Talking Footy

THE NRL may or may not have a problem with illicit drugs. We don't know because the game's administration has decided not to tell us. Drug use could be rampant, but the NRL keeps us in the dark because under the terms of its illicit drug-testing policy - carried out by the clubs and endorsed by the players union - confidentiality is ensured.

About two months ago, The Australian was told internal audits had revealed at least four clubs failed to meet their requirements under the NRL's in-house testing policy up until that point of the season.
We asked the NRL whether this was correct. We were told it wasn't. Guess what happened when we asked for proof? Sorry, can't help you. We went to the players union. Again, no help.
Where drug testing is concerned, the NRL and its players union subscribe to the old adage: Tell them nothing and give them even less.

The National Rugby League has had its fair share of illicit drugs battles.
Former Newcastle Knights player Danny Wicks was charged with supplying illicit recreational drugs, specifically for dealing “a full tank of gas” or “another gas bottle” as read his text messages.
Other league players have also spoken out against a culture mixing recreational drugs and alcohol with painkillers.
The real issue is that, as one leading rugby league player who wanted to remain anonymous puts it, “clubs are turning a blind eye to it”.
I’ve had ties with a rugby league club that was forced to sanction players from their Toyota Cup and NSW Cup squads for failing drug tests. Some players were sacked, others were allowed to continue representing their club.
I’ve been to end of season parties with clubs of the NRL where players are openly gloating about their drug use, both in Australia and on overseas trips. As if they feel they are unrestrained by the regulations of their respective sporting body.
Our sporting institutions KNOW this is happening. But their administrators know the brands of their respective codes will be severely damaged if they lose some of their greatest stars, which can potentially lead to a decline in audiences and effectively marketing opportunities.

eelofwest wrote:

Footy's drug summit will be told some teenage AFL recruits are already schooled in illegal drug use when they join the game's top ranks.

It can be revealed a senior club figure raised the drugs problem at a meeting with Victorian Sports Minister Hugh Delahunty last week.

The AFL releases the 2013 season fixture, every regular season game live on Fox Sports.


He told the Minister some recruits already knew of ways to avoid detection in drug tests when they arrived in the AFL system.

At least one Victorian club will allege at an industry-wide drugs symposium to be held in January that draftees are running the gauntlet on drugs in their first season in the AFL.

The summit was called after Collingwood chief executive Gary Pert warned of "volcanic behaviour" among footballers on their off-season breaks.

The under-18 TAC Cup competition is the major recruiting ground for AFL clubs, providing the bulk of talent at the national draft.

One AFL club boss said: "I know it to be. Have a look at schoolies. I think the kids are turning to these things earlier on, and not necessarily out of recreation, but because of their backgrounds.

It's hard out there in the suburbs for a lot of kids and they do turn to drugs. I think they are more accepted at a younger age now.

"Schools are beside themselves - from the best schools to the most working-class, so why would we think that just because they are in the First XVIII they are not doing it?"

Clubs will use January's meeting to push for greater control of the contentious three-strikes illicit drug testing regime and the right to know which players have recorded strikes.

Under existing rules, only the club doctor is informed of positive tests.

A rise in the number of AFL players self-reporting the use of substances to avoid drug strikes will also be tabled.

The Herald Sun has detailed a spike in players self-reporting the use of drugs to AFL medical directors Dr Peter Harcourt and Dr Harry Unglik.

By self-reporting, players avoid registering a positive drug test and a strike against their name.

The concern is restricted to a small number of players, most from the same Melbourne club.

Allegations of players supplying drugs to teammates will also be raised.

The Australian Sports Anti-Doping Authority conducts some drug tests at the under-18 national championships, but not the lower grades.

Veteran Geelong Falcons regional manager Michael Turner said he took offence at the notion of illicit drug use in the TAC Cup.

"Categorically, absolutely not. I have run the Geelong Falcons for AFL Victoria and the AFL for 18 years and they are fantastic kids - very disciplined kids," Turner said.

"In my time I have never seen any evidence of anything like that. So for anyone to say that ... it's absolute rubbish. I'm offended by it."

Turner said TAC Cup players received the same education on drugs, alcohol, racism and respect and responsibility as AFL footballers.

"What happens after they get drafted and they grow up is an issue for whatever club and environment they are in. So I can't speak for that, because they are adults."

Federal legislation states that ASADA agents can drug test any sporting competition at any level at any time.

A memo to TAC Cup clubs last year said testing was "unlikely to occur" at club level, but would take place at the elite national championships.

Dandenong Stingrays regional manager Mark Wheeler said he had never encountered drug use among his players.

But another TAC Cup official, who asked not be named, said club's would be naive to think junior players were not experimenting with drugs, alcohol and gambling.

"There is a lot of temptation out there - that's just a reality," he said.

But he said the structure and discipline of junior sport gave troubled kids a better chance in life.

Asked about the drugs in football debate, Delahunty said: "Drugs of any kind are not welcome in sport. However, this is a matter for the AFL as the controlling body."



They all want to be like Cousins.........


Read more: http://www.news.com.au/top-stories/clai ... z2ElUsgb2V

Xman wrote:

Again, why would they rush such a serious investigation that is so hard to prove? Its not like salary cap cheating. How do you prove someone deliberately lost? As far as I'm concerned they should take as long as they need, as long as they get the decision right.

