West Australian police have launched a review into the charging of former West Coast Eagles star Ben Cousins for drug possession.

WA Police Commissioner Karl O'Callaghan had ordered the internal review because the charges originally laid against Cousins were "shrouded in controversy", The Australian reports.

A charge of possessing a prohibited drug was dropped last week after the Director of Public Prosecutions confirmed diazepam was prohibited only in injectable liquid form.

However, Cousins still faces a charge of failing to comply with a requirement to undergo a driver assessment.

The Brownlow Medal winner was charged on Tuesday after the car he was driving was pulled over by police.

The newspaper also reports Eagles' management took a calculated risk to sack Cousins the day after he was charged after discussing the possibility of a $1-million-plus lawsuit from him.

The club had refused to comment, the newspaper said, adding that Cousins' lawyer, Shane Brennan, had recommended he seek advice from contract lawyers.

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