I was saddened to learn about Cronulla Sharks chairman Damian Keogh’s recent arrest for alleged possession of cocaine.
When I covered the NBL in the 1980s and 1990s I got to know Keogh reasonably well. A point guard with the Sydney Kings and Australian Boomers, he was an intelligent, articulate and well-presented player.
He was a great role model for the thousands of kids who were bouncing basketballs around the country.
I am not going to make any comment about Keogh’s arrest because I do not know the details and I’m certainly not going to pass judgement.
But as a student of the game, basketball that is, Keogh would have been familiar with the story of former NBA commissioner David Stern, who turned around the troubled league in the mid-1980s to become one of the most successful sporting competitions in the world.
The son of a New York deli owner, Stern was appointed NBA commissioner in 1984. He inherited a league that was riddled with drug problems, particularly cocaine, which hurt the image of the sport.
When Boston Celtics draft pick Len Bias died of a cocaine overdose in 1986 it was clear that something needed to be done to clean up the game.
(AAP Image/Dean Lewins)
Stern imposed a strict anti-drugs policy, which included banning repeat offenders from playing, and the NBA became a relatively clean – and highly marketable – form of family entertainment.
Is the NRL facing the same challenge that Stern encountered?
On the same weekend in early May that Keogh was arrested three NRL players – Shaun Kenny-Dowall, Jesse Bromwich and Kevin Proctor – were also embroiled in drug scandals of their own.
The NRL has to ask itself whether it has a drug problem. Was this just a series of freak incidents or the tip of the iceberg? If it is the latter, what should be done about it?
It has been estimated that one in three people in the western world have taken cocaine at some point in their lives, an alarming statistic given the drug’s harmful, even deadly, effects.
Cocaine is a powerfully addictive drug which can lead to malnourishment, movement disorders, irritability, paranoia and overdose.
So why is cocaine so popular? Well, in the short-term a coke high can give extreme feelings of happiness, energy and alertness. It has apparently become the recreational drug of choice for sports stars because it is easier to avoid detection through drug-testing.
If cocaine use is widespread, the NRL must act. The abuse of cocaine is not only detrimental to a player’s health, it is also potentially harmful to the health of the game.
There is the risk concerned parents will discourage their kids from playing and supporting rugby league, while sponsors may not want to be associated with a sport which is perceived to have a drug problem.
At present the NRL is reviewing their three strikes policy. Sharks captain Paul Gallen has called for a zero tolerance approach with players receiving automatic two-year bans for positive illicit drugs tests.
Maybe zero tolerance is the only deterrent strong enough to rid the game of illicit drugs, but that does not mean there is no room for compassion.
An automatic two-year ban could be accompanied by treatment for addiction. If a banned player underwent voluntary behavioural therapy and became substance free, then the penalty could be reduced accordingly.
Why not introduce a penalty which includes an incentive to beat dependence and return to play sooner? In other words, a stick and carrot approach.
The NRL must protect the image of the game, but it also has a duty of care to players, who may turn to drugs for all sorts of reasons, not just to get high, but to cope with the pressures of life and sport.
jeff dustby
Guest
Greg - great point
db
Guest
The author incorrectly associates all drug use with addiction. Then again, quoting Paul Gallen's hypocritical drivel damages his credibilty.
kk
Roar Pro
Incredible VH.
Simon Murray
Guest
Why do we care? I watch football for bloody football. Not for what these boofheads do after the game. If you or your kids have ever seen a football player as anything but that, like a hero, you are making quite the mistake.
Graham
Guest
I am not sure that it is the NRL or the clubs that have to do more as I know they do an enormous amount of time and dollars trying to prevent these incidents by education and also on rehabilitation. I think we should be thinking outside the box and perhaps get the Players Union to contribute with ideas and maybe their involvement insome way. Also perhaps the players family/parents should also attend sessions with their sons so that they can become more aware of what to look for in these situations and to be more supportive.
johnthedragon
Guest
Yeah I enjoyed the sentence about it being an "Cocaine is a powerfully addictive drug which can lead to malnourishment, movement disorders, irritability, paranoia and overdose" - wrong country dude or wrong drug.
johnthedragon
Guest
Recreational drug taking of players is none of your business. Its either a legal issue or an issue for the employer but not you or us. And besides all that its a health issue and not a moral or legal issue and it certainly isn't a performance enhancer. So get off the high horse and focus on the real issues - like terrible refs or why Melbourne always wins or the dumb scheduling or where the hell has reserve grade gone!
