Loophole 'will be closed': Demetriou

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Loophole ... players are avoiding drug testing by self-reporting. Source:AAP

AFL boss Andrew Demetriou has warned players the loophole allowing them to self-report to avoid a strike under its drug policy will be closed.

The Herald Sun today reported that clubs believe some players have activated the self-reporting loophole when alerted to the presence of a tester.

The Illicit Drugs Policy states: "A player may refer himself to the AFL Medical Officer for testing, education, counselling or treatment at any time. A player shall not be deemed to have recorded a positive test if he refers himself for such treatment prior to submitting a sample that subsequently returns a positive result."

A number of high-ranking club officials yesterday said they had been told players who become aware of a possible imminent test could immediately call AFL medicos to confess recent drug use.

Demetriou said on 3AW this morning he was unaware of how many players had self-reported.

"It is not being abused to the extent that has been reported," he said.

"It is a system that has benefit.

"There is probably a loophole there that I'm sure will be discussed today and closed.

"It is a very useful part of the policy and if it is being abused, we have to correct that."

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Demetriou baulked at the suggestion that abuse of the self-report system was widespread.

"Not to my knowledge based on the briefings I have had from our medical officers," he said.

"If there is any player out there who believes they can exploit the the self-help notification, they won't be able to.

"If our medical officers believe a player is rorting the system, I don't believe they will allow it."

The AFL supremo admitted he agreed with Collingwood president Eddie McGuire when he says some players hold the drugs code in contempt.

"There are some players who think they are above the rules and regulations of the code," he said.

"If they do that, they do it at their peril.

"There is no place for them in the game."

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The AFLPA said under the letter of the law players should not be able to self-report if the aim is to avoid an imminent positive test.

The player union said if drug testers were aware of that motive, a test would be conducted and a strike recorded if a positive result was found.

One club is believed to have had 10 incidences of six players self-reporting in 2012, with one putting his hand up three times in that period.

Critics argue those figures show players are taking advantage of the three-strikes system.

Sources say players especially those fearing they have drugs in their system are increasingly aware of the presence of drug testers which can lead to self-reporting.

Former West Coast and Richmond star Ben Cousins is known to have dodged drug tests after being alerted to the presence of testers by players already at the club.

Players who self-report are target-tested in future months, but for a player on two strikes future testing is clearly a risk worth taking.

AFLPA chief executive Matt Finnis said the policy had only recently been abused by players.

"In that very example, the player would have to do that drug test and he would be bound by any result that came from that but the policy has contained a provision which is there for a player who has used drugs, has an issue with drugs, to be able to put his hand up and seek help," he told SEN.

"That's because the nature of the policy is helping people to make change when they have made a mistake. If a player notifies, he then is able to get that assistance, be diverted into relevant programs and had he returned a subsequent policy he wouldn't be burdened with that on the basis that he's put his hand up to seek help." 

One official said the policy was routinely abused.

"It can be an excuse as lame as 'my drink was spiked last night and I may have inadvertently taken drugs'," one club executive said.

"It means a player holds a Joker if he is on two strikes, a get-out-of-jail free card."

"Most players have reached a stage where they don't particularly care about one strike with some even prepared to roll the dice when on two strikes."

Confessed drug addict Cousins said he was often tipped off by teammates about the appearance of drug testers and simply failed to attend training to avoid positive tests.

The controversial three strikes policy will also be on the agenda at today's drug summit.

But Demetriou this morning reiterated his support for the policy.

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