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Australia: Drugs policy 'step in right direction' Jared Lynch The Age Wednesday 19 Sep 2012 Crosisca revealed yesterday that he battled a drug and alcohol addiction secretly since he was 16 and throughout his career. After being forced into rehabilitation by his wife Nicole last year, Crosisca finally told a handful of his former teammates what he had hidden for 25 years. "We always enjoyed a drink but we had no idea what Gavin was going through until he explained it 12 months ago," Kelly said. "He only told a few of us." Kelly pointed out that in the early 1990s the AFL had no illicit drug policy and no drug tests, which meant Crosisca could hide his habit. "Although people may argue the three strikes and drug-testing policy is not ideal, it is a step in the right direction to identify examples like Gavin as early as possible," Kelly said. The AFL became a signatory of the World Anti-Doping Code in 2005. Had Crosisca tested positive to cannabis or methamphetamine today, the sanction for a first violation would most likely be a two-year ban. Crosisca said in an interview with Magpies president Eddie McGuire on Fox Footy last night that he went to great lengths to mask his addiction, which "completely devastated" his family and his life. Collingwood premiership captain Tony Shaw said families should be told when a player gets a strike for testing positive for drugs. He praised drug rehabilitators, counsellors and club doctors, but said they couldn't be with players 24 hours a day. "If it was my son, I would want to know if he's had one strike," Shaw told 3AW. "Of course I'd try and keep it confidential, but I know I could help 24 hours a day." But Kelly, a player agent, said fighting drug addiction wasn't so clear cut and warned against such a blanket rule. He said players' family situations varied dramatically and informing families could have lasting consequences. "The problem with this industry is it [telling a family member of a positive drug test] just gets out into the media and someone's named forever. You need to understand what sort of relationship a player has with their family and treat it on a case-by-case basis," Kelly said. "They might choose to fight it [a drug addiction] by themselves rather than blow their marriage. Their parents might have split up. There is no right or wrong answer." Crosisca said he had been drug-free since May last year, after being confronted by his wife, who "kidnapped" him and took him to a Malvern clinic for treatment. "I needed an intervention for me to get help," he said. The 246-game half-back said he abused alcohol, cannabis and methamphetamines throughout his career, from 1987-2000, and during a six-year assistant coaching career at North Melbourne, Hawthorn and Carlton. He also coached VFL side North Ballarat in 2005 and 2006. "Before I came to Collingwood my addiction was on fire inside me," Crosisca said. "I actually brought a reasonable amount of cannabis down here when I first moved to Melbourne and I thought that was going to be it. "I was hoping I'd be able to work my way through it, put it behind me." Denis Pagan, who was head coach while Crosisca was an assistant at the Roos and Blues, was surprised. "I never had the slightest idea. He was an excellent assistant and outstanding in the support he gave." Crosisca has returned to the Pies to speak to players about drug awareness. "The story he can tell will have a bit of an impact because the players know him," senior assistant coach Rodney Eade said. "Hopefully people can learn from it." Read more: http://www.theage.com.au/afl/afl-news/drugs-policy-step-in-right-direction-20120919-26714.html#ixzz26zj7QgpU
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