[QUOTE="Finnishpie, post: 37958293, As for me, I couldn't care less if they do illicit drugs. None of my business.[/QUOTE]
On one level, yes you could say it's all their private business. I get that.
The counter view is more multi factorial.
There's issues around role models and reduced performance if players do illicit 'party type' drugs.
There's issues re their party drugs being contaminated with banned PEDs, like possibly occurred in this case.
Another issue is the possibility that if a player gets into these so called party drugs that they become a possible target to be manipulated.
I know the a Defence Force is strongly anti drugs for that reason.
They fear their members may be vulnerable either via blackmail or supply of drugs that they may have become addicted to, in return for 'favours' to unscrupulous types.
The AFL would share these possible concerns I'm sure, especially in regard to betting and manipulation of results.
Any taint of that would be a body blow to their brand.