Newcastle playmaker Jarrod Mullen has been provisionally suspended by the NRL for breaching anti-doping rules after testing positive to an anabolic steroid.
The Knights and NRL announced the news on Tuesday afternoon, with Mullen returning a positive sample to Drostanolone in an out-of-season test in late November.
Under the NRL’s anti-doping policy, Mullen has the opportunity to have his B sample analysed, however he has been prohibited from playing during the suspension.
“The club is obviously extremely disappointed,” CEO Matt Gidley said in a statement.
“The club has a strict governance program, the players are regularly educated and fully aware of the consequences of going outside our governance guidelines.
“From here, there is a formal process we need to follow under the guidelines. We need to respect the process and in the interim the club will continue to monitor Jarrod’s welfare.”
The Australian Sports Anti-Doping Authority said it had completed the test on November 29.
“ASADA undertakes a comprehensive anti-doping program to ensure the integrity of the NRL competition,” ASADA said in a statement.
Dean - Surry Hills
Guest
Just give him the nickname 'Lance' after the most famous drug cheat of all time. Imagine the entire town of Newcastle calling him Lance, everywhere he went.
bobbybones
Guest
I agree with kostjayson being a last resort for the halves. But yeah I think the knights are in for another long season unfortunately.
Crosscoder
Roar Guru
Maybe Jacko you should understand what transpired with the Sharks and the backdating, the same apparently offered but not accepted to a stubborn Essendon. The NRL complies with ASADA ,not the other way around.
Crosscoder
Roar Guru
I still don't understand why he would go outside the club to get help, after all that happened with ASADA and Sandor Earl. I appreciate the fact the poor guy has been dogged with injuries, and was desperate to solve the problem.However the back door method is probably going to cost him not only his career but hundreds of thousands of dollars.
Dean - Surry Hills
Guest
Yep - that's him. Loads of players are let go of by one club, only to excel at another. What's your point?
bear54
If they were performance enhancing drugs Mullen should get a refund......
Magnus M. Østergaard
Roar Guru
How is everyone forgetting they have NSW Origin single handedly series and match winning halfback Trent Hodkinson at the club?
andrew
Guest
Don't know about Kostjasyn playing 5/8 - maybe as a stop gap measure. Feeney, i don't think is going to take off. he is sort of in the Curtis Sironen mould for me - looked oh so promising, but it hasn't quite clicked. Lamb and Cogger may come good in another 12 months, but the Knights may have to put up with another year of beatings i think - not that Mullen was probably going to change that much..
terrence
Guest
The NRL and ASADA/WADA had no positive tests in that case. In this case, they have samples.
terrence
Guest
Yep, his career does not deserve to end this way, going outside of the club was not a smart decision, desperate yes, but not smart. If the b sample comes back positive, that's it. Sad, he might not have known he had taken it, but he went outside the club and is ultimately responsible for what goes into his body.
Squidward
Roar Rookie
No one actually has positive samples though in that instance or was it something as dodgy as full blown anabolic steroids.
Football Forever
Guest
the same Hastings the roosters got rid of?
Mushi
Guest
As a roosters fan I really liked hastings but watching him in each format (training, nines and main comp) he does seem to lack a bit of atheltic edge that I think he may have been used to playing with at a younger level. He just doens't seem to have enough agility or acceleration to make the moves he's trying to make. All the best to him though.
Jacko
Guest
Maybe he will just plead guilty and get 3 weeks suspension. The NRL has done that before and ASADA must have agreed to it.
Adam
Guest
best get yourself checked mate, Jackson Hastings is a kid with bad facial hair that has thus far done nothing in the game, and no way will they even look at Mullen, nor will any other club, given his injury worries
Magnus M. Østergaard
Roar Guru
Probably also forgetting he just turned 21 2 weeks ago. Hes very young and has already played a pretty handy role in a finals teams.
Dean - Surry Hills
Guest
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=HZfWCx2BNCs Here's a reminder (or wake up call) of what the lad is capable of. Barrett knows what's going on.
Albo
Guest
He has been bulking up for a few years now and it has done nothing for his form or body soundness. In fact I think his mind has been more on his biceps than on the footy in recent times.
Jaime O'Donnell
Guest
Absolutly.... As a Manly fan, and knowing he is working with the greatest Rugby League Football mind (Bozo) and our next premiership winning coach (Trent Barrett) I can see his development in to one of the games all time great #14's
Bobbybones
Roar Rookie
At least they have a few young players coming through. Brock lamb looked like he had potential before he got injured last year. I'd give him first crack, then there is Jack Cogger and Jalen Feeney and Kostjayson can move into 5/8 if they need as well. They have stock at hooker with Levi and Randell. All of these young guys will benefit from another year in first grade