Organised crime and drugs in sport investigation part III

[Sea_Eagles_Rock]

Of everything I have ever seen and heard of Tallis, he is absolutely 100% anti-drugs in sport.

Was right up Howe's nose after his drugs suspension at the Storm.

Couldn't see him calling for an amnesty on drug users in NRL...but I've been wrong before.

There was something about it on MMM this evening.

 

[The Mad Hatter]

Trying to find the Triple M stuff, but here we go:

http://www.theaustralian.com.au/new...gation-stalemate/story-e6frg6n6-1226637153921

Former player Gorden Tallis is one of many who support the idea of an official reprieve for players who co-operate with the investigation.

"As supporters of the game, we've all been waiting for ASADA to make some inroads, but we keep on hitting roadblocks," Tallis said. "It's just a big legal battle. The only winners will be the courts and the lawyers. I want to see the game move forward. No one is talking sense, but this is a good idea."

Tallis has been a vocal anti-drug campaigner for years.


NRL CEO Dave Smith is undecided over a proposed drug amnesty. Picture: Sam Ruttyn
"No one is stronger than me against players taking drugs and I've been like that all my life," Tallis said.

"If players come forward and tell everything they know, it might just turn up the organised crime figures or the peddlers we've been trying to catch. Everyone in the game goes on notice. They've got one month to come clean with everything. Then every player gets a blood doping passport and we resume as normal."

 

[Cerne Abbas Giant]

If Essendon are so good, have they confirmed if any of the substances are legal?
Will their players and staff admit to taking these substances. So far the public have not heard anything.
These are very simple questions that are in the public interest.

Seems to me Essondon are still piiss-farting around.

 

[Cerne Abbas Giant]

Trying to find the Triple M stuff, but here we go:

http://www.theaustralian.com.au/new...gation-stalemate/story-e6frg6n6-1226637153921

Former player Gorden Tallis is one of many who support the idea of an official reprieve for players who co-operate with the investigation.

"As supporters of the game, we've all been waiting for ASADA to make some inroads, but we keep on hitting roadblocks," Tallis said. "It's just a big legal battle. The only winners will be the courts and the lawyers. I want to see the game move forward. No one is talking sense, but this is a good idea."

Tallis has been a vocal anti-drug campaigner for years.


NRL CEO Dave Smith is undecided over a proposed drug amnesty. Picture: Sam Ruttyn
"No one is stronger than me against players taking drugs and I've been like that all my life," Tallis said.

"If players come forward and tell everything they know, it might just turn up the organised crime figures or the peddlers we've been trying to catch. Everyone in the game goes on notice. They've got one month to come clean with everything. Then every player gets a blood doping passport and we resume as normal."

Correct me if i am wrong, but in an amnesty no one gets punished for admitting guilt. I don't think ASADA wants that.

 

[herbert henry1908]

The only way an amnesty would happen is if asada exhaust all possible leads. And that could take years.


They want blood , they need blood.

Without it they're f*cked.

 

[NrlCoach]

http://www.dailytelegraph.com.au/sp...ping-allegations/story-e6frexnr-1226637916871

NRL chief executive Dave Smith has struck back at claims rugby league is stonewalling anti-doping investigators - and called on them to get on with the job instead of playing a "blame game".

In a clear response to claims from WADA boss John Fahey that the NRL was not handling the drugs crisis as well as the AFL, Smith last night told The Daily Telegraph the anti-doping agencies should be more concerned with doing their jobs. "We need to get to the bottom of the matters raised by the ACC and there are clearly going to be differing circumstances in each sport," Smith said. "Anyone from ASADA or WADA who is party to turning this into a wedge between the sports is doing a disservice to the fans and losing sight of the need to resolve the issues.


"This investigation needs to be conducted in as thorough and timely manner possible and it needs to be conducted in a way that respects legal process. "ASADA should be the best-equipped agency in the country with the widest set of powers to manage the investigation and we are committed to seeing them resolve these matters properly." Smith's remarks come after the first interview with Sharks back-rower Wade Graham broke down last Monday.


Fahey this week accused the NRL of "sweeping (the drugs issue) under carpet" because of a stalemate over how much co-operation the players should provide in case they incriminate themselves. It is understood the NRL is considering a doping amnesty to break the impasse, as foreshadowed in yesterday's The Daily Telegraph. Smith also revealed a review of Graham's interview showed Graham's legal representatives had not blocked the player from answering questions. "We have reviewed the first interview with senior counsel and believe that there are circumstances that could be addressed on both sides in the future," he said. "It is wrong, however, to suggest that lawyers prevented the players from answering any question.


