AFL tackles drug issue

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 prevalent 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 antidoping processes.

McLachlan said yesterday Gold Coast player Brayden 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 Melbourne radio station 3AW that Crossley’s situation should be dealt with separately with the 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. It is 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.”

Collingwood defender Sam Murray continues to wait for an AFL anti-doping hearing a year on from his positive A sample.

McLachlan is aware of the frustration from the AFL community with the level of secrecy around Murray’s case. “I think there is a challenge in the lack of transparency on that. Certainly for us,” he said.

“I asked questions on that in the last couple of days. Our integrity department don’t know and that’s how the process works. It’s with the player and those helping him and so it’s taken some time. It’s over a year so it’s a long time and that is a challenge with the system, I concede.”