TEAMS can lose points or even premierships if its players test positive to banned drugs on game day, according to AFL chief executive Andrew Demetriou.

Demetriou told The Australian the League had the right to change the result of matches if it believed the scores had been affected by drug abuse.

Demetriou said the League would not hesitate to overturn a result.

"If more than one player at one club tests positive to performance-enhancing drugs, the League can act under rule 18 of the anti-doping code. The commission has the power to overturn the result of matches, fine the club, dock premiership points or even suspend the club," he said.

Demetriou’s clarification comes as the League assesses the possible return of Brownlow Medallist Ben Cousins.

Cousins was last year suspended for 12 months for bringing the game into disrepute because of his drug addiction.

He has applied to be registered again in the hope of being drafted in the national or pre-season draft.

Demetriou said the AFL’s policy would follow the Olympics model of withdrawing medals if one member of a relay team returns a positive test.

"If the commission has evidence that a team had members test positive to performance-enhancing drugs and that meant a match was not contested on a level playing field and the outcome of the match might have been affected, then rule 18 comes into play," Demetriou said.

"Let's say if a player tested positive on match day after kicking 10 goals in a game his side won by a point obviously the commission would view that very seriously.”