"Throw it out": Why Cotton wants illicit drugs policy changed

Six-time NBL MVP Bryce Cotton believes the NBL should consider changing its illicit drugs policy to avoid being punished for the use of cannabis.

An anonymous survey completed by CODE Sports ahead of the NBL season found that 73% of NBL players think there should be a change made to the league’s illicit drug policy.

The NBL currently uses Sport Integrity Australia’s (SIA) National Anti-Doping Policy. This is the same document used by the vast majority of sporting governing bodies within the country, bar some variations which have been approved by SIA.

Within the policy, SIA uses the same prohibited list as established by the World Anti-Doping Agency (WADA), which states that natural and synthetic cannabinoids (the chemical substance found within cannabis plants) are prohibited for in-competition use as they may enhance the performance of an athlete.

Should an athlete test positive to cannabis in-competition, they could face a ban of up to four years.     Whilst the use of medicinal marijuana has been legal in Australia for the last decade, recreational use is illegal in all states and territories bar the ACT.

But whilst the NBL does not allow the use of cannabis in-competition, other basketball leagues such as the NBA have not tested for the drug since 2023.  

When asked if the NBL should adopt a similar illicit drugs policy to the NBA, the Adelaide 36ers star was in favour of the change.

“Yeah, I think it'd be great to throw it out because it's not like it's a performance-enhancing drug,” Cotton said on SEN SA’s The Run Home with Kymbo and Chad.

“So simply put, why is it banned then?”

Cotton and the 36ers begin their NBL campaign this Saturday when they travel to John Cain Arena to face Melbourne United.

Tip-off takes place at 7:30pm AEST.