Raiderdave wrote:

Xman wrote:

Again, why would they rush such a serious investigation that is so hard to prove? Its not like salary cap cheating. How do you prove someone deliberately lost? As far as I'm concerned they should take as long as they need, as long as they get the decision right.

but but but

FMD what a farce .......... match fixing , is there anything more serious or harmful to a sports integrity

yet the VFL does nothing

its official .... the VFL is a disgrace

Stewie wrote:

Well done to the AFL for tackling the issue straight away and not taking a year to investigate like the nRL did with the Storm =D>

Xman wrote:

Moron.

The AFL were questioned over tanking before but no one was willing to give evidence. Without evidence how do you prove it?

An ex Melbourne player claimed they were tanking when he played there in late July. After an extensive investigation they will probably announce a result 6 months later. =D> =D>

The nrl began to investigate the storm in early 2009 and didnt finish for a year. In that time the storm won a GF and made a mockery of that season.

Hmmmmm

"It is expected that a final decision regarding whether any charges under AFL rules are warranted will be made in late January 2013."

eelofwest wrote:

Xman wrote:

Moron.

The AFL were questioned over tanking before but no one was willing to give evidence. Without evidence how do you prove it?

An ex Melbourne player claimed they were tanking when he played there in late July. After an extensive investigation they will probably announce a result 6 months later. =D> =D>

The nrl began to investigate the storm in early 2009 and didnt finish for a year. In that time the storm won a GF and made a mockery of that season.

Hmmmmm

Ah no Moron it started in November 2009 ended in april 2010, that is 5 months........


November, 2009 NRL salary cap auditor Ian Schubert discovers breach at Storm after checking club accounts.

April 22 2010 , afternoon David Gallop announces the Storm have kept two sets of books, rorting the salary cap by $1.7m over five years. Hartigan places the blame squarely with Waldron. The club is stripped of 2007 and 2009 NRL premierships, 2006, 2007 and 2008 minor premierships, all 2010 competition points and cannot accrue further points in 2010, fined $500,000 and forced to hand back $1.1 million in prizemoney to be distributed evenly among the other NRL clubs. AFL says it will investigate St Kilda players' contracts during Waldron's time at the club from 2002 to 2004.

Read more: http://www.smh.com.au/rugby-league/leag ... z2FaFzGgca

"It is expected that a final decision regarding whether any charges under AFL rules are warranted will be made in late January 2013."

Wow nearly 4 years to put this issue to bed..............

Xman wrote:

eelofwest wrote:

Xman wrote:

Moron.

The AFL were questioned over tanking before but no one was willing to give evidence. Without evidence how do you prove it?

An ex Melbourne player claimed they were tanking when he played there in late July. After an extensive investigation they will probably announce a result 6 months later. =D> =D>

The nrl began to investigate the storm in early 2009 and didnt finish for a year. In that time the storm won a GF and made a mockery of that season.

Hmmmmm

Ah no Moron it started in November 2009 ended in april 2010, that is 5 months........


November, 2009 NRL salary cap auditor Ian Schubert discovers breach at Storm after checking club accounts.

April 22 2010 , afternoon David Gallop announces the Storm have kept two sets of books, rorting the salary cap by $1.7m over five years. Hartigan places the blame squarely with Waldron. The club is stripped of 2007 and 2009 NRL premierships, 2006, 2007 and 2008 minor premierships, all 2010 competition points and cannot accrue further points in 2010, fined $500,000 and forced to hand back $1.1 million in prizemoney to be distributed evenly among the other NRL clubs. AFL says it will investigate St Kilda players' contracts during Waldron's time at the club from 2002 to 2004.

Read more: http://www.smh.com.au/rugby-league/leag ... z2FaFzGgca

"It is expected that a final decision regarding whether any charges under AFL rules are warranted will be made in late January 2013."

Wow nearly 4 years to put this issue to bed..............

“After a year-long investigation into the Storm, supported by clear admissions from the Club Chairman and Chief Executive, the NRL had sufficient information on which to base a penalty in April 2010 – indeed given what we knew at that time there was no other option.
http://www.nrl.com/final-report-storm-s ... fault.aspx

eelofwest wrote:

Xman wrote:

eelofwest wrote:

Ah no Moron it started in November 2009 ended in april 2010, that is 5 months........


November, 2009 NRL salary cap auditor Ian Schubert discovers breach at Storm after checking club accounts.

April 22 2010 , afternoon David Gallop announces the Storm have kept two sets of books, rorting the salary cap by $1.7m over five years. Hartigan places the blame squarely with Waldron. The club is stripped of 2007 and 2009 NRL premierships, 2006, 2007 and 2008 minor premierships, all 2010 competition points and cannot accrue further points in 2010, fined $500,000 and forced to hand back $1.1 million in prizemoney to be distributed evenly among the other NRL clubs. AFL says it will investigate St Kilda players' contracts during Waldron's time at the club from 2002 to 2004.

Read more: http://www.smh.com.au/rugby-league/leag ... z2FaFzGgca


Wow nearly 4 years to put this issue to bed..............

“After a year-long investigation into the Storm, supported by clear admissions from the Club Chairman and Chief Executive, the NRL had sufficient information on which to base a penalty in April 2010 – indeed given what we knew at that time there was no other option.
http://www.nrl.com/final-report-storm-s ... fault.aspx

Wait 1 year at most compared to 3 years and the AFL sweeping the issue under the carpet.......