LOCAL football leagues will this season be able to request drug tests for players suspected of using performance-enhancing drugs.
The tests, which would be done by the Australian Sports Anti-Doping Authority, were made available to leagues at an AFL conference with community football administrators last October.
State grade and suburban footballers play under the AFL’s Anti-Doping Code and the ASADA could be called in or arrive at random to test at the local level.
The Australian Crime Commission released an interim report about crime in sport on Thursday which stated performance-enhancing drug use, organised crime connections and the grooming of players for match-fixing were a problem at elite level, while at “sub-elite” level the report expressed concerns about players accessing PEDs and other substances online and using them during training.
In a statement on its website, AFL Victoria confirmed that suburban, TAC Cup and VFL footballers can be randomly tested: “Community football players can also be tested by ASADA as the competitions in which they play are operated and managed under the Laws of Australian Football.
“At last year’s conference with many of the state’s community football league managers, AFL Victoria had a representative from ASADA attend from Canberra to help educate leagues in the area of anti-doping and performance enhancing products.
“More broadly, an education resource is currently being developed for community leagues to pass on to clubs and their players.
“The strong message is that all players should check whether commercially available products they chose to source contravene the AFL Anti Doping Code prior to purchasing or receiving them.”
