NRL's Sharks sanctions nothing more than a slap on the wrist

NRL have got it about right. It's good to see they have not given in to the baying of the ugly mob. The hysteria concening health is a crock. The drugs in question, which incidentally it has yet to be proven were even given to players, are freely available at your local gym and on the black market, and are widely taken. There was no way Flangan could have known that the sports scientist brought in by Elkin was in fact a full serving of fries short of a happy meal. It is ironic that the harshest punishment has been dealt to Elkin, the bloke who just happens to be the first name on ASADA's christmas card list. What a credible witness he must have been. The real issue here is that sports science appears to be a wholly unregulated industry. There really needs to be laws to protect the clubs from these charlatans.

American Dave and Ian My initial thread was to Marldon who has been belting the Sharks for some time now and i was hoping he could back up his loud bark with some bite but that wasn't the case.....As i suspected the response would come from more informed Roarers and i thank you for that.... Is there any evidence to suggest that Peptides can increase your chance of contracting cancer anymore than a high protein diet??? If the majority of the worlds population could find a use for Peptides on the mass markets and if our and other governments around the world could TAX the product it would not be frowned upon as is the case with Diet Coke/Pepsi,Cigarettes,Red Bull, Genetically Modified Foods etc....

I'd like to address something interesting from above first for those interested before I address 'In Breif" You can skip ahead but I want to assure you, performance enhancing drugs are "kinda" evil. __ For years there have been links with protein/muscle growth and cancer. We are only beginning to understand cancer more, and it could well be not a disease as such, but a naturally "parasitic" species latched onto animals in the long distant past, forming a component of us now via gene swapping of our bodies long ago, so we are it, and it is us. In fact, in our bodies, through our evolution, we (and many other species) would not be possible without a symbiotic relationship with lesser creatures. An example of this (but not gene swapping as such) is the bacteria in our guts. Cancer being an organism thats latched/coached onto us and since repressed by our bodies is all speculation, as science often speculates, but the markers and sign posts are there for us to see now. We didn't know about gene swapping between separate species, but it happens, and we know about it now. We are beginning to see that when not suppressed, or they are somehow activated, such cancer genes rise up and proteins aid its growth, and possibly unsuppress it. ___ As for peptides, on the back of any protein powder that decent you will see peptides mentioned. No doubt these are the weak as P forms, but a long time ago when it first hit the market (90s i think) the rage was getting this [as they labelled it in their marketing nonsense] 'pre-digested' and 'precursor' proteins into you after a workout. That has some merit. The best component however for weight training in your protein is extra Glutamine, as it will spare your muscles from wasting away, and Glutamine is one of the bodies favorite amino acids (which when combined make up a protein). Obviously for muscle building (in which your body arranged all the amino acids in a specific way via the liver) you need a range but never underestimate the boost in recovery Glutamine will give you. I guess the boys in sport now need an extra edge. The thinking seems to be why arrange it in your liver after digestion (inefficient with weak peptides) when you can put in in your blood stream and reap the benefits with your increased testosterone boost and insulin spikes (anabolic) at the exact time they are being most beneficial. Its interesting -- because when you use Anabolics the big pain in the backside are soft tissue injuries. Just like scabs from cuts on your arms - there's a reason for 'normal' healing. We've evolved to heal slower and cover wounds with scabs where possible to help fight infection -- though bear in mind this defence for infection is rather limited -- people died by the millions from it through history.....but evolutionarily the reason we have it is it gives you enough edge when combined with the cost of food and energy you have. Otherwise every species would adapt for rapid almost instantaneous healing. So thats the point - IF you want to push your body in the direction of peptides and anabolic steroids - there is ALWAYS a cost associated. You may never feel it, but its always there. Its like you can't override one function of the body and expect all the other functions to pick up the pace/slack. These guys are on multiple pills and supps just to keep the body in time. If your iron levels dip - get onto that, if you're starting to bloat (from water retention) get onto that. Its an endless cycle. Our bodies don't excel in environments like super bodies - they simply get by. Thats why the footy guys are so built up - its gym work, ect, yes....but its the bodies response to stress. Once you take away one component, the whole stack begins to fall. And thats the danger of these peptides - you're causing the stack to fall before you even start. You may be building and recovering (so you think) all fine, but its really not the case. While your body is pumping up and building the lean muscle, your softer tissues can't keep up - they are being erroded by the extra weight/work and stress - they are not subject to the same healing pace as other tissues; and in fact they probably don't respond positively to stress but only rest, in fact those softer tissues are being starved and neglected. And its not just any old soft tissues - its veins and arteries as well. Most older body builders are paying the price in their joints, even though they lifted perfect form and did all the right things -- some parts of our bodies are just not designed to take the stress. Look at a horses hoof, closesly, you can check it out on youtube even I think or foxtel - its fantastic how its evolved...its a backwards foot with some REALLY strong tendons, even though it looks relatively delicate and weak...but ask any man to run as a horse does to the same amount of work/effort - it would cripple him. We are not built to cop the stress the athletes are putting on themselves - there is a limit. And you can't go over it. In response to Anabolics, a plaque-like build up lines the walls of arteries. Some anabolics claim to minimize or reduce the effect - but the cost is still there, or its hidden somewhere else. If you get ahead in one area, you pay the price in another. These guys are poisoning themselves. Its no different to ramping up your red blood cell count by sleeping in a chamber or taking a drug. There is a cost, irrespective of if you "think" you "feel" it or not....there is always, without fail, and without exception, a cost. BUT our bodies are exceptional at survival (not excelling due to the cost/benefit rule)...and survive they do - but survival and health are two different things. Plague build up from Anabolics---> is a survival mechanism....without the plaque who knows how much sooner a heart attack could occur? Its poison, my friend, but not the definition we think of. A double edged sword? The problem is they don't think about the future -- but no one wants to watch athletes sign a death sentence then run onto the feild and be cheered for it. Thats negligent humanity. Thankyou for reading.

