REAPPOINTED Adelaide skipper Nathan van Berlo says he is shocked and surprised to hear of the findings from a year-long Australian Crime Commission into widespread drug use in Australian sport.

The investigation found organised criminal networks had been involved in the distribution of drugs to athletes and support staff.

While denying he had ever witnessed, or even heard of such activity during his playing career, van Berlo had a clear message to any player contemplating the use of illegal substances.

"If you know it's illegal, you know you're pushing the boundaries and you've got to face the consequences if you are caught," van Berlo said on Thursday morning.

"My advice to any young player or any player who is thinking along those lines is that it's simply not worth it. That is really surprising to me, and I guess it'll be interesting to see what happens with that investigation.

"I've had no contact or awareness of that happening particularly at our football club, [but] even aboard to be honest."

The 26-year-old, who will lead Adelaide for a third consecutive season, said while he and his teammates put full trust in club doctors to administer legal products and practices, they were well drilled on what was currently considered acceptable.

"We have seminars each year around drugs from ASADA, and the AFL Players' Association are continually educating us on what that looks like for us," he said.

"As well as that, the club doctor speaks to us once, twice a year about supplements, about any questions we might have about medical treatments in that regard.

"If we've got any queries whatsoever we've got full confidence to go to them and ask them a question, and backing their expertise because that's their area, to give us an informed decision and a correct decision."

The midfielder warned players approached by questionable characters or offered performance products or drugs to use common sense and seek advice from their club's doctors.

"As an AFL player we're that well educated on what you can and can't do as a role model as an elite sports person," he said.

"You've just got to have the knowledge to know that if someone approaches you and offers you something that is clearly illegal or that you're not sure of, you've got to ask questions to your medical staff."