Jarrad McVeigh and Jude Bolton with the 2012 AFL premiership cup Picture: Phil Hillyard Source: The Daily Telegraph
AUSTRALIA'S most experienced sports medico is furious that Sydney's AFL champions are under suspicion like every other team.
The Swans' magnificent 2012 premiership triumph has been stained by the drug scandal that has rocked Australian sport.
"The Swans won the premiership last year fair and square - they're as clean a club as you will ever see,'' Nathan Gibbs told The Daily Telegraph.
"But this slur on all the footy codes takes the gloss off the premiership. It tarnishes the people who are doing the right thing.
"What the Swans do well is their training, coaching and preparation. It's outstanding.
"Suddenly they're saying everyone's on drugs which means the best team in the comp, which the Swans were last year, and people doubt how good they really were.
"The Melbourne Storm are the same too.
"We have done everything correctly. It takes the gloss of the achievements and that's what is disappointing."
Dr Gibbs has been a sports medico for 30 years in rugby league and AFL.
He also played for South Sydney and the Kangaroos and has seen everything except for the performance enhancing drugs that are apparently so rife.
"The sports science, training and medical programs that exist now get players into excellent condition," the Swans doctor said.
"We've (the Swans) spent seven years travelling the world visiting all the best rugby, soccer and U.S football codes looking at their programs. We use the best practices from what we've seen overseas in all the major sports."
Gibbs believes only a very small proportion of borderline players would be tempted to use performance enhancing drugs.
"It's those trying to to catch up on their lack of fitness, or lack of ability or lack of whatever to try to make the grade," he said.
"I'm talking borderline players trying to get a contract who mightn't be quite good enough.
"I doubt very much if the best players in the best teams are doing anything."
Gibbs is the latest voice in a Australian sport to speak out over the against the claims from Australian Crime Commission boss John Lawler that his agency had uncovered widespread doping in Australian sport, linked to organised crime.
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