The AFL's new illicit drug policy is set to remove the strikes system and move towards utilising more consistent hair testing to identify players' substance abuse. The overhaul marks a significant departure from the confidential medical model that has operated since 2005, addressing long-standing criticism that the league's approach has been too lenient.
Hair testing can detect substances for up to three months, compared to the current urine testing model which is limited to identification of a few days after use. This extended detection window represents the most substantial operational shift in the policy's two-decade history.
Former Collingwood president Eddie McGuire has been among the most consistent voices demanding reform. McGuire said it was time for the policy to be transparent, with rehabilitation made a priority. In recent comments, McGuire suggested that if a player tests positive, they should be taken out of the side and then helped to rehabilitate.
Players unable to commit to more consistent testing, educational programmes and responding positively to the new policy could be deemed unavailable for senior selection until they reach the requirements outlaid by the AFL's medical experts. This represents a more proactive enforcement mechanism than the previous system.
The AFL Illicit Drug Policy was first developed in 2005 following consultation with clubs, doctors, and the players association. The AFL experts will have a stronger hand in managing players who tested positive, and will enforce the management of said player, not the club doctors.
The AFLPA has worked closely with the league on the overhaul. AFLPA CEO James Gallagher stated that the intent has been to find a contemporary approach to the medical management of players using illicit drugs and taking the advice of the experts as to what is the best way to both identify, firstly, which is where the hair testing can come in to support players through that process and put the right programmes in front of them.
The timing of these changes comes amid sustained pressure from multiple quarters. The SIA assessment makes 8 key recommendations which the agency believes will enhance the development of a new Illicit Drug Policy and offer greater integrity protection for the AFL, AFL clubs, players, and support personnel. Sport Integrity Australia's 2024 assessment identified concerns around criminal infiltration of sport through illicit drug supply.
For clubs like Collingwood, the policy shift represents vindication of long-held arguments. McGuire took the opportunity to renew his calls for clubs to be given more responsibility in handling players' use of illicit drugs, saying he would like to see the AFLPA and AFL recognise that people best placed to deal with this are the clubs.
The challenge ahead involves balancing accountability with genuine player welfare. The new framework maintains the medical support foundation while introducing tougher detection and enforcement mechanisms. Whether this middle ground will satisfy both advocates for stricter policy and those prioritising player rehabilitation remains to be seen.