A former Queanbeyan Tigers footballer involved in last year's premiership success has been handed a 15-month suspension for the use of a banned substance.
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Alex Overs tested positive for a strong painkiller containing Oxycodone and its metabolite Oxymorphone on the day of last year's North East Australian Football League Eastern Conference grand final between the Tigers and the Sydney Swans last year.
The Tigers will retain the trophy after it was found the use of the substance wasn't widespread among the team.
Overs hasn't played for the Tigers this year and has moved back to Shepparton in country Victoria.
His 15-month ban has been back-dated to the date of his voluntary provisional suspension, meaning he is eligible to return to the field from March 20, next year.
Overs is understood to taken the strong painkiller for a knee injury he was carrying into the final.
He is believed to have been unaware the painkiller contained a substance which was banned by the Australian Sports Anti-Doping Authority.
The Tigers had no knowledge he had taken the painkiller and believe Overs made an honest mistake.
Overs and the Queanbeyan Tigers both declined to comment when contacted by Fairfax Media on Friday.
Oxycodone is categorised as a narcotic under S7 of the 2012 World Anti-Doping Code Prohibited List and is prohibited in-competition.
It can pose a range of threats to an athlete's health, including drug dependence and has the potential of being abused.
Adverse reactions to oxycodone can include fatigue, nausea, vomiting and hypotension, and in high doses may include respiratory depression, circulatory failure and coma.
AFL National Second Tier Manager Simon Laughton said the decision by the tribunal is a stark reminder for players to follow proper process.
"This ruling should act as a warning to players at all levels that the use of substances, even pain killers, requires careful consideration and adherence to the process set down by ASADA," Mr Laughton said.
"It also reinforces the need to be thorough regardless of whether the substance is a supplement, a form of medication or any other substance.
"This sanction highlights the need for players to be diligent, exercise extreme caution and always defer to the club doctor when contemplating the use of substances.
"All players are responsible for the substances that enter their body and they are also responsible for any method they undertake which is why they should always seek advice that is specific to their own circumstances in advance from their club doctor."
