THE AFL hopes to complete a review of its controversial illicit drugs policy in time for the players' summer break.

AFL chief executive Gillon McLachlan confirmed on Thursday that the review would go ahead amid ongoing concerns about the three-strikes policy.

The illicit drugs code, which is separate to the standard WADA performance-enhancing drugs policy, is a voluntary agreement between the AFL and the players.

But it has been a lightning rod for criticism because of the anonymity surrounding players who test positive a first and second time.

It has also emerged that some players have used a loophole in the policy to avoid recording a positive test strike.

The issue was discussed at Thursday's meeting of club chief executives and also involved the AFL Players' Association.

"We will be reviewing the illicit drugs policy - there's a sub-committee being formed," McLachlan said.

"We will work with our clubs and the players association in that review."

As part of the review, the AFL hopes to conduct hair testing on players for the rest of the season to help with statistical evidence.

Hair testing is far more accurate than urine testing, but is only used when players return from their off-season breaks.

"We're going to work with the clubs and players, hopefully in the coming days, weeks, to get to a position where we will be able to do hair testing for the rest of the season," McLachlan said.

McLachlan would not be drawn on what might come out of the review.

"I'm not going to comment on views or preferences," he said.

"There are different voices in the room.

"But we are committed to a review."

He was also tight-lipped on the WADA policy, amid some calls for the AFL to break from the world anti-doping regime.

On Tuesday, WADA announced it would appeal against the AFL anti-doping tribunal's verdicts that cleared 34 past and present Essendon players.

"I haven't even discussed that - it's not something we've contemplated," McLachlan said.

"There's a process to run here and my priority in all this is the players, as it has been for the last period of time."