Eddie McGuire slams claims 16 players at one club are using a mental health loophole to avoid drug testing

A furious Eddie McGuire has slammed claims made by rival radio host Ross Stevenson that 16 AFL players at one club are using a mental health loophole to avoid drug testing.

Collingwood president Eddie McGuire. Picture: Mark Stewart

Collingwood president Eddie McGuire has weighed in on the AFL drug debate slamming claims 16 players at a footy club used a mental health loophole to avoid drug testing.

3AW host Ross Stevenson made the claim earlier this week, and McGuire did not hold back in his response.

“I wanna come off right now and say that is not true,” he said on Triple M.

“That is categorically not true.

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“There’s not a team that’s got 16, and it’s not 14, and it’s not 15, and it’s not 17 … I’m saying that that’s not true.

“There’s been reporting over the journey that is not true in these situations.”

McGuire is not the only prominent footy figure to refute the claims with AFL Players Association president and Geelong star Patrick Dangerfield also disputing Stevenson’s comments.

Collingwood president Eddie McGuire. Picture: Nicole Garmston

“I’m not sure where those numbers have come from, but I think they’ve been plucked out of the sky and I would severely doubt that,” Dangerfield told SEN.

“The system is in place for a reason, it is not there to be exploited so we’ve got to continue to communicate that message and I’m really confident the vast majority of players understand that really clearly.”

Asked if he had spoken to the president of every club to confirm the rumour was false, McGuire added: “The presidents don’t know.

“I have been a journalist for a long time I know how to find the stories. I stand by my sources, it’s not true.

“I’m saying it’s not true.

“You have to trust me on this situation. I’m telling you let’s not get excited about rumours and stick to the facts.

“Is there a problem? Of course there is a problem, there is a societal problem.”

“You don’t have to get all excited about this because it makes a headline in the dull part of a season. There a mental health issues at play here involved. Is it a perfect system? No. Are they going to revise it? Yes they are.

Should clubs have more input into it? I think they should have.

“There’s a lot to discuss.”

Meanwhile, The AFL has buckled to pressure and announced a ­review of its contentious illicit drugs policy.

The league did not, however, address claims 16 players from one club had been made exempt from testing because of a mentalhealth diagnosis.

An AFL spokesman told the Herald Sun: “The AFL and AFL Players’ Association have been undertaking a review of the ­illicit drugs policy, which ­expires in 2020,to ensure the objectives of the policy, including player welfare and accountability, continue to be met.

“The ongoing review will include consultation with clubs, players and medical ­professionals.”

AFL football operations manager Steve Hocking will lead the review, which is unlikely to affect the strike ­system in placefor this season.

Hawthorn president Jeff Kennett said: “What a joke. How many times have they looked into this and how many times has the policynot worked? Before they have an inquiry they ought to determine whether they are serious about having a drugs policy thatis enforceable.”