Carlton player Lachie Cowan has been handed an AFL suspension and fine following an investigation into illicit substance use, according to ABC News. The sanction relates to drug use at a house party, The Guardian reports.
The penalty has drawn criticism, with the Herald Sun reporting that the ban is being slammed as discouraging players from getting medical help.
The AFL has also issued a warning to players ahead of hair testing for drugs, according to ESPN and AFL.com.au. AFL.com.au described the outcome as a "wake-up call" while confirming the ban and fine.
The case centres on Cowan, a Carlton listed player, and follows an investigation into the house party incident reported by The Guardian.
Coverage of the sanction has been carried across multiple outlets, with the league's warning to players about upcoming hair testing running alongside news of the suspension.
The Herald Sun's framing of the ban highlights a broader debate about whether disciplinary measures deter players from seeking help for substance-related issues.
What to watch next: how the AFL's hair testing program proceeds and whether the criticism over player welfare prompts any response from the league or the players' association.