http://www.heraldsun.com.au/sport/af...-1226211802302
Quote:
Jeff Kennett blasts AFL's three-strike illicit drug code
by: Jon Ralph
From: Herald Sun
December 02, 2011 12:00AM
OUTGOING Hawthorn president Jeff Kennett has blasted the AFL's three-strikes illicit drug code, saying it could have led to Travis Tuck's death last year.
Kennett said the fact the first two offences were kept confidential prevented clubs from helping players, adding the AFL was playing "Russian roulette" with footballers' lives.
He said the greatest regret of his presidency was his inability to convince the league to change a policy he described as dangerous and wrong.
Tuck was the first player to test positive three times, his third strike coming after he was found unconscious in a car under the influence of drugs in August last year.
The son of AFL games record-holder Michael Tuck was suffering from depression.
"We could have lost Travis Tuck that night," Kennett said.
"We could have been DOA (dead on arrival) when they found him in that car park. I still get goose bumps when people speak to me about Travis, with how close that call was to being a different call.
"To think the AFL plays Russian roulette with people's lives, to me, is wrong."
Only club medical staff are made aware of a player's drug strikes, but Kennett argues the shock of positive identification can help a player.
"The club gathered around (Tuck) and helped him through it," he said. "He has turned his life around and will turn out to be a fine man, but it's a very fine line. There is no point arguing after someone has died."
an utter disgrace this " soft" near accepting of drug use policy of the AFL's
how many more " travis tuck's " are out there in need of help ?
who'd know
with this ga ga land policy of the AFL's ...
there could be hundreds .....
AFL.. a culture to despise