Nostradamus
Guest
They should introduce a new subject into schools called Personal Accountability, Im so sick of the sanctimonious do gooder crap we have to listen to. If you do the crime then do the time.
Nick Ferris
Guest
Talking about cocaine in Australia and cocaine in the US (or many other countries) is a very different thing. The purity of cocaine here is around 10% pure, this knowlege came courtsey of a judges assisant in a Sydney court case. I don't know the purity in the sates, but I imagine it is a hell of lot stronger. If they really wanted just to get high, there are plenty other stronger drug available. The price here is also so high that only those who are well off or prepared to spend their savings will bu using. From my experience, 30 years in the music industry, the use of cocaine is mainly as a status symbol. Holding and sharing it brings control and status. Is it a coincedence that cashed up sportsmen (and maybe women) only seem to get caught using cocaine? Not heroin, ice or marijuana.
Diplomatt
Guest
Thank you D/SC Conan. So they are unproven allegations. I think it's grossly unfair. What if a cop walked into my boss' office and said he saw me snorting something on Friday night but hasn't laid charges. Why should I lose my job or be sanctioned because of that? To the topic of the article if they have a problem, they can go to rehab like every other drug addict. They will be in a better position than the average addict as they can pay for private rehab. That's where Keogh should go.
Magnus M. Østergaard
Roar Guru
Has to be rubbish. There was a survey done in 2013 that showed 45% of 6600 people had done cocaine some point in their lifetime, but this also correlated with 66% of the people interviewed were on above average pay packets. Also worth noting a gram of cocaine was listed as between $400-500. Mind you. AFL sweep theirs under the table and a lot of ALeague faces simply arent recogniseable.
Magnus M. Østergaard
Roar Guru
Word is he stood down today after pleading guilty. https://twitter.com/FOXSportsNews/status/869373614037975040 You have to have some humour in this funny thing we call life MAX, as Im sure a man of your wisdom understands.
Joe
Roar Rookie
1 in 3 people in the Western world have used Coke!?? Is that the beverage variety?
kk
Roar Pro
The magistrate is due to hear Damian's explanation next month. It was noted on League news that Damian had yet to officially resign from his post at the club. I appreciate your devilish sense of humour.
i4ni
Guest
cacaine is a rich man's drug weed poor man's drug coke in n out of ur system in 24 hours weed in ur system for longer coke kills weed don't think so u get lock up if get caught with a bit of weed but this sports stars got away free without any penalty where do you think the broblem lies the law famous or not we should all b treated the same
Conan of Cooma
Roar Rookie
And outdated.
Conan of Cooma
Roar Rookie
They weren't caught with it, it went straight up their noses, so nothing to be caught possessing. That said it also seems they weren't tested for illicit substances even after they were caught doing it, so it doesn't count as their first strike.
Jimmmy
Guest
These articles you link to are Red Herrings my friend. When prohibition was,in place in America similar bad things happped to people in the ' drug Trade' . The fact these drugs are illegal makes them hard to source , dangerous to smuggle and incredibly lucrative to organised crime. It was the same when alcohol was illegal. The war on drugs is the cause of , not the solution to the problems cited in the articles.
kk
Roar Pro
With cocaine usage purportedly so high, how come we rarely if ever hear or read of players in other codes in Australia being nabbed for using the drug. I find it difficult to believe they are so pure.
Magnus M. Østergaard
Roar Guru
The only big problem I have is the sheer stupidity of Bromwich and Proctor doing it in the streets of some random blokes phone. You're high profile players in a city that just hosted a rugby league match and one of you has hair as distinctives as Sideshow Bob. Of course you were going to be recognised. Also Damien Keogh was clearly set up. He was wearing a jacket that he hadnt worn since he confiscated a baggie off Ben Barba last year, so it was clearly a mix up. He was on his way to dispose of it in a safe wanner and had just stopped off for a pint.