The AFL will conduct an independent review into the work, research and advice provided by Paul McCrory following a series of worrying revelations about the controversial concussion expert.
McCrory resigned as chair of the Concussion in Sport Group earlier this week following allegations of plagiarism.
Alarm bells would also have been ringing at AFL headquarters several days ago when the father of retired West Coast premiership player Daniel Venables claimed McCrory advised his son to take anti-depressants to deal with migraines.
Venables, who retired last year at the age of 22 due to the horrific concussion he suffered in 2019, later took himself off the medication after reportedly falling into a deep depression.
McCrory, whose advice helped the AFL frame its current concussion policy, allegedly treated other ex-players too for head knocks during an agreed ban.
The AFL had not been aware of the allegations levelled at McCrory until recently.
"These matters include one instance of admitted scientific plagiarism by Associate Professor McCrory and the suggestion of other instances of plagiarism," the AFL said in a statement.
"They also include the recent revelation that in May 2018, Associate Professor McCrory provided an enforceable undertaking to the Medical Board of Australia that he would not perform neurodiagnostic procedures and/or nerve conduction studies and/or electromyography until approved to do so by the Board.
"The AFL was not aware of the enforceable undertaking until reported in the media."
Although McCrory has no ongoing role with the AFL and was not the only provider of concussion medical advice, the league said he was an "important and long-standing adviser on concussion and he was understood by the AFL to be a pre-eminent expert in the field".
"As is common practice in academic institutions and other organisations in which allegations of plagiarism are made or admitted, the AFL believes it important as a matter of integrity to ascertain the status and the reliability of past research activities and outcomes, and clinical work in which Dr McCrory has been involved for the AFL," the league said.
The independent review will be conducted by an independent senior counsel and a professor of medicine experienced in medical and medical research ethics.
