http://www.foxsports.com.au/afl/afl-premiership/collingwood-pair-lachie-keeffe-and-josh-thomas-will-be-spared-maximum-four-year-drugs-bans/story-e6frf3e3-1227305369940COLLINGWOOD pair Lachie Keeffe and Josh Thomas will avoid four-year bans and will be able to select the most beneficial clauses from two versions of the AFL Anti-Doping Code.
The pair, who tested positive to the banned drug Clenbuterol, could know the results of “B” samples as soon as Friday.
Should those samples also come back positive, the players are certain to be charged by the AFL and will face a tribunal hearing.
But the Herald Sun understands they will be spared a maximum four-year suspension prescribed in the 2015 AFL Anti-Doping Code.
That document — although dated January 1 — was not published until after their positive samples were taken in February.
It is now in force, however, and the principle of Lex Mitior will apply to any prosecution.
It means, effectively, that any negative effect of the 2015 code is ruled out but any beneficial application of new clauses or wording can be used to help them.
The AFL had earlier indicated four-year bans were on the table, but it is now accepted the maximum applicable ban is two years.