WEST Coast's high performance manager Glenn Stewart has revealed that three Eagles players brought him imported supplements that contained banned substances within the last three years.

Stewart was speaking at a University of Western Australia public forum on Wednesday night in front of over 200 people that covered a wide range of topics including the Essendon supplements saga.

Stewart said he had the substances tested at a lab at Curtin University to avoid a repeat of the issues that the Essendon players had faced during the supplements saga.

"Three players brought me supplements I had tested at a lab at Curtin University," Stewart said.

"They had come from the USA and the lab found they contained banned substances. The problem is that every test costs $995.

"The AFL now has a rule that every supplement must be supplied by Australian companies."

Stewart said the decision to test the substances had saved the Eagles from facing possible suspensions.

Tony Buti, a WA minister and expert in sports law, was also on the panel with Stewart.

Buti told AFL.com.au on Friday that the WADA and ASADA codes had changed significantly in recent times, and that without full knowledge of the facts it would be difficult see how any rules were breached in this instance.

Stewart also said the players were well educated on the supplement protocols on the new rules in place, and he said some players had told him they did not have sympathy for the Essendon players that had been suspended for breaching WADA rules.

"I can't speak for all of the players, but the ones I have spoken to have no sympathy for the Essendon players," Stewart said.

"The AFL does education sessions on illicit substances, performance enhancing substances and harassment. The players are very well educated."

Thirty-four past and present Essendon players are currently serving 12-month WADA suspensions following the Essendon supplements saga in 2012.