"The level of detail that has emerged from the interview after its completion is also concerning. There should be complete confidentiality from all parties around these interviews. "It remains unclear when - or if - interviews between Sharks players and ASADA investigators will start again. "We do not believe the interview process should have been suspended on the basis of what has taken place and we will work with ASADA to find the best way of bringing this to a close," Smith said. "If that requires further investigation on their part before additional interviews, then so be it."Our strong message to the players is to co-operate with the process and to answer questions honestly. We respect the rights of the players, just as they need to respect the need for the issues to be resolved.".

ASADA and telegraph merkins spreading bullshit about wade not answering questions

 

[Desert Qlder]

What a surprise.

David Smith comes out looking extremely professional with his salient remarks, whilst putting to shame Fahey and his media cheerleaders.

 

[Spot On]

Darkest day.







Dave Smith :thumb

 

[POPEYE]

Smith for PM

 

[Walt Flanigan]

I can see this all falling over eventually and ASADA themselves being investigated for incompetency.

 

[canberra_raiders2k2]

Thats pretty good, refreshing to have someone actually defend the game and not beat around the bush.

 

[Card Shark]

http://www.dailytelegraph.com.au/sp...ping-allegations/story-e6frexnr-1226637916871
ASADA and telegraph merkins spreading bullshit about wade not answering questions

Must hurt the Telegraph to have to print these stories that conflict with previous crap they've written (i.e made up).

 

[Card Shark]

Darkest day.

It's only dark because that press conference & subsequent (so far) unfounded accusations made it dark, by tainting all Australian sport with the same poo coloured brush.

 

[ek999]

It looks like ASADA are going to struggle to make a case against Sharks players because they can't use anything gathered by the ACC. Unfortunately it looks worse for Essendon players every day and I would be surprised if some of their players aren't suspended.

And before El Diablo calls me an AFL sympathiser/f**kwit/plant/whatever other crap he calls people, I don't like AFL but I see no need to celebrate their players being suspended just for trusting their club.

 

[Diesel]

It looks more and more likey the Bombers and AFL are going to have their darkest day in sport and at the most the NRL will look at learning from this experience.

 

[gUt]

Thats pretty good, refreshing to have someone actually defend the game and not beat around the bush.

 

[Danish]

David Smith is an absolute legend. The way he has defended the game to the hilt in a completely professional and controlled manner is just brilliant. He has not once come out trying to make any sweeping predictions about players being in the clear, nor has he attempted to go into damage control and make outlanding statements ruling out various punishments. He's simply kept ASADA and the media in check every step of the way while always promising the full backing of the NRL to get the truth heard and the matter resolved.

Compare that to Demitriou, whose done everything from declared that the drugs taken are probably ok, stated that there will be no sanctions on Essendon as a club for the 2013 season, and every other day keeps coming up with baseless claims that the Bombers players won't be punished.

The AFL has been handling this the same way they've handled any rape allegations in the past (deny deny, leak info to club, deny, scape goat, deny) and are hoping that their arrogance and bravado pays off. Unfortunately for them they no longer have weak as piss Gallop in the top job of the NRL who'd have already gladly thrown cronulla and probably dozens of players under the bus at the behest of ASADA, while allowing the original backroom deal between ASADA and Essendon to go through unchallenged.

I really shudder to think what state the game would be in right now if Gallop were still running the show.

 

[Pierced Soul]

They want blood , they need blood.

Without it they're f*cked.

they'll take a scalp no matter how small at this stage. if they cnat make anything stick against cronulla or anyone else they'll look like complete geniuss. if they can get someone for not signing in the correct space on a form they'll use it. wouldnt surprise me if they eventually try and get some fringe reserve grader who once went to a sharks game as a scalp

It looks more and more likey the Bombers and AFL are going to have their darkest day in sport and at the most the NRL will look at learning from this experience.

the AFL have a remarkable way of being covered in shit and coming up smelling like roses. I agree with paul kent last night, the way their PR machine has handled this is amazing. when you consider the initial report suggested a large proportion of essedons squad had been dosing illegally for 12 months and that doesnt seem to cause that much of a ripple versus the barage cronulla has copped over an alleged 6 week period 2 weeks ago....

I do want any cheats taken out of the game but at this stage i'm not really convinced the systematic doping asada alleges has happened. surely they need to ahve some evidence to continue this crap(and i'm not talking peptide tests), and if they dont admit you got it wrong, were pulling a political stunt and f**k off and do what you're meant to do

 

[The Elephant In The room]

Purely hypothetical, but if there is any substance (pun intended) behind the drug allegations at Cronulla, I wonder if the players lawyers have planned to try and delay the proceedings as long as possible, and then cop the 6 month ban (if still on the table) so that the majority of the ban is during the offseason? Oct-March means only a couple games missed.

 

[ek999]

That wouldn't work. The sanctions are given as a number of matches or a time period. Whichever is greater

http://www.asada.gov.au/rules_and_violations/sanctions.html