Collingwood players Lachie Keeffe and Josh Thomas have announced they will accept two-year bans for testing positive to the drug clenbuterol.

The pair revealed their decision at a press conference on Monday.

• Pies pair given infraction notices 
• ‘We haven’t done this’: Pies duo

Pies CEO Gary Pert said, in an address to members the pair had unintentionally consumed the substance while taking illicit drugs.

“This was a case of two young man men who made a poor decision to consume illicit drugs,” he said.

Their decision means there will be no need for an AFL tribunal hearing to decide the charge and possible penalty.

The pair tested positive in February, and had been provisionally suspended since March.

Clenbuterol is banned by WADA but is not a specified substance on the AFL’s prohibited list.

They were issued with a formal infraction notice in late July.

Key-position player Keeffe, 25, has played 40 matches for the Magpies, including 18 in 2014.

Thomas, 23, has played 32 games for Collingwood after debuting in 2013.

Collingwood has delisted both players, but football manager Neil Balme says the club will look at redrafting the pair should they nominate.

– with ABC