements and vitamins and pre-workouts, and all these proteins – all this stuff that I wasn’t allowed to have in AFL,” he explained.
He admitted to using various gym supplements after his AFL career ended, some of which were purchased off the shelves, while others were shared among peers. “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,” Mathieson shared, expressing a goal to transition from a professional football player to a professional bodybuilder.
Challenges and Controversies
Transitioning from bodybuilding back to football proved challenging for Mathieson. Recruited by Wilston-Grange, he struggled with physical readiness due to his increased weight and muscle mass. “I couldn’t run laps, my lower back was sore, I was doing soft tissues [injuries],” he recounted. “I felt so disappointed that I couldn’t give [my best] because of what I’d done to myself.”
The anti-doping process itself was described by Mathieson as “bizarre.” He recounted the extended period before being informed of his positive test and the invasive nature of the investigation, which included authorities visiting his girlfriend and relatives and demanding his phone. “One night my girlfriend was calling me, and they’re pounding this door down, and she was scared … turns out it was ASADA,” he said.
“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!’.”
Support and Future Prospects
The AFL Players’ Association has acknowledged Mathieson’s ban and stated that it will continue to support him. Meanwhile, Mathieson remains focused on his bodybuilding aspirations, seeing it as a new chapter following his AFL career. “That’s where my focus went, when I knew AFL wasn’t going to be the plan,” he concluded.
As Mathieson navigates his suspension, the broader implications for athletes transitioning between sports and the scrutiny of doping regulations remain topics of interest. The case highlights the ongoing challenges faced by athletes in maintaining compliance with anti-doping measures while pursuing personal and professional goals.
