The AFL says it will close a policy loophole that allows its players to take party drugs but avoid being tested – it just can’t yet say when.

A drugs summit held on Wednesday between the AFL, club chief executives and the AFL Players’ Association discussed possible improvements to the code’s illicit drugs policy.

But it will be left to an annual working party consisting of three club chief executives, AFL medical officers, the AFLPA and outside medical experts to make recommendations for changes.

And the AFL Commission and AFLPA will have to sign off on shutting a self-reporting loophole.

Players who put their hands up and admit to having used recreational drugs like ice, cocaine and ecstasy can avoid being tested, and registering one of their three strikes under the policy.

Instead they are referred to seek help – and there are concerns some players are abusing that option any time they are required to undergo testing.

But AFL chief executive Andrew Demetriou says the loophole will eventually be closed, though he was unable to say if it could be done in time for the start of the new season.

And he said AFL medical officers had told the summit they didn’t believe exploitation of the loophole was a widespread problem.

“That’s something that can be addressed fairly quickly,” Demetriou said.

“It is an issue to close that loophole so it doesn’t get exploited.”

Demetriou also reported “unanimous support” for retaining the three-strikes provision of the policy.

“It was unanimously supported by every person in the room,” Demetriou said.

“The policy is very effective, it’s working, but it can always be subject to improvements.

“But that’s certainly one area (the three strikes) that everyone agrees is very important to uphold. It’s a key principle.”

The working party will not meet until the AFL releases its 2012 results of illicit drugs testing – Demetriou saying no timeframe had been decided for when that might be.

Clubs will have to rely on the working party – which will include chief executives Gary Pert (Collingwood), Ian Robson (Essendon) and Travis Auld (Gold Coast) – to decide if they will be notified earlier than currently.

Club bosses are not notified until the player’s third strike under the policy.

Demetriou admitted an increased role by clubs was the “number one issue” to come out of the summit.

Pert said clubs believed they could play a more proactive role for their players with drugs issues.

But he warned it would take time for clubs to arm themselves with the expertise they needed to provide the right help for players in crisis.

“The clubs, out of their discussions, are very clear they see that they can play a role if they have certain amounts of information at appropriate times,” Pert said.

“Sometimes you have got to be a bit careful in what you ask for. You’ve need to be trained and educated and prepared to deal with that information.

“These are things you can’t decide overnight, press a button and roll out.”

AFLPA boss Matt Finnis is adamant players want to maintain privacy and confidentiality around the policy.

“The players remain committed to the policy and the key pillars of the policy that we believe are integral to its success and that is the welfare of the players and confidentiality,” he said.