BY STEPHEN BAKER

THE AFL Players Association has endorsed a tough new drug-testing regime as the League attempts to crack down on out-of-season illicit drug use.

In an exclusive report in today ‘The Age’ newspaper, a new testing regime will involve players allowing drug testers to take hair samples in tests for substances like cocaine and other amphetamines.

It is believed that illicit drugs can be detected in follicle samples for up to eight weeks.  

Hair testing will be trialled in October and November as soon as this year.

If found guilty, however, players will not receive a strike against their name - a move understood to be behind the players’ support for the trial.

It is understood that the AFL will push to continue the trial if the tests reveal wide-spread recreational drug use during the off-season.

The report says that the AFL is also expected to reveal the results of its ramped up in-season testing results from last year in the wake of a number of drug scandles that rocked the competition in 2007.

FOOTYHEADS: Should out-of-season results be included as strikes against players if they fail an illicit drug test?

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