Gale concerned over special treatment
19/11/2008 5:51 PM
AFL Players' Association Chief Executive Brendon Gale has labelled the AFL conditions placed on Ben Cousins return to senior football as being a ‘serious departure’ from the current Illicit Drugs Policy.
Gale has spoken out about the apparent singling out of Cousins for special treatment after the AFL placed strict testing conditions on the former Eagle.
Cousins will be expected to pass three urine tests per week and four hair tests per year if he is to revive his stalled 238 game career.
“The AFL Illicit Drugs Policy has been created to govern all players,” Gale said.
“The policy includes the capacity to deal appropriately with a situation whereby a player may require rehabilitation from an illness such as that resulting from illicit drugs. We believe the Illicit Drugs Policy remains the best vehicle to deal with any such occasions.”
“The AFL Players' Association has a responsibility to ensure the Illicit Drugs Policy sanctity is not diminished - on behalf of all players and in particular any player who may find themselves more vulnerable at any given point of time.”