AFL and AFLW Usher in Toughest Drug Testing Regime in Australian Sport
Australian Rules Football is set to implement a significantly revamped illicit drugs policy, a move lauded as the most stringent in the nation’s sporting landscape. Under this new framework, both AFL and AFLW players will be subjected to hair testing for illicit substances twice annually, marking a substantial departure from previous protocols. This initiative, born from an in-principle agreement between the AFL and the AFL Players’ Association, aims to modernise the sport’s approach to player welfare and accountability.
AFL Chief Executive Andrew Dillon emphasised the policy’s forward-thinking nature. “We have had a policy in place for 20-plus years which has served the game well,” Dillon stated. “But we’re in 2026 and we want a policy that reflects now.” This sentiment underscores a commitment to adapting to contemporary challenges and ensuring the sport’s drug policy remains relevant and effective.
Key Changes Under the New Illicit Drugs Policy (IDP)
The revamped policy introduces several significant shifts, moving away from the long-criticised “three strikes” model. Key features include:
- Hair Testing: Players will undergo hair testing for illicit substances twice a year. This method offers a more comprehensive detection window compared to traditional urine tests.
- Suspension for Public Use: A suspension ranging from two to four matches will be levied against players caught using illicit drugs in public.
- Notification Process: In the event of an initial positive test, a player’s club doctor and club psychologist will be informed.
- Joint IDP Committee: Players who test positive to illicit drugs on three or more occasions will be referred to a panel within the newly established Joint IDP committee. This committee will involve higher levels of oversight.
- Broader Club Notification: For repeat offenders, the player’s club president, chief executive, and football manager will be among those notified of positive tests.
A Focus on Wellbeing and Accountability
A cornerstone of the new policy is the introduction of a “fitness to play” assessment. This crucial element allows for a more nuanced approach, meaning a player could still be deemed fit to continue playing even after three positive tests. Conversely, if a player is assessed as unfit to play, they will be listed as ‘unavailable’.
The AFL has outlined a stepped process for managing positive illicit drug tests:
- Initial Positive Test: Players will be required to participate in a behaviour change program, which may include health care interventions.
- Second Positive Test: Following a second positive test, players will enter an individual management plan. This plan will encompass clinical assessments and dedicated treatments.
- Continued Use: If a player continues to engage in drug use, they will be directed to a fitness to play assessment conducted by an independent panel.
The AFL elaborated on the outcomes of these assessments: “As a result of a fitness to play assessment, a player is determined to be fit to play, fit to play or train on stipulated terms, or unfit to play or train for a specified period and supported with intensive treatment.” The policy stipulates that a player will progress from this framework once they have “fully and successfully participated in their management plan.”
Player Support for the New Direction
James Gallagher, Chief Executive of the AFL Players’ Association, expressed confidence in the playing cohort’s support for the new policy. He highlighted the shift in philosophy, stating, “The expert advice was really clear: the policy should be a harm reduction wellbeing policy, and the punitive measures were counter to that.” However, he also stressed the importance of accountability, adding, “But what we do want is accountability because it is about shifting behaviour.”
Gallagher further indicated that the new policy would bring “more rigour” to the process. “Less will be left to individualised club doctors to manage the athletes through this program,” he explained. “There will be a lot more governance around it, there will be a committee that oversees this, there will be a new role appointed by the AFL… that will have the conduct and running of it. All of that is geared towards making sure that there’s a consistent approach that creates accountability.”
This comprehensive overhaul of the illicit drugs policy runs in parallel with existing World Anti-Doping Agency (WADA) testing protocols for performance-enhancing drugs within the AFL, ensuring a dual approach to athlete integrity and wellbeing.
