Drug Free Australia believes that Minister Pyne has taken an honest stance in his recent approach to the AFL on their current illicit  policy. We commend the leadership and forthright approach of a federal government that is prepared to change the rhetoric of a ‘Tough on Drugs’ policy into action.

According to Jo Baxter, Executive Officer for Drug Free Australia, ‘It’s a clear initiative to prevent even early drug use. In our experience, the road to addiction is one that is very difficult to return from – with, at the very  best, one in three people being successful. The current AFL policy of ‘three strikes and you are out’ leaves it open for young players to be well into regular drug use before help can be effective.

First and foremost we are concerned for the health of the players. These are young men who are in the prime of their lives and who have the capability to excel in sport. If they use drugs to the point where it becomes problematic, the road to recovery is far less likely in the long term. A tougher drug policy in the AFL would give them a good reason to say ‘no’ if pressured by their mates, to use drugs. If players know upfront - that, at first detection, it could mean the end to their football career, they will really think twice.

Secondly, AFL players are role models for hundreds of thousands  of young people in Australia. Letting them get away with several counts of illicit drug use is sending a wrong and dangerous message.

Thirdly, our patron and Tennis Champion, Margaret Court believes that using drugs to enhance skill is like cheating. The players are no longer exhibiting their personal ability, but a temporary skill, enhanced by an illegal substance.

A truly compassionate policy is one which looks after the wellbeing of its players. It is one that does everything possible to prevent the uptake of illicit drugs in the first place. It is NOT one which effectively  allows them to take illegal narcotics and psycho-stimulants – which after 3 times of random testing could mean that players are well into addiction.

We have a survey on our website. We want people across Australia to let us know their impressions of the current AFL stance. Results coming in are already confirming the community attitude to drugs in sport.

We have already congratulated the NRL on its stronger stance, and believe that this is a chance to expand on this trend and have assurance that we have done all we can in Australia to keep our sporting bodies drug free and our communities safer.