‘Incredibly small’ number of AFL players pulled from games for positive drug tests, union says

The boss of the AFL Players Association said secret illicit drug testing had occurred for ‘less than a handful’ of players in his time. Photograph: Darrian Traynor/Getty Images

There has been just a “handful” of players who were pulled from AFL match-day squads to avoid sanctions for positive illicit substance tests, according to the chief executive of the players association.

The AFL confirmed on Wednesday it had given club doctors powers to withdraw players who were at risk of delivering a positive drugs test on match days from their lists as part of the league’s illicit drugs policy.