{"id":32083,"date":"2016-05-15T00:00:00","date_gmt":"2016-05-15T00:00:00","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/cms.fiveaa.com.au\/uncategorized\/power-boss-keith-thomas-floats-tougher-penalties-for-afl-illicit-drug-users-2\/"},"modified":"2016-05-15T00:00:00","modified_gmt":"2016-05-15T00:00:00","slug":"power-boss-keith-thomas-floats-tougher-penalties-for-afl-illicit-drug-users-2","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/cms.fiveaa.com.au\/show\/power-boss-keith-thomas-floats-tougher-penalties-for-afl-illicit-drug-users-2\/","title":{"rendered":"Power boss floats tougher penalties for AFL illicit drug users"},"content":{"rendered":"
Image | PAFC<\/a>\/Simon Maiolo<\/h6>\n

Port Adelaide CEO Keith Thomas has raised the possibility of punishing players based on their hair tests if the trend of illicit drug use in the AFL continues.<\/h3>\n

\u201cIf we find that the trend continues where illicit drugs keep getting used in the AFL, and the traditional form of testing isn\u2019t enough, then we may need to consider introducing penalties off hair testing,\u201d Thomas told FIVEAA on Friday.<\/p>\n

\u201cThat\u2019s something to consider down the track.\u201d<\/p>\n

Thomas last week attended the AFL CEO\u2019s meeting where illicit drug use was big topic of conversation.<\/p>\n

\u201cThe general consensus is that the clubs are better off with the level of visibility we\u2019ve got at the moment,\u201d he said.<\/p>\n

\u201cThe players are clearly concerned about the breach of confidentiality that appeared to occur with Collingwood, but have recovered from that and I think we\u2019re all now back on the same page about how do we move this forward.\u201d<\/p>\n

Thomas said the AFL would \u201cmonitor exactly what\u2019s going on\u201d over the next few months.<\/p>\n

\u201cThe culmination of better visibility and eventually stronger sanctioning and better education \u2013 you\u2019re going to get a better result at the end, but no one\u2019s pretending it\u2019s an easy fix,\u201d he said.<\/p>\n

\u201cFrom our club\u2019s point of view, we\u2019ll have 100 per cent visibility by the end of this year about what\u2019s going on. We think that\u2019s a fantastic place to start.\u201d<\/p>\n

LISTEN TO KEITH THOMAS HERE:<\/h3>\n