Clubs warned on testing

SUNS player Brayden Crossley’s positive drug test comes after AFL clubs were warned last year that improvements in testing had drastically increased the time period in which traces of banned substances could be detected.

The Australian Sports AntiDoping Authority (ASADA) is conducting an investigation after Crossley returned a positive match-day urine test to a cocaine metabolite before the May 25 NEAFL game against Sydney.

The Suns forward has denied deliberately using cocaine and intends to vigorously defend himself.

The AFL’s chief medical officer told clubs at the beginning of the pre-season that ASADA laboratory testing procedures had improved dramatically.

Where 48 to 72 hours was once considered sufficient time to rid the body of traces of cocaine, the memo from Dr Peter Harcourt which was sent to club doctors in November last year and relayed to players, warned the drug could be detected by match-day tests up to seven days after use.

Some clubs have repeatedly reminded the players throughout the season that the tests are getting better.

However the new capabilities have also raised questions from within the AFL over how a positive result from a matchday test to cocaine or cocaine metabolite could be considered performance enhancing if the drugs were taken up to a week earlier. ASADA has the power to seize Crossley’s phones and computers and interview his friends and family.