Scott 5AFL Players Association won't rethink drug policy...
March 21st 2007 06:55
In the wake of Ben Cousins' latest indiscretion, AFL Players Association (AFLPA) president Ben Gale ruled out a rethink of the sport's drug code:
Sport Talk has the full report:
AFL Players Association president Brendon Gale believes there will inevitably be more breaches of the AFL's illicit drug policy and that the drug code doesn't deserve a rethink in the wake of West Coast's indefinite ban on champion Ben Cousins.
"The age profile of these young men, by definition, they're aggressive and they're risk-takers. If they weren't, they wouldn't be playing AFL footy," Gale said.
"We're not going it react to hysteria and innuendo and speculation and the reason we're not going to act, and we're going to stand by it (the drug policy), is because as recently as this week, organisations like VicHealth, the Turning Point drug and alcohol centre, the Australian Drug Foundation have strongly endorsed the illicit drug policy."
Gale described West Coast's handling of Cousins' situation as a positive move forward and a 'wake up call' for the football community.
"This is one of the great players of modern times so players have high expectations (from the public) and that's something we educate our players (about). This is the nature of the territory," Gale said.
However, Gale conceded the AFLPA had problems with West Coast describing the 2005 Brownlow Medalist's suspension as 'indefinite'.
"If a player is fit and able and willing to perform his duties under the contract we feel that he should be able to play," the former Richmond big man said.
Sport Talk has the full report:
AFL Players Association president Brendon Gale believes there will inevitably be more breaches of the AFL's illicit drug policy and that the drug code doesn't deserve a rethink in the wake of West Coast's indefinite ban on champion Ben Cousins.
"The age profile of these young men, by definition, they're aggressive and they're risk-takers. If they weren't, they wouldn't be playing AFL footy," Gale said.
"We're not going it react to hysteria and innuendo and speculation and the reason we're not going to act, and we're going to stand by it (the drug policy), is because as recently as this week, organisations like VicHealth, the Turning Point drug and alcohol centre, the Australian Drug Foundation have strongly endorsed the illicit drug policy."
Gale described West Coast's handling of Cousins' situation as a positive move forward and a 'wake up call' for the football community.
"This is one of the great players of modern times so players have high expectations (from the public) and that's something we educate our players (about). This is the nature of the territory," Gale said.
However, Gale conceded the AFLPA had problems with West Coast describing the 2005 Brownlow Medalist's suspension as 'indefinite'.
"If a player is fit and able and willing to perform his duties under the contract we feel that he should be able to play," the former Richmond big man said.
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