Teenage AFL star, 19, tests positive to cocaine on match day leaving his promising career hanging in the balance - but he vows to prove his innocence
- Gold Coast Suns player, Brayden Crossley, tested positive for drugs on May 25
- He faces a maximum four-year ban for having a banned substance in his system
- Crossley has sought legal aid and denies willingly consuming the illegal drug
A rising teenage AFL star's career hangs in the balance after he tested positive to cocaine - but he is determined to prove his innocence.
Brayden Crossley, a Gold Coast Suns forward, returned the positive reading during a match-day test before a NEAFL game against the Sydney Swans on May 25.
If detected on match-day, cocaine is considered performance enhancing and Crossley now faces a maximum four-year ban.
He denies willingly consuming cocaine and aims to defend himself from the potential ban, as he awaits the results from his B-sample test.
Brayden Crossley (pictured), the key position player for the Gold Coast Suns, tested positive to cocaine earlier this season during a match-day test before a game against the Sydney Swans on May 25
The Suns released a statement on Thursday confirming Crossley had tested positive and that he will seek legal aid regarding the initial test results.
'We have been notified that Brayden Crossley has received notification of an adverse analytical finding from a recent test by ASADA under the Australian Football Anti-Doping Code,' the club said in a statement.
'The club supports the role of ASADA and will fully cooperate during this process.
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'We are continuing to provide Brayden with wellbeing support and want to stress that it would be inappropriate to pre-empt the outcome of the matter at this time.
'Brayden has sought independent legal advice to assist him going forward.
'The club's public commentary on this issue is governed by strict protocols, and as such under the Australian Football Anti-Doping Code we are unable to provide any further commentary whilst the process unfolds.'
Crossley is facing a maximum four-year ban for having a banned substance in his system during the AFL season (pictured with his girlfriend, Kira Stray)
Crossley made his AFL debut in round seven of the 2018 AFL season against the Western Bulldogs.
He rose up through the ranks of the Gold Coast's junior academy and played 10 senior games for the Suns in 2018.
Though he performed well throughout the season, he did not make it into the club's best 22 and had to play for the club's North East Australian Football League side.
