Rhys Mathieson has been handed a three-year suspension after testing positive to the anabolic steroid oxymetholone. The former Brisbane Lions midfielder returned the positive test while playing at state league level, not in the AFL. This wasn’t a casual warning. It’s a full anti-doping ban, and it keeps him out of all organised football until August 10, 2027 (AFL former player banned).

He can resume training with a club in June 2027, but he cannot play until August. The story matters for more than one player. It touches on image culture, bodybuilding, and the reach of AFL anti-doping rules.

Who is Rhys Mathieson? A career summary

Mathieson was drafted by Brisbane and played 72 AFL games between 2016 and 2022. He built a reputation as a tough inside mid. Fans knew him for his contested work, physical style, and swagger. He became a cult figure at the Lions. He even picked up nicknames like “Beast Mode” and “Barometer.” After leaving the AFL at the end of 2023, he stayed around footy at a lower level and shifted focus toward gym work and body transformation.

He leaned into that identity online and posted physique updates, strength clips, and “grind” content. He reportedly added more than 10kg of muscle. In other words, he was starting to market himself as an athlete-brand, not just an ex-player.

What led to the positive test – AFL former player banned

Mathieson was playing for Wilston Grange in the QAFL when testers arrived. He was tested in 2024 under national anti-doping rules. That test returned a positive result for oxymetholone, an anabolic steroid. Oxymetholone is banned because it can rapidly boost muscle mass and recovery speed. It’s considered a serious performance enhancer in elite and sub-elite sport.

According to reporting, Mathieson admitted he took the substance on purpose. He said it was for personal physical transformation, not for football performance. It had already been provisionally stood down and did not play football at any level in 2025 while the matter was processed. He also spoke publicly about drug testing before. On his podcast “Rip Through It,” he described testers showing up at his parents’ house at 5am. He said his father initially thought they were salesmen and tried to send them away. That story, which sounded almost funny at the time, now sits in a very different light.

The ban: length, reduction, what it means (AFL former player banned)

The maximum possible sanction for this kind of violation is typically four years. Mathieson did not get four years. He received a three-year ban instead. Why the reduction? Investigators accepted that he admitted using oxymetholone. He said he used it intentionally, but for non-football reasons. He cooperated.

His formal suspension runs until August 10, 2027. He can begin training with a club again in June 2027. Until then, he is not allowed to play at any level. This is key: he cannot play any sanctioned Australian rules football, not just AFL. The ban applies across competitions. That means local leagues, state leagues, and semi-pro footy are all off-limits.

Impact on his post – AFL transformation & social media presence

Mathieson had been building a second career. He was leaning into bodybuilding, training content, and public transformation photos. That “look at my gains” storyline helped him stay visible after his AFL exit. It also drew attention from fans and, reportedly, from anti-doping officials.

Now, the story flips. The same visual transformation that built his following also sits next to a steroid suspension. This hurts credibility. Brands and sponsors watch these things. Fans do too. He may still train and post lifting content. Nothing stops him from uploading videos or selling programs. But public trust is different now. There’s also pride. Athletes who leave the AFL often try to prove they’re still elite, still relevant, still physically special. That drive can become a trap.

What this means for AFL anti-doping policy & future players

This case does not just sit in a gym mirror. It sits in front of the entire AFL system. Mathieson was no longer playing AFL. He was in a state league. He was also in “retired, reinventing myself” mode. And he still got tested, and still got banned. That matters. It proves ex-AFL players are still within reach of anti-doping enforcement if they keep playing in recognised competitions.

This also shows how blurred the line is now. Players don’t just “retire.” They move into semi-pro footy, podcasting, content, and physique-building. Leagues will worry about optics. The AFL has spent years trying to project strong integrity standards. A steroid case, tied to a known former player, draws national attention. The likely next step is education. The message will be: you are still responsible, even after you leave the AFL list. A “fitness journey” is not a loophole. Source: News.com.au

Rhys Mathieson Case -AFL former player banned

The Mathieson case is bigger than one headline. It’s a live warning to current AFL players, recent delistees, and local-league stars trying to build physiques and followings online. You are still inside the system, testable and accountable.

For the AFL, it’s also about trust. Fans want to believe in toughness and grind, not shortcuts. The lesson is blunt: bodybuilding, image, and content can’t come before the code.

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