The AFL has revealed six players tested positive for illicit drugs last year in out-of-competition testing, equalling the number of positive tests in 2010.
All six were first-time offenders, while of the six players who tested positive in 2010, none recorded a second or third strike last season.
All positive tests returned traces of stimulant drugs (including cocaine, ecstasy or amphetamines) and for the first time since 2006, no players tested positive for cannabis.
None of the positive tests occurred on a matchday.
A total of 1489 tests were conducted last season, down from the 1654 the season before, and despite the percentage of failed tests increasing from 0.36 percent to 0.40, AFL general manager of football operations Adrian Anderson said the policy was proving effective.
"Illicit drug use is a major issue in our society, with recent Australian Institute of Health and Welfare figures showing a 30.5 percent usage rate amongst males aged 20-29 in the previous 12 months," he said on Thursday.
"We know that our players are not immune to poor decision-making and peer group pressure in this regard and individual players will continue to make mistakes.
"Based on the best medical advice available to us, the AFL and AFL Players' Association are committed to an Illicit Drugs Policy which is primarily focused on deterrence, identification, intervention and support.
Anderson conceded it was 'naive' to think the competition would have a drug-free environment.
"When you bear in mind that 30 percent of blokes 20-30 in the community trying illicit drugs, it's naive to think that no player will," he said.
Doctor Peter Harcourt defended the decrease in testing, saying there was an enhanced focus on weekend testings.
"We shifted our testing strategy to risk times, so we do a lot more weekend testing and early in the week," Harcourt said.
"There was no real intent in reducing the numbers, it just so happened that from a logistical perspective we ran a shorter number because we had an aggressive strategy to do more weekend stuff."Dr Harcourt also revealed 'three or four players' have recorded two strikes, and under AFL policy they could face a suspension of up to 18 weeks should they submit a third positive test.