AFL Chief Executive Officer Andrew Demetriou tonight said the AFL had been informed by the West Coast Eagles that it would immediately move to delist Ben Cousins from its player group, due to serious breaches of the conditions of his player contract.
Mr Demetriou said he had been kept informed by the Eagles today of on-going discussions by the club's board and that the AFL fully supported the club's decision in this matter.
"The AFL fully supports the decision of the West Coast Eagles Football Club," Mr Demetriou said.
"Ben is no longer be part of the AFL competition and needs to concentrate fully on regaining his health and getting his life in order. |  |
"The AFL has supported the West Coast Eagles in trying to manage a player struggling with difficult issues. However, we also have a responsibility to manage the game in a way that protects our broader playing group, and allows our supporters, members and the football family to have pride in our game, and trust in our administration.
"As such, Ben will be delisted by his club," he said.
Mr Demetriou said the issues that have arisen in the game around this matter this year were extremely serious and required a serious and considered response.
"I know that the club, in making this decision today, are not walking away from the broader issues impacting on the culture of the club.
"The AFL knows there is a drug problem in society in young people, and our sport is not immune.
"We instituted an illicit drug policy in 2005 with the help and support of drug experts. Our game is dealing with the kinds of problems that hundredsof thousands of families in Australia deal with every day," Mr Demetriou said.
