RLPA content with doping protection

By Steve Jancetic / Wire

Rugby League Players’ Association boss David Garnsey is confident NRL players are not being asked to sign waivers in relation to supplements being supplied by clubs.

The anti-doping scandal which has engulfed AFL club Essendon has stretched its tentacles to the NRL, via the cross-code employment of sport scientist Stephen Dank.

As part of the revelations which came to light on Tuesday, a former Bombers’ player claimed teammates had been asked to sign a form that effectively made them responsible for their supplement use.

But Garnsey was quick to dismiss fears NRL players had similarly been left in the lurch by their clubs.

“I’d be very surprised if a player had not told me about that,” Garnsey said when asked if he knew of players signing waivers.

“I’m assuming with some confidence that doesn’t go on.”

NRL club Manly moved quickly on Wednesday to clear themselves of any wrongdoing, having employed Dank from 2006 to 2010.

Dank’s name has been linked to the supplement inquiry enveloping Essendon, with the Australian Sports Anti-Doping Authority (ASADA) and the league’s integrity unit asked to look into possible misuse of supplements by players last season.

Dank left the Bombers midway through last season.

The Sea Eagles released a statement expressing confidence no rules were broken.

“The Manly Warringah Sea Eagles employed Stephen Dank in an official capacity as a consultant between 2006 and 2010,” it said.

“During that time, we never had any concerns.

“We always complied with all anti-doping protocols of the WADA Code and the NRL.

“The club will make no further comment.”

The NRL declined to comment on the issue, with the league intent on awaiting the outcome of the investigation into the Bombers before making any move.

The Crowd Says:

2013-02-07T08:02:30+00:00

Damn Straight

Roar Rookie


Haha, yes Oikee. You are a bottomless well of wisdom and profound truths...the deeper you go, the further it gets :p

2013-02-07T06:58:06+00:00

Tristan Rayner

Editor


No oikee, like dribble. Please, please think about cutting back.

2013-02-07T06:51:54+00:00

oikee

Guest


Yes, my dribble seems to be more and more like truth every day, truth that is pure. Like pearls, and gems. :)

2013-02-07T06:14:04+00:00

eagleJack

Guest


oikee even by your standards you have spewed a lot of dribble today. I'm guessing there aren't many Manly fans commenting cause there really isn't anything to comment on at this stage. I'll be at the Round 1 game. I look forward to hearing your chant.

2013-02-07T05:58:47+00:00

oikee

Guest


I along with Storm fans will be waiting patiently for the stripping of their titals as well.

2013-02-07T05:57:49+00:00

oikee

Guest


You really have to laugh, this time last year i was being hounded down by Manly fans, they all wanted to sink the boot into me. Now you cant seem to even find a Manly fan for comment. I will tell you what, i am looking forward to the Broncos Manly opening game of the season at Suncorp. I can even give the Bronco's fans a good chant to start up for the beginning of the season. ? Cheats, CheatS, CHEats, CHEATS. :) yeah baby.

2013-02-07T05:50:20+00:00

oikee

Guest


They are also inclined to love seafood. Mudcrabs being their favorite dish. Some are starting to take on the form of Mudcrabs, or is that the 40-0 supplement you are talking about. :) Its funny, i was talking a Royal Commission last year, Manly have got their Royal Commission, Shubert was hopeless, probably loved Mudcrabs. ;)

2013-02-07T03:01:08+00:00

Captain Obvious

Guest


Manly fans seem obsessed with the numbers '40-0'. Is that the medical code number of a supplement?

2013-02-07T02:02:17+00:00

oikee

Guest


Dessie was ripping doors off hinges??? And Toovey looks like he's eyes are popping out his head and he destroys coaches boxes, he was seen throwing water bottles around Suncorp box. Not to mention the brawls. Cant prove anything but gee whiz, all the signs are there for everyone to see. You have the OX even admitting he was injecting goats blood or cows blood, how do we know it was not Cheeta's blood. ?? They keep sending all there fringe players overseas. ????? To keep them quite. ??? Mate you need to read the signs. it is why i have been on there case for 2 years now.

2013-02-07T01:53:37+00:00

oikee

Guest


At least my team will be playing this year. I am not so sure about your team. ????? And Penn, does he not run the Pharmasuitical stores. They hired Frankenfurter didn't they. ?? Mate the you know what is about to hit the you know what. I think your club is finsihed. We are talking cartels here, this is not run of the mill shonky stuff, this is global.

2013-02-07T01:48:53+00:00

oikee

Guest


It is not only the drugs, it is also betting scandals, match fixing and the rest. Shubert was in charge and seen nothing. I could see something, we all could, but not Shubert. Unless he was working undercover, he has got to go.

2013-02-07T01:19:01+00:00

B.A Sports

Guest


Yeah but no team has been able to stay out on the turps, get into fights, drive recklessly etc to all hours of the night and still play well like Manly! Their recovery is amazing! - just kidding Manly supporters. But seriously I question Gainey's intellect and level of self importance if he thinks he knows every single thing that every single player is doing and being asked to do by physicians. Does he really think some of the less, shall we say "experienced" guys in the NRL would contact him over something around their performance regime?

2013-02-07T01:14:21+00:00

planko

Guest


Renegade Manly is breaking the salary cap the standard mantra Oikee he does not realise that Manly just dont pay the way he thinks. Manly takes drugs. Manly loves you Oikee. You have to pay someone a million to play for the NEWS FRIDAY NIGHT LIMITED Broncos. He clutches at straws cause after all they let DCE go from Brisbane (the town not the club). Oikee good luck with Princess this year mate. I think you will make the 8. I like your team this year but you need to focus on the fact that the only team that can afford to break the cap is yours. Manly's Leagues club lost 400k last year and gave the football team nothing. In fact the Penn family (Manly's biggest shareholder) I believe helped the leagues club out. Send you cap vibes to EASTS mate I think you might have something there.

2013-02-07T01:03:56+00:00

Renegade

Guest


What's this got to do with Schubert?

2013-02-07T00:16:24+00:00

eagleJack

Guest


You mean like in 2009 where they were the worst performing 2nd half team in the comp?

2013-02-06T22:45:12+00:00

oikee

Guest


Nothing short of a Royal Commission into Manly. Shubert should also be sacked.

2013-02-06T22:06:57+00:00

Meesta Cool

Guest


Manly have to be under the microscope for illegal use of performance enhancing drugs, If you look at the years that Dank was there, they played 'out of their skin' , If any doubt exists then Manly should be stripped of their titles during those years, of course they are going to deny it, (So did Storm). If we keep digging maybe records will show that from the change of the century, no clubs won the premiership without cheating!....

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