AFL players have agreed to subject themselves to hair testing until season’s end as part of changes to the competition’s illicit drug policy.

A working group of players, including Chris Judd and Jimmy Bartel, club representatives, medical experts and AFL officials met on Thursday to agree to the change, which was communicated to clubs on Friday.

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Hair testing, which is more accurate than urine testing, has previously only been sanctioned by the league outside of season.

The new hair tests will be only used for information-gathering purposes.

A statement issued by the AFL late on Friday confirmed the move.

“The AFLPA [AFL Players Association] has received the agreement of all players in the competition to being hair-tested over the next six months to better inform the knowledge base of the clubs, the AFL’s medical officers and the working group, which demonstrates the players commitment to reviewing the policy,” it read.

“The group re-stated their view that the wider AFL Player Group deserved ongoing credit for voluntarily agreeing to be part of the illicit drug policy, when not required to do so.”

Under the AFL’s controversial “three strikes” illicit drug policy, players can record two positive tests for “party” drugs before facing bans.

Positive tests from off-season hair testing have not constituted strikes under the policy.

– AAP