The AFL has confirmed that Brayden Crossley, former player at the Gold Coast Suns Football Club, accepted a 12 month sanction for an Anti-Doping Rule Violation and that the sanction has not been appealed and all relevant appeal rights have now expired. 

The Infraction Notice issued by the AFL to Mr Crossley alleged that he violated clause 10.2 of the Australian Football Anti-Doping Code (Code) by the Presence of a Prohibited Substance or its Metabolites in a Sample that he provided following his participation in a North East Australian Football League (NEAFL) match between Gold Coast and Sydney on 25 May 2019.  The Sample tested positive for the Presence of Benzoylecgonine, a metabolite of cocaine, which is an in-competition Prohibited Substance under the WADA Prohibited List.

In imposing the 12 month sanction, the AFL accepted that Mr Crossley’s Anti-Doping Rule Violation was not intentional, and that Mr Crossley bore No Significant Fault or Negligence within the meaning of that term under the Code. 

The Period of Ineligibility imposed on Mr Crossley commenced on 28 June 2019 being the date the Mandatory Provisional Suspension was imposed on him.  As such, Mr Crossley is eligible to participate in sport from 28 June 2020.  By operation of the Code, Mr Crossley may return to training on 28 April 2020.