Blues defender apologises after AFL ban for drug use

Lachie Cowan has apologised after his two-game AFL ban for conduct unbecoming, calling it a wake-up call.

Cowan was hospitalised on Sunday morning after a party at a Carlton player's house.

The league confirmed on Friday that Cowan was banned for taking an illicit substance. He will miss the first two games of next season.

It is also a notifiable adverse finding under the league's illicit drugs policy, which is separate to the standard anti-doping code.

The AFL has also handed him a suspended $5000 fine and Cowan must go through further eduction about the effects of illicit substances.

Teammate Will Hayward, who was with Cowan on Saturday night, also took himself to hospital in a separate incident after he hit his head and needed stitches. But no action was taken against him.

"I should never have put myself in such a vulnerable situation, I want to apologise for the impact my actions have had on my family and the football club," Cowan said.

"I also want to thank the medical professionals who helped me on the night, the football club for their ongoing support and everyone who took the time to reach out and make sure I was OK.

"This is a wake-up call and I am just so grateful to now be in a position to learn from this."

The AFL's new illicit drugs code will start in January. The league said all players will be hair tested when they return to training in the new year, with readings going back three to six months.