AFL chief thought pregnancy claims a lie - Sports News - Fanatics - the world's biggest events

AFL chief thought pregnancy claims a lie

07/03/2011 12:22:31 PM Comments (0)

AFL chief executive Andrew Demetriou says he knew the girl at the centre of the St Kilda nude-photo scandal had lied about claims she was pregnant to footballer Sam Gilbert.

Demetriou has told Fairfax radio that while he thought the claim the girl had become pregnant with twins to Gilbert was wrong, he chose not to say anything.

"I was led to believe through our other investigations that that may have been the case. There have been a number of occasions whereby this young girl has said things that have proven to be incorrect," Demetriou said.

"There has been many things that we could have said but we have chosen out of respect to the girl and for her welfare not to comment," he said.

Last year the girl sensationally released explicit photos of St Kilda players Nick Riewoldt and Nick Dal Santo.

After being in the media spotlight she then claimed she fell pregnant with twins to St Kilda's Sam Gilbert, but one twin miscarried and the other was stillborn.

The claims have since been reported as fact by some in the media.

On Sunday night the girl told Channel Nine she had lied about the pregnancy.

"I was a stupid immature little teenager ... (but) I don't think I owe anyone an apology other than Sam," she said.

Spokesman for the AFL Players' Association Ben Hart said there had been a "high level of speculation" the girl had lied about the pregnancy claims but the association had no view on the matter.

"We didn't have a view on it because the information either way is not really central to the kind of issues that we are investigating," Hart said.

The association has launched an inquiry into AFL player manager Ricky Nixon's relationship with the 17-year-old girl at the centre of the scandal, with lawyer David Galbally QC due to hand down his findings on Friday.

Hart said Nixon's ability to serve his clients with professionalism and integrity was central to the investigation.

"We said all along that the investigation has been conducted and measured against the regulations that we administer," he said.

Nixon could lose his accreditation if it finds he breached his obligations as a player manager.

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