Watchdog urges AFL to hand over drug info

Australia's new sports watchdog wants the AFL to hand over information on players who fail drug tests in a bid to stamp out organised crime in the sport.

Australian Sports Anti-Doping Authority chief David Sharpe told News Corp Australia criminals are increasingly preying on sports stars to get inside information and influence games.

He said footballers taking ice, cocaine and ecstasy were vulnerable to bikies and organised criminals who sold them drugs or saw them taking them.

Mr Sharpe clarified that the new watchdog, Sports Integrity Australia, would not ask for the names of players who tested positive but would seek information that may uncover drug dealers or syndicates.

"Every little bit of intelligence counts: the types of drugs, where they are getting them from and where they are hanging out. What sort of groups they are in," Mr Sharpe told the Herald Sun.

ASADA is one of several agencies set to be absorbed by SIA.