AFL responds to reports of illicit drugs use but won’t make test results public

THE AFL has not refuted Herald Sun reports that up to 11 Collingwood players tested positive for illicit drugs over summer.

Courts. AFL Chief executive Gillon McLachlan leaves the Environment, Resources and Development court where he is fighting a wind farm near his family farm in the Adelaide Hills.

THE AFL has not refuted a Herald Sun report that up to 11 Collingwood players tested positive for illicit drugs over summer.

The Herald Sun yesterday confirmed that up to 11 Magpies had tested positive to drugs over the off-season, despite two teammates — Josh Thomas and Lachie Keeffe — last year being rubbed out for two seasons after being caught with illicit substances in their systems.

The AFL has confirmed it conducted competition-wide hair testing for illicit drugs during the off-season, but it won’t be making the results public.

But the Pies, who will face Sydney on Saturday night, are not the only club with alarming hair-test results.

Hair tests do not count as a positive strike, and are only used for research purposes.

AFL football operations manager Mark Evans said in a statement the new policy gives the code unprecedented levels of information regarding drug use, and a stronger capacity to intervene and penalise players.

“This is the first year of the policy’s operation, and I ask that the new policy be given a chance to be in operation and measured for its impact before we demand new changes,” Evans said.

“The use of illicit drugs affects all sections of society, including AFL players, but testing results continue to indicate levels of use below the general public.

“The AFL has informed the Clubs regarding the hair testing over the holidays, but we will not make these public.

“The AFL remains committed to an Illicit Drugs policy that seeks to change behaviour, and penalise players whose behaviour doesn’t change,” Mr. Evans said.

ZERO TOLERANCE

Port Adelaide coach Ken Hinkley called for a zero-tolerance approach to illicit drugs within AFL ranks.

The AFL has informed the Clubs regarding the hair testing over the holidays, but we will not make these public.

Mark Evans

“Illicit drugs, everyone acknowledges that they are an issue in the game,” Hinkley said.

“ ... From a personal point of view, I have always said zero tolerance, that is the way I would like it to be. But I respect what the AFL and the AFLPA are trying to do.”

Hinkley is confident his Power players will not be linked to the issue but that he remains in the dark.

“You can never say never, but we have a really good group of people here,” he said.

“We are doing our absolute best to educate and people understand what Port Adelaide stand for. I don’t (have concerns at Port Adelaide), but I am uneducated (on the results of drug tests). I am not aware of what all the facts can be.

“I also really trust this group that they will be doing the right thing – and that is all I can ask for.”

Collingwood president Eddie McGuire last night refuted the Herald Sun’s claims.

“[Friday] morning both the AFL and Collingwood football club will claim the figures are inaccurate,” McGuire following the broadcast of Richmond’s hard-fought nine-point win over Carlton.

“We are not going to try and be pedantic about this.

“Whether he’s got it wrong by five or four or three or 10. It doesn’t make a difference. There’s a big issue here that needs to be addressed.”

AFLPA GIVE THE POLICY A CHANCE

AFL Players’ Association boss Paul Marsh said it was important to give the new Illicit Drugs Policy (IDP) time to take effect.

“We have committed to the evolution of the IDP to ensure it finds the right balance between players’ responsibility to the game, dealing with their medical and health concerns, protecting their rights and influencing behavioural change.

“One of the fundamental pillars of the IDP is confidentiality and whilst we appreciate there is public interest around this issue, we strongly believe releasing results of any testing serves absolutely no purpose in achieving the objectives of the policy.

“Considered changes have been made to the policy, in consultation with drug and medical experts, and to be critical of it at this point before it’s even had a chance to take effect is simply premature.”

Marsh said all AFL players voluntarily agreed to be subject to the policy on the basis that results remained confidential.

AFL chief executive Gillon McLachlan. Picture: Greg Higgs

NAME AND SHAME

Former AFL champion Jonathan Brown also weighed in on the illicit drugs problem.

“I think it probably maybe should be one strike and the players should get help,” Brown told Nova 100 today.

“Maybe they should be publicly named after one strike, no suspension, but I think after that suspension should start.”

North Melbourne midfielder Shaun Higgins said player continuing to run the gauntlet by taking illicit substances shows that the education given to players needs to be looked at.

“To be honest, I only heard a bit of it in the footy telecast ... but if they’re significant numbers then it’s something we’d need to address,” Higgins said.

If players put themselves in that position, then further education needs to take place

Shaun Higgins

“Always (a surprise that players run the gauntlet) — to put yourself in that position and then the scare through the whole footy world with the two Collingwood players (testing positive for performance-enhancing drug clenbuterol after taking an illicit substance) ... hopefully that made a lot of players realise.

“If players put themselves in that position, then further education needs to take place.”

Earlier, Richmond forward Ben Griffiths said he was surprised that 11 Magpies had reportedly tested positive to illicit substances over the summer break.

Griffiths, who played in Friday night’s win over Carlton, says the education players receive on the issue is enough and that it is a significant problem in society.

“I was pretty surprised — I woke up to it this morning,” he said.

“Just that it happened.

“I think drugs is a problem in society — not just in the AFL. Education and further support is all that I can suggest.”