The AFL has it right on illicit drugs policy

If you missed either of them during the week, make sure you have a look at the Ben Cousins interview on On The Couch and Scott Gullan's article on Mathew Stokes from the Herald Sun.

The stories of both these men serve as the best possible reminder that the AFL's "three strikes" policy when it comes to recreational drugs is the only way to go.

The policy is criticised for protecting the players caught, especially by the media.

But of course, this is a topic we must be cautious when listening to the views of the media. I've already addressed the media's treatment of Ben Cousins this season, but the issue runs deeper because it is the media that stands to gain from publishing the names of players on one or two strikes.

The evidence: Just look at how big the Cousins story has been. Look at how big the Stokes story was when it broke.

It is in the media's best interest for players to be linked to recreational drugs publicly.

But is it in the player's best interest?

That's the question we all should be asking during weeks like this.

Recreational drugs are separate to performance enhancing drugs. For the latter we should hold very little regard for the player's welfare, because it's cheating - plain and simple.

For the former, though, the player's welfare should be paramount. It's a serious issue. Just look at Cousins talk about his life on Monday night. Read about Stokes breaking down in his jail cell.

The fact they've both had to deal with the media spotlight on top of all that stuff is a testament to their respective characters.

Cousins described the AFL's three-times-a-week testing as "a good safety net" but reminded us that there are other elements of the AFL environment that were "counterproductive" to his recovery. The media scrutiny was the reason he gave.

For Stokes, a business opportunity fell through because the media reported on a person linked to the coffee shop he and James Kelly were looking at buying. The man was a convicted drug trafficker.

So ask yourself the question, is having their plight thrashed out in the media in the best interest of players?

Clearly, it isn't.