Collingwood players Lachlan Keeffe and Josh Thomas have returned to training at the Holden Centre, two months prior to their anti-doping suspensions expiring on 10 February 2017.

Keeffe and Thomas have now entered a two-month transition period, where they are able to take part in training, coaching, football meetings and receive medical treatment in preparation for their return to professional sport once their sanctions are complete.

Following ASADA regulations, Keeffe and Thomas are not permitted to complete any media, commercial or promotional activity on behalf of the Collingwood Football Club during this two month transition period.

In August 2015, the pair accepted two-year bans after testing positive to banned substance clenbuterol.

Both players were provisionally suspended following their positive A-sample result in March of that year, and were ruled ineligible to return to AFL until the 2017 season.

Collingwood delisted the duo at the end of 2015 but committed to re-drafting the duo as rookies that December.

They then spent 2016 on the club’s rookie list. The club has elevated Keeffe onto the senior list for the 2017 campaign, while Thomas remains on the rookie list.

Keeffe, who has been involved at Collingwood since the end of 2007, has played 40 games since debuting in 2011. Thomas, meanwhile, arrived at the end of 2009 and debuted in 2013, going on to play 32 games.