AFL Players Association chief executive Paul Marsh has gone on the offensive after the league reportedly proposed a set of changes to the anti-doping policy which could jeopardize the offending players' anonymity.

The proposal included the introduction of hair-testing throughout the season, an immediate $5000 fine for first offences (currently a suspended sanction) and an increase in AFL and club officials who'd be informed of a player's strike.

It could also see a player named and suspended if they receive a second strike.

However, despite Marsh being in agreeance with altering the drug policy to take a firmer stance on players' indiscretions amid a societal problem, he stood firm against "name, shame and punishing players".

"The AFLPA supports the current policy's principles and its objective to help change players' behaviour," Marsh said according to the Herald Sun.

"We have reviewed and updated the policy before and will continue to do so if we believe it can be strengthened. But we won't be agreeing to a revised policy if its aims are to identify, sanction and humiliate the players. That's not what experts in this field recommend.

Essendon Bombers Court of Arbitration of Sport Decision
MELBOURNE, AUSTRALIA - JANUARY 12: AFL Players' Association CEO, Paul Marsh, leaves a media conference on January 12, 2016 in Melbourne, Australia. The Court of Arbitration for Sport today handed down its decision on the Essendon supplements case dating back to 2012. CAS found the 34 past and present Essendon players guilty of doping and have been suspended for the entire 2016 season.
12 current Essendon players, including captain Jobe Watson, and five former players now at rival clubs have been found guilty of using the banned substance Thymosin beta-4 during the 2012 season. (Photo by Michael Dodge/Getty Images)

"The Illicit Drugs Policy is a medical and welfare model entered into voluntarily by the players.

"It has been designed by medical experts to educate, identify and support players who are taking illicit substances. It is not designed to name, shame and punish players."

The new proposal follows the news of Sydney youngster Caiden Cleary being suspended for two games after being caught by police with an illicit substance.

Melbourne forward Joel Smith was whacked with a four-year and three-month period of ineligibility for illicit drug use and alleged drug trafficking.

The AFL's Illicit Drug Policy (IDP) came under fire in 2024 after claims made by independent MP Andrew Wilkie, prompting an investigation by Sports Integrity Australia (SIA).

The investigation concluded that there was no breach of the WADA (World Anti-Doping Agency) Code for the "off-the-books" drug tests.

Under the current policy, players can avoid a strike by self-reporting once in their careers, but the AFL's proposed changes could close this loophole.