AFL stars have begun to issue bans against Channel 7 after it broadcast details of players drug taking using allegedly stolen medical records.

AFL Players Association President Joel Bowden is leading the revolt, issuing the snub at a Richmond press conference this afternoon.

Journalists were told at the scheduled media briefing by coach Terry Wallace, that players would not take questions from Seven Network journalists.

And Channel 7 reported tonight that Collingwood and Adelaide Crows players had refused to speak to them today.

The development follows a series of threats by players and their representatives threatening to refuse to co-operate with Channel 7.

AFL players are also considering a boycott of the network's Brownlow Medal presentation in retaliation for the television channel making public the medical records of two players.

And Collingwood management have backed their players' intentions to refuse all interview requests from the Seven Network in Friday night's game Adelaide in retribution over a report alleging drug use at an AFL club.

Magpie and Crows players are expected to refuse interview requests from Seven before and after Friday night's game at Telstra Dome, which will broadcast by the network.

Collingwood chief executive Gary Pert today issued a statement supporting the players' stance, which is expected to include a refusal to work with Seven for a week.

"The club will fully support the playing group in whatever action they choose to take against Channel 7 in response to the recent leaking of confidential medical reports," Pert said.

"The Collingwood Football Club (has) discussed the issues with the player leadership group and if they choose to make themselves unavailable to Channel 7, then the club will provide a spokesperson from outside the player group to meet its media and sponsor obligations."

The documents at the centre of the latest AFL drugs controversy were reported stolen from an Ivanhoe rehabilitation clinic on Saturday morning, hours after Channel 7 broadcast allegations of widespread drug abuse at a top Melbourne club citing the medical records as evidence.

Seven last Friday reported allegations involving an AFL club and its players, citing the players' medical records from a drug rehabilitation clinic.

The club and players cannot be named for legal reasons following a Victorian Supreme Court injunction.

Police have charged a man, 36, and a woman, 31, with the theft of the medical records.

Detectives from Heidelberg CIU yesterday executed search warrants on 7's Docklands offices in connection with the inquiry.

A 36-year-old man and a 31-year-old woman from Ivanhoe West were last night charged with theft. They will appear in court in October.

The woman, who is believed to have sold the documents to Seven for $3000, claimed to have found them in a gutter outside the Ivanhoe clinic.

But she is alleged to have committed an offence, known commonly as "theft by finding", because she assumed the rights of the property's owner.

Seven's actions in paying for the documents have also come under police scrutiny.

Melbourne lawyer James Dowsley said it would need to be established Seven knew or believed the records were stolen before charges of handling stolen goods could be laid.

Police are believed to be checking for any link between the source of the story and anybody connected with the clinic.

A Victoria Police spokesman said a number of documents had been seized from 7 and that the station had been co-operative with detectives.

"As investigations are continuing, it would be inappropriate to comment at this stage."

Seven named the drugs and the club involved but not the players.

Information in the hand-written records, including the club, its players and the type of substances allegedly used, cannot be revealed.

An injunction preventing public identification of the players and other details stands until a further court hearing on Thursday.

Under the AFL's controversial drugs policy, club officials are not told of a player's drug use until he returns three positive tests.

That policy, introduced for the 2005 season, has sparked major community debate.

AFL Players' Association (AFLPA) chief executive Brendon Gale yesterday joined the widespread condemnation of Seven's decision to pay for the medical records and make them public.

He described it as the most serious issue which has faced his association in recent times and a "blatant breach of trust".

Gale said he was continuing to talk to the players about how they might react to the publication of the documents, but has not ruled any direct revolt against Seven and a possible Brownlow black-ban.

"Why would they co-operate and support an organisation that has been involved in such a blatant betrayal and breach of trust?" Gale asked.

"The feeling, after speaking to our members at length this morning, and certainly our executive, is one of absolute outrage and disgust.

"I think the issue is that serious it does require some action.

"This is a line too far. This is unethical - I'd suggest it's unlawful. It's just too far."

The issue of how Seven came upon the documents has now become a full-blown police investigation.

AFL boss Andrew Demetriou said it was "obscene" that confidential medical records would be offered for sale and made public.

"People should be able to seek health services without fear that their private details will be splashed all over the media."

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