PROVISIONALLY suspended Gold Coast player Brayden Crossley will continue to train at the club after testing positive to a banned substance.

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The substance – which the 20-year-old tested positive for after a NEAFL match in late May – is believed to be a cocaine metabolite, which ASADA considers performance-enhancing when tested positive in-season.

The Suns' ruck/key forward has not played an AFL game this year after managing 10 senior matches in his debut season last year.

Crossley will continue to train with the Suns in the wake of his positive test. Picture: AFL Photos

Gold Coast CEO Mark Evans told SEN that Crossley is receiving independent legal advice and support from the AFLPA.

"I'd say he's a lot clearer now on the processes ahead, which still can take many months," Evans said.

"Probably the thing we don't understand is the all of the different leads and processes to conclude an investigation and for a player to respond and that does take some time, so ultimately that could change every time something comes up that he has to deal with.

"We will provide the support for him. He's able to train under provisional suspension. We've given him a modified program so that he can come and go if he needs that, but 70 to 80 per cent of the time he is around us and the support of his club."

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Evans refuted the positive test for an illicit substance was a step back for the club.

"I can understand the references, but I will point out they're five years ago.

"We're not going to be immune to things coming up at our club, but over time you'll be able to see we have a lot of improvements, we've worked very hard on that and we will continue to do that.

"I think when you get something like this, all you can do is handle it professionally. That is, show the world you're not running away from it, that you're dealing with it properly and give good care to the person who has to go through it."

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