Illicit drugs infiltrating local football

May 16, 2013, 10:59 p.m.

ILLICIT drugs have the ability to become a cancer within community sporting clubs, according to the regions senior football administrator.

AFL Victoria Goldfields regional general manager Rod Ward said he believed the number of footballers using illicit drugs was a very small minority, but that it could become cancerous within clubs.

This comes as the AFL announces a revamp of its illicit drugs policy after a sharp lift in the number of players testing positive to recreational drugs.

The AFL announced yesterday a record number of 26 positive tests for illicit drugs were recorded in 2012, with two of them concerning a player testing positive for a second time.

A parent of a junior footballer alerted The Courier to alleged drug use by senior players at a football club in the Ballarat region, while officials at other clubs have admitted to having to take action with players who were believed to be using drugs.

Mr Ward acknowledged that football-netball clubs in the Ballarat region had approached him with regard to managing issues involving illicit drug use.

The Australian Drug Foundation says, on average, 15 per cent of people over the age of 14 have used illicit drugs, so it would be naive to think people involved in football and netball, and, by extension, any community sport, have not used drugs, Mr Ward said.

It is our view there is no place for illicit or performance-enhancing drugs in sport or the wider community.

I have had club officials come to me to get help implementing training and education on drugs at their clubs, and thats our focus.

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Illicit drugs infiltrating local football