Australian Football League CEO Gillon McLachlan "flagged a wider crackdown" on all forms of drugs following the latest "incredibly disappointing" revelation involving Collingwood players Lachlan Keeffe and Josh Thomas. McLachlan said it was time for the AFL to review not only its WADA-compliant performance-enhancing drugs policy, but also the competition's controversial "three-strikes" illicit drugs policy. McLachlan: "We think we've had the right policy, we've got an integrity unit of 14 people. But I think, right now, if the policies aren't working then we need to look at them and have a look [at] what's going wrong because, after today, I think it's time to actually have a look at them" (SYDNEY MORNING HERALD, 3/30). ... As an AFL tribunal prepares to hand down its judgment in the case of 34 current and former Essendon players accused of taking a banned peptide, biochemist Shane Charter "instructed a business associate to remove all documentation from the shipment to conceal his Chinese source." Charter’s admission "supports Melbourne pharmacist Nima Alavi’s claim that he does not know what peptides he provided to former Essendon sports scientist Stephen Dank in the lead-up to the 2012 AFL season." An AFL tribunal chaired by retired Victorian County Court judge David Jones will on Tuesday "hand down its finding" (THE AUSTRALIAN, 3/31). ... Creating time and space in attack, and clarity at the breakdown "are at the top of the New Zealand Rugby Union's early wish-list as it ponders how to improve the game for fans and players." World Rugby, rugby's global governing body, "is conducting a law review process which could see trials of new or revised rules in place as early as next year." The NZRU "has been gathering information from stakeholders about what is perceived to be right and wrong about the game and, more importantly, what could make it better" (STUFF, 3/30). ... Brasileiro side Flamengo Manager Vanderlei Luxemburgo was scheduled to appear in court Monday for "saying it was necessary to 'beat up'" the Rio de Janeiro State Football Federation (FERJ). As a result, Luxemburgo's "punishment can be harsh" as he can be "suspended for up to two years with a fine of up to" R$100,000 ($31,000). Luxemburgo: "There is no reason for me to be convicted. ... I was very clear, all people who participate in football understand what I said about the Federation. If they want to punish me, I can't do anything" (LANCEPRESS, 3/30).
