The boss of Victoria's Northern Football League has written to all of its clubs warning of potential four-year bans, in the wake of the Australian Crime Commission's damning report.
"We're concerned about what the report has highlighted particularly in reference to the sub-elite level," NFL chief executive Jeremy Bourke told AFL.com.au.
"We don’t have any evidence of any prohibited substance use or links to crime figures."
But Bourke confirmed the NFL has never drug tested its players.
"We just don't have the financing or resourcing to implement a testing regime, it's a very expensive process."
Asked whether he expected his clubs to face the scrutiny of ASADA through raids and other investigative means, Bourke responded: "That could happen."
"That power is currently in place, we come under the AFL Anti-Doping Code," he said.
The 47-page ACC document has a dedicated section on 'sub-elite athletes.'
"Sub-elite athletes are considered a high-risk group for doping," the report reads.
It cites the tough competition and the ability to make "significant gains in strength and power" as reasons for such risk.
The ACC found peptides and hormones are being used in sub-elite level sport, and pointed customs seizures of controversial stimulant GHRP-6, which had been addressed to a person, involved in a state rugby union competition.
Other local and country football competitions will likely follow suit in issuing warnings to their participants.
Matt Thompson is a reporter for AFL Media. Follow him on Twitter @MattThompsonAFL
