AFL clubs were warned of improved drug testing before Brayden Crossley’s positive sample

Gold Coast’s Brayden Crossley is remaining defiant following his positive drugs test but AFL players were warned illicit drugs could be detected up to a week after use.

Brayden Crossley failed a drug test. Picture: Getty Images

Suns player Brayden Crossley’s positive drug test comes after AFL clubs were warned last year that improvements in testing had drastically increased the time period in which traces of banned substances could be detected.

The Australian Sports Anti-Doping Authority is investigating after Crossley returned a positive match-day urine test to a cocaine metabolite before the May 25 NEAFL game against Sydney.

The Suns forward has denied deliberately using cocaine and intends to defend himself.

The AFL’s chief medical officer told clubs at the start of the pre-season that ASADA laboratory testing procedures had improved dramatically.

Where 48 to 72 hours was once considered sufficient time to rid the body of traces of cocaine, the memo from Dr Peter Harcourt which was sent to club doctors in November and relayed to players, warned that the drug could be detected by match-day tests up to seven days after use.

Some clubs have repeatedly reminded the players throughout the season that the tests are getting better.

The new capabilities have also raised questions from within the AFL over how a positive result from a match-day test to cocaine or cocaine metabolite could be considered performance-enhancing if the drugs were taken up to a week earlier.

Gold Coast player Brayden Crossley failed a drugs test. Picture: Getty Images

ASADA has the power to seize Crossley’s phones and computers and interview his friends and family.

Crossley, 19, has been serving a provisional ban since June 29 when he was informed of his positive test.

Crossley’s father Troy suggested that the family were able to identify where Brayden may have come into contact with the drug.

“There will be a lot more to come out,” Troy said.

“(Brayden) is not responsible.”

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Gold Coast chief executive Mark Evans urged the footy community to spare judgment until the investigation had run its course.

“What I would encourage everybody to do is make sure they keep an open mind as to how this plays out,’’ Evans said.

“It will come out in the end and that will be the most important thing.’’

Evans also rejected questions that the latest drugs scandal to engulf the Suns made a mockery of the club’s claims of major advances in its culture.

“I think it has been five years since an incident of this type and we have some other insights that tell us we are on the right path with this.’’

Crossley is serving a provisional ban. Picture: Jerad Williams

Gillon McLachlan concedes the AFL has a “level” of illicit drug use across the competition after the latest positive match-day test.

But McLachlan says drug use is mostly in the off-season and below community levels.

It comes as the AFL chief executive admits the league has issues with the transparency of its convoluted anti-doping processes.

McLachlan said Crossley had professed innocence over a match-day cocaine test that could see him suspended and should allow the process to run its course.

Asked if the league had a problem with players using cocaine, he told 3AW that Crossley’s situation should be dealt with separately with use of illicit drugs.

“That plays out with ASADA. I can’t comment too much but (Crossley) has every right to defend himself and it’s come out that he will vigorously defend it.

“I don’t think there is an issue (with drugs) per se. Is it broadly accepted there is a level of illicit substance use over the course of the year, predominantly in the off-season.

“Yes. It’s less than community levels. In this case (Crossley) is adamant of his innocence. I don’t want to comment on it and cloud it by talking about a broader issue.”

The World Anti-Doping Agency (WADA) is currently in the third stage of a review which is expected to lead to a new code that would tighten the time parameters of when the use of drugs such as cocaine would be considered performance-enhancing.