According to a report in today's Age (Channel Seven reporter cleared over AFL files), Dylan Howard "has been cleared by a police investigation into the stolen medical records of two AFL players."

The Supreme Court granted an injunction suppressing reports of the names of the players involved (I thought there were seven players) and all we all know their AFL club. This means it's quite possible that a number of the members of a predominant AFL team were players who like Ben Cousins were being treated for drug addiction.

While I make no excuses for Ben's behaviour and conduct and agree that it would be a risk for any club to employ him in the near future, I would suggest that there's a touch of hypocrisy in the way the drugs issue has been handled by the AFL, the media and even by the courts. Cousins gets disqualified for a year and finds it hard to find a club but seven other blokes who, for all we know, have exactly the same problem as Ben has/had are free to bask in the glory of a premiership without any sanction against them or their club.

What value is the AFL's drug testing policy if Cousins could have gotten away without being found positive for drug use or if seven players from one club could get away with playing football, yet be in a situation where they are getting medical treatment for drug abuse?

It surely must be time for a rethink on the issue of drugs in sport and perhaps it's time for government to be more active because it seems to me that the AFL is out of its depth on this subject.

It surely must be time for a rethink on the issue of drugs in sport and perhaps it's time for government to be more active because it seems to me that the AFL is out of its depth on this subject.

We all know what a wonderful job governments of all shades are doing with drugs in our society.

How do we know it was Hawks?

I have been hearing wispers for 18mths that there is a big problem at the Hawks. I don't want to name names but I think this is reasonable unofficial common knowledge. I was hearing that 2 players have returned their 3rd positive test as well and for some reason this info is being held even though the policy is to name the players on the 3rd. Next 3 months should be interesting to see if anything comes of these rumors. I wonder if the AFL is in damage control with premeirship stars possibly involved.

If it's true about the Hawks I wonder what Jeff will say given his recent comments about Benny.

I don't want to name names but I think this is reasonable unofficial common knowledge. I was hearing that 2 players have returned their 3rd positive test as well and for some reason this info is being held even though the policy is to name the players on the 3rd. Next 3 months should be interesting to see if anything comes of these rumors. I wonder if the AFL is in damage control with premeirship stars possibly involved.

And you can't name names around here.

There is a Supreme Court injunction protecting these "names" for very valid legal reasons which go beyond the realm of pandering to public curiosity so please be very careful in any discussion on this subject matter.

On the other matter of unsubstantiated reports about test results, that's exactly what they are at this point in time. They should be ignored.

the reason why they havnt been named is because these tests were positive out of competition, and thus, according to both the afl and the wada policy, were not tests which should result in suspension or ban.

the reason ben cousins was deregistered was as much to do with drugs as it was to do with bringing the game into disrepute. his involvement with certain people, with the law and his notorious public profile combined with his actions in the US etc resulted in the afl saying 'you cant play until you can get yourself right'.

I have been hearing wispers for 18mths that there is a big problem at the Hawks. I don't want to name names but I think this is reasonable unofficial common knowledge. I was hearing that 2 players have returned their 3rd positive test as well and for some reason this info is being held even though the policy is to name the players on the 3rd. Next 3 months should be interesting to see if anything comes of these rumors. I wonder if the AFL is in damage control with premeirship stars possibly involved.

I thought so too. I've first heard these whispers 3 years ago.

I think in all likelihood its actually old news & the situation has been dealt with long ago & is now no longer an issue. Or at least should have been.