The anti-doping probe into rugby league could be about to claim more scalps, with Canberra winger Sandor Earl agreeing to assist the investigation after being charged with using and trafficking banned peptides.
Earl, 23, is the first NRL player charged in the seven-month probe by the Australian Sports Anti-Doping Authority (ASADA) and he is facing a possible four years to life ban on the trafficking count.
NRL chief executive Dave Smith said Earl had agreed to continue to assist the ASADA investigation and was seeking the benefit of substantial assistance provisions for doing so.
That means he could get a much-reduced ban if he supplies information which implicates others.
Former ASADA chief Richard Ings confirmed the news could potentially leave a lot of athletes feeling very nervous, but Earl would have to give the anti-doping authority some quality information if he was be treated leniently.
“If he was to offer more information coming forward as to where he bought the performance enhancing drugs and particularly who he trafficked them to, it would work in his favour,” Ings told AAP.
Smith called a hastily-arranged media conference on Thursday afternoon to deliver the shock news that Earl had admitted using and trafficking banned substances when interviewed by ASADA recently.
Earl, who has signed to play rugby union in France next year, joined the Raiders in mid-2012 after stints with Sydney Roosters and Penrith.
Smith said he was unable to say what club Earl was playing for when the alleged offences took place.
However, Canberra released a statement saying it understood the charges related to a time before he arrived at the Raiders.
The banned peptide Smith said he was charged over – CJC-1295 – was reportedly mentioned in the internal report commissioned by the Cronulla club, which is being investigated over its suspect 2011 supplements program while it had controversial biochemist Steve Dank as an advisor.
Dank has denied any wrongdoing.
Smith said Earl had volunteered to stand down while the charges were dealt with and that he had 10 days to decide whether to go to a tribunal or accept a penalty handed down by the NRL.
“Today’s development reinforces the position we have taken from the outset and highlights our resolve in dealing with what are serious issues,” Smith said.
“We continue to work with ASADA … to get to the bottom of all allegations.
“I’ve said right from the start the allegations were serious and we weren’t going to presume guilt and we wanted to get it done pretty quickly.
“This is the first example whereby we have been given facts, we have evidence and the code is stepping forward and issued a notice.
“I can’t go into specifics as it will unfold over time.”
CJC-1295 is an injectable synthetic peptide hormone that is similar in structure to human growth hormone and can increase lean muscle growth.
Ings said it’s a substance that’s banned by the World Anti-Doping Agency (WADA) and hasn’t been cleared for human use by the Therapeutic Goods Administration (TGA).
“This is an unambiguously prohibited substance,” Ings said.
“It’s unscheduled in Australia. It’s not approved by the TGA for human use and there’s no doubt that this is a performance-enhancing drug.”
Smith said the notice against Earl was unrelated to any other part of ASADA’s investigation and maintained no action would be taken against any other parties until evidence was provided to them.
THE CANBERRA RAIDERS’ NINE MONTHS OF NRL HELL
The litany of off-field issues that have dogged the Canberra Raiders in the last nine months:-2012, November: Blake Ferguson is removed from Foreshore Music Festival after reportedly spitting on patrons.
December: Reports police investigated incident outside Joel Thompson’s apartment after a cyclist was struck by a bottle during a party. Thompson cleared of any wrong-doing
2013, January: Ferguson walks out of emerging Blues camp due to personal issues, later apologises to NSW coach Laurie Daley
February:
Enforcer Josh Papalii signs with Parramatta, creating a huge distraction, before the star reneges on the deal and re-signs with the RaidersMarch:
Following several off-field indiscretions, star fullback Josh Dugan is sacked after going on a drinking session with Ferguson when the duo were meant to attend a recovery session. Ferguson fined $10,000.June:
Ferguson and Dugan reunite for State of Origin II camp. Ferguson is charged with one count of indecent assault over an alleged incident at a Cronulla nightspot during celebration drinks.Winger Sandor Earl is named by the Nine Network as being a player under investigation by ASADA. He denies it and threatens legal action.
