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AFL: Magpie to learn his fate after doping violation

Sam Murray faces a possible four-year ban if found guilty.

Sam Murray faces a possible four-year ban if found guilty. Photo: AAP

Collingwood defender Sam Murray is finally set to learn his AFL fate, more than a year after he failed a game-day drugs test.

The AFL has confirmed Murray, who has been serving a provisional suspension for the past 12 months, appeared before the AFL Anti-Doping Tribunal on Thursday.

The tribunal will consider the matter and hand down its decision on a yet-to-be-announced date.

Murray, who remains on the Magpies’ rookie list, tested positive to an illicit substance last August in what was his debut season.

The 21-year-old was investigated by the Australian Sports Anti-Doping Authority (ASADA) and potentially faces a four-year ban if found guilty.

AFL chief Gillon McLachlan said Murray’s provisional ban would mitigate whatever sanction he eventually received.

“He’s still on a provisional suspension now, and whatever he’s served will count toward whatever it ends up being,” Mr McLachlan told radio station 3AW on Friday.

“That’s the potential sanction. But there’s mitigation and whatever argument they mount. It could be something less but it may be four (years).”

Details of the hearing have been kept confidential but Mr McLachlan said Murray’s case was being heard by a former Supreme Court judge.

Collingwood duo Josh Thomas and Lachie Keeffe received two-year doping bans in 2015 after testing positive to the banned substance Clenbuterol.

Keeffe was delisted by the Magpies and picked up by GWS in 2017, while Thomas remains at Collingwood and has played 18 games this season.

Meanwhile, former Collingwood-player-turned-Blue Dale Thomas is to retire at the end of the season.

Collingwood Dale Thomas

Dale “Daisy” Thomas will retire after more than 250 games as a Pie and Blue. Photo: Getty

The 32-year-old will call time on his career after 14 seasons and more than 250 games with the Blues and Collingwood comes after he was told he would not be contracted in 2020.

Thomas will play his final home game for Carlton on Saturday when the Blues take on St Kilda at the MCG.

Thomas said he was content with his decision to retire while still playing at the elite level.

“While this is something I didn’t want to hear, I was realistic that it was a chance to have happened,” he said in a Carlton statement.

“I also understand the direction the club is going, and I certainly understand that decisions have to be made.

“I have experienced so much in my career since walking in as a blond-haired kid from Drouin back in 2005.”

-AAP

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