The AFL and AFL Players’ Association today released the 2009 results for out of competition testing for the game’s Illicit Drug Policy, which has showed the rate of failed tests has dropped for the fourth consecutive year.

In 2009, the AFL conducted its largest number of tests under the Illicit Drug Policy, raising test numbers to 1568 from the previous mark of 1220 tests, with a total of 14 failed tests recorded. This represented 0.89 per cent of all tests conducted.

Since the policy was begun in 2005, the rate of failed tests has dropped each year from 4.03 per cent (2005), through 1.85 per cent (2006), 1.2 per cent (2007), 0.98 per cent (2008) and now 0.89 per cent (2009).

AFL football remains the only sport in Australia to publicly release its testing figures for illicit drugs and the operation of this policy has now seen nearly five thousand tests conducted through the last five years.

AFL Football Operations Manager Adrian Anderson said the body of testing results the AFL Medical Commissioners had gathered over the past five years now showed conclusively that the Illicit Drug Policy was being successful in changing behaviour.

“We have seen players make poor decisions with the use of illicit drugs and the community is painfully aware that illicit drug use is a major issue within younger members of society,” Mr Anderson said.

“Over the course of the last five years, the Illicit Drug Policy has clearly shown changes in behaviour, with a drop in the numbers of failed tests despite a very large increase in the numbers of tests being conducted.

“The focus on education, rehabilitation and welfare, with the opportunity for players to change their behaviour, has shown to be effective.

Mr Anderson said that players who record a failed test are target-tested.

“We want players to take advantage of the counselling and treatment. But if any player doesn’t change behaviour and wants to run the gauntlet, they will be putting their career at risk.”

Two players recorded a second failed test in 2009. No AFL player has recorded a third failed test in the five years of the Illicit Drug policy despite players that have recorded a failed test being target-tested. A total of 4898 tests have been conducted since the policy was introduced.

AFL Players’ Association CEO Matt Finnis said the reduction in the rate of failed tests is an endorsement of the players’ position that a harm-minimisation approach is the most effective way to promote behaviour change.

“The feedback from players is that they want their teammates, and their colleagues at other clubs, to receive the help and support they need if they have issues with drugs,” Finnis said.

Mr Anderson said the AFL Medical Commissioners – Dr Peter Harcourt and Dr Harry Unglik – had reported that the holiday break continued to be the highest-risk period for players in terms of wrong decision-making. Of the 14 failed tests in the 2009 year, the majority occurred during the holiday period.

The AFL and AFLPA have also agreed to extend the hair testing trial for a further two years and agreed to an enhanced education program before players go on holidays at the end of the season.

“The experience of the AFL Medical Officers is that wrongful use of illicit substances by players is usually alcohol-related or a spur of the moment decision,” Mr Anderson said.

“Players were generally remorseful when confronted with the evidence of a failed test and, with the intervention, welfare and education emphasised in the initial stages, all players confirmed the use of the substance detected,” he said.

In a new initiative it is now mandatory that players are to be referred to a drug and alcohol specialist after failed tests, as it is believed this may assist in earlier identification of serious health issues such as mental illness. Club medical officers are also assisting the AFL Medical Commissioners in identifying ‘at risk’ individuals within their clubs, as a means of further addressing illicit substance abuse.

“In recent years, the AFL’s medical officers have clearly reported that alcohol was 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 the country that currently has an Illicit Drug policy where players are tested for illicit drugs out of competitions. The AFL is the only sport that publishes its results each year.

AFL ILLICIT DRUG POLICY RESULTS – YEAR BY YEAR

The breakdown by type is as follows:

For more information visit www.aflplayerssaynotodrugs.com.au