In Brief - You raise some valid points this whole issue is a minefield and very difficult to get ones head around if you don't have post graduate qualifications in bio - chemistry (which I most certainly do not) Even eating the right diet is peformance enhancing athletes looking to bulk up are encouraged to eat huge amounts of protien but there are serious questions about whether such a diet is good for your health. My knowledge is pretty primitive and dates from when I mucked around with bodybuilding back in the early eighties.There has always been a quesion mark over anything (including protien) that promotes cell growth but as yet a direct link to cancer is unproven. Indeed the question is not a direct link to cancer (there is no evidence to support it) but the possibilty that if you already have a tumor anything that enables cell growth will encourage the tumor to grow. From memory the big question mark was over a hormone called IGF 1 ie Insulin growth factor 1 some people suggest there is a link between this hormone and cancer but is far from conclusive. You know a sure fire way to boost your IGF 1 levels - drink lots of milk -it will send them skyrocketing.Indeed there used be a workout in old school seventies body buliding simply called squats and milk. The truth seems to be that any substance that helps you bulk up (or indeed maybe even resistence training itself) may increase your risk of developing cancer or (more probably) encourage a tumor to grow if you already have one. Then all that may turn out to be total crap because the truth is medical Science really doesn't understand cancer which is why they still treat it the way they did fifty years a go chemo and radiation or chop it out if you can get at it. So the answer is a pineapple.

The Storm played most of the 2010 season on zero points due to the salary cap scandal from 2006-2009. How is that any different in terms of the years going back and punishment ?

All I know for sure is if asada know what they were injected with gallen will be gone. As well as the other 2 (I think?) who were getting injections with him outside the club.

It's 600,000 if they change their whole board structure to meet nrl terms. If they fail to do so (and it's not as easy as it sounds) they'll copp 1mil, and 1mil is the max a the nrl can fine. People saying "but the storm copped way more than that and all they did was pay the players extra" you're wrong. The storm were stripped of what they won while fielding an illegal team, and they had to pay back all the prize money they had won with the illegal team as well as copping a 1mil dollar fine, and the reason they had to play a season for no points was because THEY STILL HAD AN ILLEGAL TEAM! They pretty much copped the same punishment except they cheated successfully and lost their trophies because of it.

