The AFL has announced that it will test for human growth hormone for the first time in 2010, along with a newer form of the drug EPO, as it increases to nearly 1000 the number of tests it will conduct under its Anti-Doping Code.
The league and the Australian Anti-Doping Authority have entered into a new agreement for this season under which it becomes the first Australian sporting code to test for HGH, EPO and CERA, with all new players to the AFL system to be tested at least once in 2010.
And the league has also revealed it will keep samples taken from players for up to eight years, meaning that while players might this season test negative to banned substances in future years more advanced testing could still lead to positive results.
And with the AFL keen to maintain the integrity of its competition football operations manager Adrian Anderson confirmed that players and/or clubs could then be penalised in future, with the possibility of players being stripped of individual awards such as the Brownlow Medal.
"The AFL, through our medical commissioners Dr Peter Harcourt and Dr Harry Unglik, constantly works with ASADA to review our anti-doping strategy, to make sure it is in line with the leading anti-doping trends and work in international sports," said Anderson.
"Our commitment is that the AFL competition is conducted on the basis of athletic prowess and natural levels of fitness and development, and to set an example for all participants in Australian football by condemning the use of performance enhancing substances."
While the AFL was several years ago at odds with the World Anti-Doping Agency because of its three-strikes policy in regards to the use of recreational substances, ASADA's acting chief executive Richard Ings lauded the league for its stance against performance-enhancing drugs.
"We must commend the AFL on the way they have approached the development of their anti-doping program for 2010," Ings said
"They wanted to take advantage of every anti-doping tool ASADA has to offer and show the football community and its supporters the investment the AFL is willing to make to achieve pure performance in the sport."