BY SHANE POTTER

Ben Cousins will return to the AFL next season as the most scrutinised player in the history of the game after being accepted back into the competition by the AFL commission this afternoon with a number of conditions set down upon him.

Cousins is now able to nominate to enter either the Pre-season or National Draft to return to the AFL with the front runners at this stage being St. Kilda and the Brisbane Lions.

In handing down the decision in Sydney this afternoon AFL ChiEf Executive, Andrew Demetriou outlined the conditions of Cousin’s return; “That Ben shall ensure that any Club to which he is drafted has an appropriate drug and alcohol management program in place for its players that has met the approval of the AFL Medical Officers prior to the National Draft Selection Meeting and Pre-Season Draft Selection Meeting to be conducted in 2008.”

“That, from the date of this Resolution, an in addition to any testing under the AFL Illicit Drugs Policy or the AFL Anti-Doping Code, Ben will be subject to testing for illicit drugs by AFL or its representative as follows:

- Urine testing up to three times per week at the direction of the AFL or its representative;

- Hair testing up to 4 times during the year at the direction of the AFL or its representative.

- The results of these tests will be advised to the AFL Medical Officers and they will disclose these results to any AFL personnel they think appropriate.”

A statement is expected from Cousin’s management, Flying Start shortly and we will bring that to you here on Footyheads when it comes to hand.

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