Fremantle Dockers midfielder Ryan Crowley has agreed to a provisional suspension after testing positive to a substance banned under the AFL’s anti-doping code.

Crowley is awaiting a date to appear before the AFL Tribunal.

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The 31-year-old reportedly tested positive after the Dockers’ round 17 match against the GWS Giants on Sunday, July 13, 2014.

Crowley chose to accept a provisional suspension from September 2014.

The Australian Sports Anti-Doping Authority (ASADA) issued Crowley with a show cause notice after his sample tested positive to a banned substance under the AFL’s Anti-Doping Code.

During a press conference on Monday, the Dockers said the substance was “contained in a painkiller” and was not prescribed by a Fremantle staff member or doctor.

Fremantle CEO Steve Rosich said Crowley was acting outside the club’s normal process by taking the painkiller.

Fremantle CEO Steve Rosich spoke to the media after confirmation of Ryan Crowley’s positive test to a banned substance. Photo: ABC

ASADA told The New Daily on Monday it does not have the power to stand down, sanction or ban athletes or support persons, and that was up to the relevant sport, in this case, the AFL.

In a statement released by the AFL on Monday afternoon, a timeline revealed why Crowley was able to continue playing with the club until September, even though a positive sample was taken in July.

According to the timeline, Crowley’s positive sample was taken after Fremantle’s round 17 clash against Greater Western Sydney on July 13, 2014.

It said that sample wasn’t tested until August 11. Crowley was notified of a positive ‘A’ sample result for a ‘specified’ substance on August 18.

His ‘B’ sample was tested on September 11 and he received a show cause notice on September 18 – five days after Fremantle’s last game of the 2014 season.

Under the AFL Anti-Doping Code, a player who tests positive to a specified substance may, if they choose, continue to play and train as normal until the result of an Anti-Doping Tribunal.

Crowley continued playing until the end of the season and accepted a provisional suspension, which started on September 25, 2014.

The statement said the testing of Crowley’s ‘B’ sample was the reason for the delay in issuing the infraction.

Dockers president Steve Harris was informed of the issue on September 25, 2014, but did not know which player. Photo: Getty

Crowley himself wasn’t formally notified he had tested positive until September 2014, after the Dockers’ season had ended at the hands of Port Adelaide.

Rosich said the AFL first informed him that there was an issue with Crowley’s sample in late August.

Fremantle’s risk integrity committee, which includes Dockers president Steve Harris, was informed of the issue on September 25 but Crowley’s identity was not revealed until last week.

All board members and the rest of the club were told on Monday morning that Crowley was the player who tested positive.

“I knew the player’s name when I was first contacted by the AFL,” Rosich said.

“The risk committee was made aware of the matter, including Steve Harris, who sits on that committee, on the 25th of September, but not the player’s name.

“The risk committee was only made aware of the player’s identity last week and the full board fully informed of the matter, including the player’s name, this morning.”

Crowley is said to be “cooperating fully with the AFL and ASADA”.

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Fremantle president Steve Harris said the club would provide Crowley with the necessary support to deal with the matter.

“We have a continuing and ongoing duty of care for Ryan, both personally and professionally,” he said.

Speaking on Monday, Crowley thanked his partner Samara, his family and the club for their support, describing it as “invaluable”.

“I have my own legal advisers working on the matter and they have also been a great support,” he said.

– with ABC