Ben Cousins has declared that he wants to resume his AFL career despite admitting the conditions placed upon his return by the AFL commission are 'very onerous'.
Amidst speculation the 2005 Brownlow Medalist and self-confessed drug addict would opt out of putting his name forward for the upcoming drafts, after the league placed strict conditions upon ending his 12 month suspension for bringing the game into disrepute, the former Eagles' captain confirmed on Wednesday he does want to play again.
"I am pleased that the AFL Commission yesterday decided to allow me to enter the AFL draft," Cousins said in a statement late on Wednesday afternoon.
"The conditions imposed on me are very onerous (but) I am looking forward to being drafted and playing football again, which is my love."
Cousins has been given until November 26 to nominate for the November 29 but could wait until the December 16 pre-season draft to nominate, where he is favoured to be selected by St Kilda.
AFL chief executive Andrew Demetriou insisted on Wednesday the league's terms upon which Cousins is allowed to return to the game are 'non-negotiable '.
Cousins' manager Ricky Nixon and the AFL Players' Association are furious the league imposed additional conditions on Cousins, in allowing him to return to the game, compared to other AFL players.
The 2005 Brownlow Medalist will have to agree to and pass three urine tests per week and four hair tests per year if he is to revive his stalled 238 game career.
This is far more tests that apply to any other player under the AFL's Illicit Drugs Policy even though Cousins has never once tested positive to drugs while there are six unnamed AFL players with currently two strikes against their names for testing positive on non match-days to illicit drugs - who are not subject to the extra conditions being placed upon Cousins.
The AFLPA is furious the AFL has altered the conditions of its drugs policy to suit one player without consulting it, meaning the players could withdraw their support for the Illicit Drugs Policy - which is above and beyond the minimum drug testing requirement for AFL players under the World Anti-Doping Agency code, which only covers match-day testing.
However Demetriou, speaking on Melbourne radio station 3AW on Wednesday the day after the AFL commission's decision, said Cousins had nothing to fear from the extra demands from the league provided he was free of drugs.
"These conditions shouldn't worry him or anyone else if he is on track to play football," he said.
And Cousins confirmed on Wednesday that he believes he is on track to do exactly that.
"I have been undertaking a programme of rehabilitation which will continue," he said.
"I know that I am in a fit and healthy condition and able to undertake the rigours of playing AFL football again and I am very grateful for the ongoing support I have received from the public and especially from those close to me".
Demetriou said the conditions placed upon Cousins were based on 'the best medical advice' and were 'non-negotiable' adding the best thing for Cousins' on-going rehabilitation is for him to resume his football career under the strict conditions imposed by the AFL.
"It's important for Ben Cousins' rehabilitation that he does play football," the league boss said.
"He has a less likely chance of relapsing if he is playing