Drugs policy 'step in right direction'

Collingwood's Gavin Crosisca in action against Carlton in 1999. Photo: Vince Caligiuri

THE AFL's three-strike illicit drug policy may be far from perfect, but it is a step in the right direction in stopping players living a secret double life, as Collingwood defender Gavin Crosisca did, said his 1990 premiership teammate Craig Kelly.

Crosisca revealed yesterday that he battled a drug and alcohol addiction secretly since he was 16 and throughout his career.

After being forced into rehabilitation by his wife Nicole last year, Crosisca finally told a handful of his former teammates what he had hidden for 25 years.

''We always enjoyed a drink but we had no idea what Gavin was going through until he explained it 12 months ago,'' Kelly said. ''He only told a few of us.''

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Kelly pointed out that in the early 1990s the AFL had no illicit drug policy and no drug tests, which meant Crosisca could hide his habit. ''Although people may argue the three strikes and drug-testing policy is not ideal, it is a step in the right direction to identify examples like Gavin as early as possible,'' Kelly said.

The AFL became a signatory of the World Anti-Doping Code in 2005. Had Crosisca tested positive to cannabis or methamphetamine today, the sanction for a first violation would most likely be a two-year ban.

Crosisca said in an interview with Magpies president Eddie McGuire on Fox Footy last night that he went to great lengths to mask his addiction, which ''completely devastated'' his family and his life.

Collingwood premiership captain Tony Shaw said families should be told when a player gets a strike for testing positive for drugs. He praised drug rehabilitators, counsellors and club doctors, but said they couldn't be with players 24 hours a day.

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Drugs policy 'step in right direction'