It's 600,000 if they change their whole board structure to meet nrl terms. If they fail to do so (and it's not as easy as it sounds) they'll copp 1mil, and 1mil is the max a the nrl can fine. People saying "but the storm copped way more than that and all they did was pay the players extra" you're wrong. The storm were stripped of what they won while fielding an illegal team, and they had to pay back all the prize money they had won with the illegal team as well as copping a 1mil dollar fine, and the reason they had to play a season for no points was because THEY STILL HAD AN ILLEGAL TEAM! They pretty much copped the same punishment except they cheated successfully and lost their trophies because of it.

It's 600,000 if they change their whole board structure to meet nrl terms. If they fail to do so (and it's not as easy as it sounds) they'll copp 1mil, and 1mil is the max a the nrl can fine. People saying "but the storm copped way more than that and all they did was pay the players extra" you're wrong. The storm were stripped of what they won while fielding an illegal team, and they had to pay back all the prize money they had won with the illegal team as well as copping a 1mil dollar fine, and the reason they had to play a season for no points was because THEY STILL HAD AN ILLEGAL TEAM! They pretty much copped the same punishment except they cheated successfully and lost their trophies because of it.

It's 600,000 if they change their whole board structure to meet nrl terms. If they fail to do so (and it's not as easy as it sounds) they'll copp 1mil, and 1mil is the max a the nrl can fine. People saying "but the storm copped way more than that and all they did was pay the players extra" you're wrong. The storm were stripped of what they won while fielding an illegal team, and they had to pay back all the prize money they had won with the illegal team as well as copping a 1mil dollar fine, and the reason they had to play a season for no points was because THEY STILL HAD AN ILLEGAL TEAM! They pretty much copped the same punishment except they cheated successfully and lost their trophies because of it.

So let's get this straight. The Sharks are being punished for using performance enhanching supplements which are banned under the WASADA or whatever Act. The reasons these supplements are illegal is because you don't have a level playing field. This makes sense - if you think of someone like Lance Armstrong who won everything or Ben Johnson. However, the Sharks won nothing. So what's the big deal? If it's a health and safety issue let WorkCover do the investigation. If they broke some supercilious organisations' codes let that organisation issue the fines. Am I the only one who hasn't jumped on the performance enhancing drugs are evil band wagon?

Forget the fine it's the players legal proceedings I would be worried about! I believe that two players have already started and I dare say a lot more will follow if asada ban them from playing for any extended period, and if that happens the sharks are going to find it hard to just field a side. The nrl knows this and I think they might have Perth or Central coast in front of the shark in a year or so!!

if they were handing out sanctions to cronulla for bringing the game down then they should have been handing out those sanctions every year for the last 25 years.

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yes you can, its like saying you can't give me a parking fine for something I did last week. The club was guilty, the club should be punished.

For the record this fine is NOT for doping, it is for a lack of governance within the club. Nothing yet has been proven. ASADA has not finished their investigation!

which players? there's like 4 of them who were there in 2011. Why does Luke Lewis need to be taught a lesson

ASADA are yet to finish their interviews and they are the ones who will be handing out suspensions to the players. The NRL, like the AFL did with Essendon, are simply handing out sanctions to the club for bringing the game into disrepute.

Tezza, The players will be subject to charges under the NRL Anti=Doping policies. You can expect 2-4 year bans.

Muzz, I'll leave aside for a moment that just about anything useful for a sportsman is banned under S2 of WADA. You asked what evidence linked these drugs to cancer and so on. I gave it. 'Illegal' isnt the point - you know all that stuff about designer drugs staying ahead of regulators ? This is it. Do we know how dangerous these drugs are ? Nope. Why not ? They are experimental. Oh, and 'amino acids' are what cheating scum call drugs so they can pretend they arent cheating scum.