Players heeding AFL war on drugs
Greg Denham | May 29, 2009
Article from: The Australian
THE AFL has dramatically increased its illicit drug-testing this year despite a fall last year in the number of players who tested positive.
As promised by the league last year, the number of tests conducted this year will rise to 1500, with all players to be tested at least once during the season.
Holiday hair testing has also been introduced as a two-year trial. Results will be kept in house as statistical data.
The AFL's out-of-competition (non-match day) illicit drug policy testing for 2008 was released yesterday and revealed that the number of positive tests decreased by 76 per cent from the first year of testing under the present code in 2005.
In the 12-month period to February this year, a total of 12 failed tests were recorded from 1220, which increased from 1152 tests over the corresponding 12 months.
In 2005 from 472 tests, there were 19 failed tests, which represented 4 per cent of players.
The rate of positive results last year continued its downward trend, falling to 0.98 per cent of all tests carried out, the first time it has dropped below 1 per cent since the policy began in 2005.
Two players recorded a second failed test last year.
No player has recorded a third failed test to illicit drugs in the four years of the policy from more than 3330 tests.
Illicit drugs can be detected for up to three months in hair samples. Players who test positive in hair testing are then target-tested through the illicit drugs policy.
The AFL's general manager of football operations, Adrian Anderson, said yesterday the results provided a clear indication that the education programs and the policy of counselling and treatment was working and changing players' behaviour.
"When you compare it against society, this is an incredibly low number of people within the population the size of our player group to be taking illicit drugs," Anderson said. "With just about any workplace in the country, it would compare favourably. As a fact we know that these are remarkable numbers, but of course we'd rather see it zero."
He said the AFL and AFL Players' Association had developed the policy on the best advice of the country's leading medical and drug prevention experts.
"In 2008 we tested more than ever before," Anderson said.
"We target-tested players more than ever before and we tested more players post-season than in any previous year. And we have again recorded a significant drop in the number of failed tests recorded.
"Again this year, as with last year, we ramped up testing in the post-season period and recorded the majority of failed tests in the period immediately following the end of the season. The experience of the doctors was that alcohol was also again a significant factor in most of the failed tests recorded, reinforcing the importance of the AFL's Responsible Alcohol policy and team leadership groups in setting cultures of responsible drinking."
The AFL is one of only three sports in Australia that has an illicit drug code where players have volunteered for testing. And it is the only sport that publishes its results each year. Cricket Australia and the NRL also have illicit drug policies.
In 2007, 11 players tested positive to illicit drugs, including three who twice tested positive. That was a reduction in the 28 positive tests over the previous two years from 958 tests.
Of the 11 players who tested positive in 2007, the AFL revealed almost all failed tests were related to alcohol, and that three of the six players who have twice tested positive in the previous three years had a mental illness.
Players with first and second positive tests receive suspended sanctions, which will be enforced on a third strike.
A suspended fine of $5000 applies to a first failed test, while second offenders receive a suspended six-match ban.
Any player testing positive for a third time could receive a maximum ban of 18 games as well as a fine and will be named and forced to appear before the AFL Tribunal.
AFLPA president Joel Bowden said the results vindicated the players' support for out-of-competition testing.
"In 2005, AFL players made a bold and voluntary decision to sign up to a strong regime of testing for illicit drugs outside of competition," Bowden said. "The motivation for doing this was our genuine commitment to the health and wellbeing of our fellow players.
"And it's pleasing that the policy's focus on health, education, player welfare and rehabilitation is proving to be effective. The statistics released today provide clear and measurable proof that our policy approach is working."
Professor Jon Currie, the director of Addiction Medicine at St Vincent's Hospital and the chairman of the Victorian Drug and Alcohol Prevention Council, said the AFL policy was an example of a strong public health and welfare campaign in action.