July:
Ferguson pleads not guilty to indecent assault charge in court, is suspended by the NRLTest prop David Shillington steps down from leadership team. Believed to be triggered by club’s leniency towards Ferguson
More distractions as reports emerge that young star Anthony Milford wants to leave the club to be closer to his family in Brisbane
August 14:
Reports that Ferguson wants out of the Raiders to be closer to family and friends in Sydney.August 20:
Raiders coach David Furner is sacked after the Raiders lose three straight and drop out of the top eight. Sacking triggers release clause in Ferguson’s contract from October 31August 24:
Ferguson is issued with a court notice for driving while suspended on his way to Sydney. He is also given a fine for driving 18km/h over the speed limit. Spotted at a pub later that night with Sharks star Todd CarneyAugust 25:
Ferguson chooses to be in Sydney instead of cheering on teammates for second game straightAugust 28:
Ferguson is stood down from all playing and training duties with the Raiders after becoming uncontactableAugust 29:
Earl charged by the NRL with using and trafficking banned peptides. The club understands the charges relate to a time before his arrival at the Raiders in mid-2012.
fishes
Guest
And the usual Sharks death-riding.
Crosscoder
Roar Guru
Who said they want to continue to lie.The latest interviews with lawyer and NRL integrity unit gent present stated they have responded to the questions put honestly.The print media are hardly geniuses when it comes to getting facts right. eg News initially came out and stated a new conference was being held by the NRL David Smith and it involved Cronulla.When the Earl name was announced,people got straight on to News and asked them to apologise ,which they apparently did. Act 2.The media stated the Sharks deliberately tried to hide the 3rd party deals for which they were fined $150,000.In fact it was the club who went to the NRL and self reported by telling them that whilst the 3rd party deal was within the acceptable rules,they omitted to include the amount.In effect they were not over the cap. Act 3.The TV station the ABC about as balanced as a listing ship,noted the money in the account set up by Flanagan was a deliberate act to hide monies.It was used for the gym,and was spelt out re the golf days and functions.Then SBS the soccer station thought they would be really good detectives and state the account was used to buy supplements. The integrity unit has or is investigating and so far nothing to support these views has come out. Now if any player is guilty I will be the first to suggest he be booted,conversely these media outlets that tell porkies or infer and thereby condemn they too should bear the brunt of legal action. What I have found with the media Fairfax and News when they make announcements it is in large black and white front page etc.When they are forced to issue an apology,it is usually a few lines tucked away in some obscure section of the paper.The electronic media seems to get away with blue murder.
Crosscoder
Roar Guru
I think even the Link would laugh at that comment.
Crosscoder
Roar Guru
Glass house looking nice in the sunshine MLN. One word try, tanking to reinforce any hole in credibility.look in your own backyard re misdemeanours and racism ,without providing a list of additional embarrassing names to set the posts ablaze.The hypocrisy is mind boggling.
Vivalasvegan
Guest
I am very worried that Earl will show us the extent of the problem. Has anyone else been amazed at the 'growth' of so many players in the last year or two? Not picking on him but kids like Daniel Vidot - more meat on a butcher's apron two years ago, is now enormous! Enormous... Lots of other examples spring to mind too... GI has put 20kgs on over the years but we have seen a gradual maturity and we know they all train hard, full time. But these kids look different to me. At least we can be confident that Cam 'The Accountant' Smith is not on the juice...
bunniegirl
Guest
Dirty Drug Cheating players. Grubs.
expathack
Guest
"Rugby is getting better" - dead giveaway that the post was in no way grounded in reality.
marco
Guest
There is no room for drug cheats. It will be interesting if other charges get laid on players during the finals. Earl should not keep his mouth shut , people are sick of Rugby League cover ups. No wonder crowds and ratings are down. Plenty of other sports to watch. Eg- tonight, swans vs hawks or knights vs broncos. Mmmmmm.
