Dyson Heppell did not breach his suspension when he used social media to promote an Essendon sponsor, the AFL says.

The star midfielder, who will miss this season as one of 34 current and past Essendon players found guilty of an anti-doping charge, tweeted on Monday he would attend a local car launch for Kia, one of Essendon’s major sponsors.

“As I understand it there was no issue … he wasn’t in club-based gear and they’re a personal sponsor of his,” AFL chief Gillon McLachlan told reporters in Adelaide on Tuesday.