Players banned from matches under AFL's contentious illicit drugs policy Patrick Smith
The Australian
February 06, 2013 PLAYERS have been repeatedly forced to miss matches, possibly finals, because of serious breaches of the league's controversial illicit drug policy.
AFL chief executive Andrew Demetriou confirmed to The Australian yesterday that the policy had been used to ban players from participating in premiership matches but he said he did not believe confidentiality of any individuals had been compromised.
Demetriou said it did not follow that once a player was ruled out because of conditions contained in the drug policy that the coach or other club officials would become privy to the player's problems.
"Club doctors would tell the coach or the football manager that a certain player was not in a condition to play.
"He does not need to specify any injury or illness, just that he considers the player not well enough to play," Demetriou said.
"It is not uncommon if a club doctor who is treating a player, for depression say, to tell the coach that the player is not available for selection because of illness."
AFL medical officer Peter Harcourt told last week's AFL summit on drugs - attended by all club chief executives - that players continued to be stood down while they were undergoing rehabilitation.
He told the summit a number of club doctors had been told by the AFL medical staff that the footballers concerned were "not fit to play". It is not known if any player has been forced to miss a finals match under the code.
It is also believed that testing showed at least four players had tested positive twice to banned drugs last season.
Last year two clubs were counselled by the AFL that testing indicated there could be an adverse drug culture within the team.
One of those clubs was Collingwood, whose chief executive Gary Pert was behind the AFL's decision to convene last week's summit.
Pert had claimed that illicit drugs were the greatest threat to the health of the AFL and that they were the reason for players' "volcanic behaviour".
Under the controversial three-strikes policy, players who require rehabilitation will be tested for illicit drugs but any positive test will not count against them while they are under treatment. However, no footballer can play in competition matches unless any drug tests are recorded and counted.
"You don't have to be on two strikes to be forced to stop playing," Demetriou said.
"If a player tests positive just once and the AFL medical officers believe he needs prolonged rehabilitation then he will not be allowed to play."
The league's illicit drug code has been in place since 2005. The AFL claims its policy, struck with the co-operation of the AFL Players Association, has won acclaim internationally.
It is strongly supported by experts in drug addiction treatment and rehabilitation.
The code was initially established by the AFL so that it would not be forced to comply with the WADA policy which was adopted by the Australian government.
At the time the AFL research testing showed that as many as five players tested positive to marijuana on match day.
Under the WADA policy at the time, that would have resulted in the players being banned for two years.
The AFL illicit drug policy - as distinct from its anti-doping or performance-enhancing policy, which Essendon fears it might have breached - is based on confidential treatment.
Club doctors are told by the AFL medical officers when one of their players tests positive. Players have two chances before they are publicly named on a third strike and sent before the AFL tribunal.
Once a player tests positive a third time he is charged by the AFL and ordered to face the tribunal where he faces a maximum penalty of an 18-match suspension and a $5000 fine. Only one player has tested positive three times in the life of the policy and suspended players remain in rehabilitation.
Demetriou yesterday denied that the league treated drug addiction differently to the serious problems associated with alcohol and gambling.
"Players have been stood down from matches because they are being treated for gambling and alcohol addictions," he said.
Demetriou did admit last week after the drug summit that the code had "dropped the ball" on alcohol issues.
Chief executive of the AFLPA, Matt Finnis, told The Australian yesterday: "Our view is that no player should take the field if he is not fit for football for any reason and that covers drug rehabilitation or any other health problem."
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