Hawthorn Football Club has been informed that the AFL has suspended Hawks midfielder Travis Tuck for 12 AFL match weeks (or eight weeks in the VFL) at a closed AFL Tribunal hearing, having recorded his third strike under the Illicit Drugs policy.

Hawthorn Chief Executive Stuart Fox responded to the sanction passed down by the AFL Tribunal following the hearing.

"We have been advised that Travis has been suspended from the AFL for 12 weeks as a consequence of a third strike under the AFL’s Illicit Drug policy,” said Fox.

The AFL Tribunal, in passing their sanction, accepted that Tuck's drug use was not recreational but a severe by-product of a medical condition.
 
“Firstly, our main priority is for the wellbeing of Travis and we will be doing everything possible to assist him as he deals with time out of the game and his issues," said Fox.

“That said, the Club is deeply concerned it now finds one of its players suspended from the game under the AFL Illicit Drugs policy, without having been able to offer him a comprehensive network of support, guidance or counselling, and this is not to discredit the significant role our Club Doctor has played in managing this issue.

“Whilst the Club agrees that an Illicit Drugs policy is necessary, we are disappointed that we could not provide Travis with support after his first strike and just maybe we could have avoided this situation.

“But for now - and ongoing - the Club’s main priority is the welfare and wellbeing of Travis.”