by Lisa Albergo reporting for AFANA from Chicago
After the Essendon supplements saga broke at the start of the 2013 season, the AFL announced they would review and revamp some of the rules governing supplement use. This has now been done with the League contacting the 18 clubs outlining the requirements. These requirements, approved by ASADA, also cover guidelines for professionals employed by clubs.
Andrew Dillon, legal counsel for the AFL, said the regulations covering the use of supplements and treatment of players would cover three key areas: AFL Prohibited Treatment List, AFL Controlled Treatment List and AFL Prohibited Provider List. This will govern what players, clubs and officials may and may not do around the treatment of players and the use of supplements.
The major changes to the Code are:
New AFL Treatment Rules will govern supplementation and medical treatments for players above and beyond the requirements of the WADA Code.
AFL Treatment Rules establish the concept of Controlled Treatments and Prohibited Treatments.
Controlled Treatments may be used, but must be approved by the club doctor and recorded in a register made available to the AFL.
Prohibited treatments may not be used under any circumstances.
The AFL will develop the Controlled Treatments List and an AFL Prohibited Treatments List in close consultation with Clubs, AFLPA and other stakeholders and these lists will be subject to regular review.
No substance is to be administered to any player by injection other than by an appropriately qualified medical practitioner and only to the extent that it is essential to treat a legitimate medical condition. No person may possess needles or injectables other than the Club Medical Officer
Clubs will have obligations with respect to the proper storage and inventory of treatments on their premises.
A group comprising several club doctors, AFL medical officers, dieticians and high performance managers will conduct ongoing work to advise the AFL Finals Series.
Source: Patrick Keane, AFL Media Release
Article last changed on Tuesday, January 14, 2014 - 5:14 PM EST
