The AFL has revealed that six players tested positive for illicit drugs in the 2010 calendar year. One of the positive tests was the second for a particular player. There were 1654 tests undertaken in the period.

Of the six positive tests, one was for cannabis and five for were for stimulants including cocaine and ecstasy. Former Hawthorn midfielder Travis Tuck’s third 'strike' was one of the positive tests.

Tuck became the first AFL player to be banned under the illicit drugs policy last September. He was diagnosed with depression, and was delisted by the Hawks, though they continued to support him and he trained with the club throughout summer before recommencing his playing career in the VFL.

The AFL and the AFLPA say the policy is working well. The figures back them up - 4.3% of tests were positive in the first year of the regime, 2005, and that percentage has decreased every year. This year only 0.36% of tests returned a positive result.