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This week’s development in ASADA’s probe into Cronulla for alleged drug-taking looks to be headed straight for the courts.
I can’t see any players admitting guilt in order to escape the maximum penalty from the authorities.
Last year, the NRL found the Cronulla club guilty of failing to provide proper ‘duty of care’ and imposed a fine along with issuing a series of bans to staff members.
Players embroiled in the drama of the so-called supplements scheme of 2011 claim they ingested substances as instructed by their employer.
Why then, should or would any player put his hand up and say “I cheated the system” in such circumstances?
They say that ignorance is no defence but can that hold true? I think not.
Each player has been closely counselled by lawyers whom, I expect, will instruct them to admit to nothing.
So from where I sit, the stalemate continues. See you in court fellas.
I believe if ASADA had concrete proof of illegal drug-taking by certain individuals it would have acted immediately and imposed lengthy bans.
Instead, players have been offered reduced penalties if they admit guilt before ASADA’S Friday afternoon deadline.
Seventeen past and present Sharks players allegedly implicated in the club’s 2011 supplements scheme have received show-cause notices from the Federal Government-run, anti-doping body.
Only five of these players – Paul Gallen, Nathan Gardner, Wade Graham, Anthony Tupou and John Morris – are on the Sharks’ books for the current season (John Morris recently retired because of persistent injury).
The other current NRL players to receive show-cause notices were Kade Snowden and Jeremy Smith (Newcastle), Jason Bukuya (NZ Warriors), Luke Douglas and Albert Kelly (Gold Coast) and Matthew Wright (North Queensland).
It has been reported that ASADA offered all or some of the players 12-month bans back-dated to November 1, 2013. Each has been given until Friday afternoon to decide whether or not to admit guilt and accept the deal, or reject the ASADA offer.
Players who accept the ASADA ban would be back at pre-season training on November 1 this year which means that effectively, the anti-doping body is proposing a nine week penalty.
It is expected that sports scientist Stephen Dank, the man behind the supplements scheme at Cronulla, will be contacted by ASADA today.
On Sky Sports Radio yesterday, Gallen, the current Sharks and NSW captain, spoke emotionally of the turmoil the 16-month ASADA probe had inflicted on he and his Sharks’ teammates.
Gallen reiterated he had done nothing wrong and claimed any admission on his part would shatter his hard-earned reputation and standing in the game.
It was been widely reported that any player who rejects the ASADA deal and is subsequently found guilty will be hit with a two year ban.
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