MY NAME is Jan Clark. In 2001 I was diagnosed with breast cancer, which came as quite a shock as I was only 42 years of age. The breast cancer specialist performed a lumpectomy and I was given six months of chemotherapy and six weeks of radiotherapy. I was informed I should be fine, and was monitored every 12 months by my doctor.

Unfortunately in 2004, the tumor appeared again. This time my specialist performed a mastectomy. Given six months of very strong chemotherapy and again was told I would be fine and sent on my way.

As fate would have it, in 2007 my doctor discovered a large tumor in my neck. Further tests revealed it to be inoperable as it was too close to an artery, but he was fairly confident that six weeks of intense radiotherapy could either shrink the tumor or totally destroy it.

My husband Terry, my three children – Hayley, Samantha and Matthew – and I got together to discuss the risks, and decided 'let's go for it' – I would undergo radiotherapy. After six weeks of them nearly cremating me alive, I survived the radiotherapy, which was a complete success, and once again I was cancer-free. But wait, there's more.

In 2010, while being so excited to be packing and going away on a cruise with friends I started suffering severe abdominal pains, which I tried to ignore. What I could not ignore was the colour of my urine, my yellow eyes, and my obviously jaundiced skin. Here we go again. A CT scan soon revealed six large tumors over both sides of my liver. Was this the final siren? No!

My family and I decided that while a cure was never in the picture but with more grueling chemo, we could have more time together as a family. The news to my husband and kids was obviously devastating but we called a family meeting and decided 'let's go for it' again. What followed was six months of more grueling chemotherapy, but we got through it and a CT scan revealed the tumors had shrunk by 50 per cent. That meant more time with my family.

Unfortunately, the chemo had taken its toll on my body, leaving me very weak and tired. My bloods could take no more and my bone marrow has been infiltrated by malignancy. We knew that I had to take a long rest from any more chemotherapy.

Winter of 2011 arrived and on a Saturday or Sunday off to the footy we would all go to watch Matthew play for Frankston in the VFL. We would all rug up, particularly my bald head, and head off to Frankston, Casey, Port Melbourne and wherever else the fixture would take us. We never missed a game and I found it a distraction for me.

Matthew has played football since he was five years old. It is what some would call his life. He has always given 110 per cent, been full of grit and determination which is why he had a lot of success, being selected for Dandenong Stingrays, winning their best and fairest, coming fifth in the Morrish Medal.  The following year he was selected for the Vic Metro side. 

Unfortunately, as fate would have it, he seriously injured his knee and his season basically came to an end. Overlooked by any AFL clubs, he decided to try his luck at Frankston and really enjoyed the standard of football. He has always been a strongly-built player, never needing to take powders of power drinks to build his strength. We have always been a family involved in many sports. From tennis, basketball, netball, little athletics and cricket. If you have to take a steroid or drug to enhance your performance then you are a cheat, not good enough to play that sport. Get out!

One cold and wet day, when Frankston were playing Collingwood at Collingwood, Matthew found out before the game that he had been selected to be drug tested. We all laughed about it, but wondered why he knew. Weren't these tests supposed to be random and secretive until after the game?

Anyway, Matthew had forgotten to bring his usual can of 'V' and bottle of Powerade and spotted some of his teammates consuming an energy powder and asked what it was. He was assured by his teammate it was just an energy drink bought legally over the counter and was all good for VFL. Matthew told his teammate he was being drug tested that day and again he was told it was all good.

Rule No.1: Trust no-one!

In September, he came home from work and informed me he had a conversation over the phone with ASADA, who had informed him he had tested positive to a banned substance. I did not know what this meant, but I reassured him it might be something in his ventolin or just something that he had eaten. How wrong could I be! The nightmare had just begun.

Following the phone call from ASADA, official letters were received from both ASADA and the AFL in about September 2011. He was informed he would soon be facing the AFL anti-doping panel. We engaged the services of a solicitor and a barrister as told to by the AFL, which was expensive and very stressful. Finally, after many months of wondering and waiting the case was set for April 2, 2012, some seven months after receiving the official letters. Is this due process?

Our barrister believed Matthew would receive a penalty, but was confident he would receive a reduced sentence. He certainly wouldn't be looking at two years.

Meanwhile, back at the oncologist's office, my bloods were still not strong enough to handle more chemotherapy. My doctor informed me that if it were possible, to gather my family together and go on a long and memorable holiday. My eldest daughter Hayley and her boyfriend Mikey were keen. My other daughter Samantha took out a loan and was set. 

Unfortunately, my husband Terry runs his own business, and quite frankly we couldn't afford for him to be away for six weeks. As for Matthew, as his run of bad luck continued, he was made redundant from his full-time job and was rejected for a loan. The four of us set off for the USA leaving behind Terry and Matthew. 

We stayed closely in touch with home, ringing every day to see if there was any news of the results. Unfortunately there was no news on the case, but my husband suspected that Matthew, who still couldn't find work, was very depressed.

We decided to all chip in some money and fly him over to meet us in Los Angeles. Trying to take his mind off his football, we continued to ring home every day but still no news. We all arrived home from the US on May 13 and, you guessed it, still no news! Finally on May 22, Matthew received a phone call from his solicitor. The verdict was in: Matthew was hit with a nine-month suspension.

While devastated by the news, we considered it to be a fair and just result. After seeing a psychologist for eight weeks, Matt began to sort out his thoughts and come to terms that football was over for the year. 

During this time, I was doing quite a bit of research on the internet into decisions that were handed down that were very similar cases to Matthew's. I discovered that two NRL players – both 20-year-olds like Matthew – had consumed the same performance-enhancing drug and had received six-month penalties. Surely justice should prevail, for everyone is entitled to a fair and just hearing. Well, apparently not.

Matthew received a phone call from his solicitor in June to inform him that ASADA was appealing his nine-month suspension, and were arguing for a two-year ban. We were told they would have the best QC money could buy and were determined to make an example out of him. How could this happen? The two NRL players were free to continue on with their careers, for exactly the same violation of the code. Where is there anything fair and just here?

I always believed the same rules apply to all, not just those who have excellent representation or lots of money and influence.

In September 2012, Matthew was contacted by a representative of the AFL Players' Association. He was informed they were there to help him and were offering free legal representation. I had read about how the players' association believed two years was too harsh for players that were facing 'low-end' drug code breaches. How could Matthew go wrong with them fighting for his cause?

(Matt lost the appeal and received an increased suspension of two years).

We have secured the services of a very enthusiastic and dedicated solicitor who tried to lodge an appeal with the Court of Arbitration for Sport (CAS) but this has been unsuccessful.

Unfortunately for me, I have been back to see my oncologist and a new CT scan revealed that my tumors on my liver are still growing and multiplying and I have two new tumors on my lungs. As any mum would, I will fight this case until my last breath. I will not go anywhere until my son's name has been cleared of being a deceitful drug cheat and this farce of a two-year ban is overturned.

I am hoping to be around to see Matt run out for the first home and away game this year.

Jan Clark