Pest
Guest
Mate fly away , your backyard is just as grubby , did you forget about that young person that overdosed In the presence of your greatest ever , don't chuck stones cause you'll get boulders tool
MLN
Guest
Agree 100%, disgusting how the AFL has dealt with Izzy, to think that two parties can sit down together and agree to terminate a contract that both parties agree on the outcome. Horrible mess it was. Unlike us in the NRL, we would much rather the player get drunk every night, break club curfew and rules, go drinking when they are supposed to train or play and distribute photos displaying their middle finger until that club is forced into a corner and then we can come in and 'help' move that player to his next club. A much better scenario for all involved
Really?
Guest
2013 crowd average is down -4.6% from 2012, so far. 2013 is ranked 7th in terms of average crowd. 1989 had the highest crowd average of the '80s and is ranked 36th. http://stats.rleague.com/rl/crowds/summary.html
damo
Guest
Sandy's argument above is that Jobe not being given an infraction is the AFL's fault. Seems like a stretch to me. Is he saying ASADA wanted to charge Watson but the AFL stopped that? Where's the proof of that? Why the necessity for black and white arguments on this matter. The player's situations were different, the substances were different... why should they be dealt with the same? D
Simon
Guest
I have been very upset with the way the NRL is run. I am upset at the treatment people who wreck the game are treated. League isnt the NRL. The NRL are just to body that has the power to run it as a professional game. When the league was semi - pro did people watch and love the game? Did the crowds come to the game ? Was there a lack of passion? I think we have been sold into the lie that making the NRL professional make the game better. The game is faster but on the whole it is not better. The game was already good, infact it was great in the 80s. I can see why there is a 23% down turn in crowds this year. The casual viewer of league wants to watch sport not the endless, ASADA stories, endless off field incidents, ongoing salary cap issues. If you want people who watch sport to stop watching league and follow rugby, AFL or soccer the NRL are doing a bloody good job. AFL is a slick operation ( ASADA problem and how it is dealt with is an example) they capture the juniors, move into new markets, develop change, adapt yet still maintain tradition. Rugby is getting better and Soccer still in it infancy is the most played sport in the country. Soccer is the now the same size as the NRL in 1997. Sure league get the big TV deals but i think the game has been destroyed.
Australian Rules
Guest
That's what we may *feel* is a fair punishment...but 2 years is the standard WADA punishment for drug *use*. You can double that for trafficking.
Jay
Guest
Well that didn't take long to degenerate into the usual immature code-war.
turbodewd
Roar Guru
Sandor is very young, 22 or 21 when the offences were committed at Penrith. 18-24 mths is a fair punishment.
turbodewd
Roar Guru
One of them is financially sound though....
bjt
The hack (in every sense of the word) Dean Ritchie stated on The Game Plan last night, that Sandor Earl should "do the Australian thing" and keep his mouth shut. I for one hope he spills the beans and outs all the drug cheats. I fail to understand why simpletons like Richie or anyone else would want to protect the drug cheats in our sport. This is not a matter of dobbing in your mates, this is a matter of our sport's integrity. Why is there this constant theme of protectionism running through league? Why are teams like the Sharks being touted as courageous for not being honest? The fact that teams like the Sharks are trying to conceal their involvement and hope a lack of evidence clears them, directly exposes their lack of commitment to the sport of rugby league and is just another example of Sydney rugby league thinking and behaving as if it is bigger that the sport. If the sharks (and other teams) and their players all want to continue the lie and look after their own interests instead of the sport we love, I hope the most severest of penalties befall them.
In Brief
Guest
Well said, I'm sick of the holier than thou crap. Drugs in sport is not some Mafia crime show, just athletes getting bad advice. No big deal to me at all, couldn't care less. Yes, educate players not to take performance enhancing drugs, but forget all the hyperbole. It's not cheating, stealing, or killing after all.
Shag On A Rock
Guest
oikee - we've finally found your expertise. Talent scout for male underwear models. Who would've thought!