The AFL have defended their handling of the Ben Cousins case in response to criticism from a psychologist employed by the sport's players' association.

In a scathing letter to the league and its clubs, the AFL Players' Association's general manager of psychology, people and culture Pippa Grange accused the AFL of humiliating Cousins, rather than helping him.

The self-confessed drug addict, who was suspended for 12 months last November for bringing the game into disrepute, was last month cleared by the AFL Commission to enter the national and pre-season drafts.

The commission imposed strict conditions, including that Cousins submit to urine tests up to three times per week and hair tests up to four times per year.

Cousins accepted the conditions and entered last Saturday's national draft, but was overlooked, and is almost certain to again be passed over in December 16's pre-season draft, leaving him with no way to play in the AFL next season.

Grange said the conditions imposed by the commission amounted to "moralising" rather than providing the support Cousins needed in his rehabilitation.

But the commission said they had acted in accordance with the advice of experts in treating drug addiction.

"The commission made this decision based on the best medical advice," they said in a statement.

"In accepting this advice, the commission also accepted the clear direction of medical experts, including those who specialise in treating drug addiction, that measures were required to be put in place that were critical to a player recovering from addiction being able to return to the workplace, while minimising the potential for relapse.

"It must also be noted that player Cousins and his management accepted these conditions and subsequently nominated for the national and pre-season drafts."

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