Doctors at the hospital treating Lance Franklin for an epileptic seizure reportedly advised Sydney not to play the AFL superstar forward against Gold Coast on Saturday night.
Specialists at St Vincent’s hospital told the club on Friday to leave Franklin out of the clash.
But Swans chief executive Andrew Ireland said specialists had told club doctor Nathan Gibbs the final decision was his.
“Nathan was in communication with people at the hospital and it was determined, on the basis Nathan knows his history as well after being with him on Friday and then again doing a full check on Saturday morning, including a training run, that he was ok to play,” Ireland told Fairfax Media.
“Nathan knows Lance’s medical condition better than anyone, dealing with him regularly.
“Lance was feeling great, trained on Saturday morning and was good as gold.
“Nathan has a past history of understanding how Lance returns from those sorts of episodes.”
It comes a day after leading sports doctor Peter Larkins said Franklin lining up in the game was “extraordinary”.
Franklin gathered 13 possessions and kicked one goal in the Swans’ 63-point thrashing of the Suns.