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News Brent Naden - positive test to a recreational drug on grand final night

blue bags

First Grade
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7,706
41210603.jpg


its not his go
 
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14,247
Panthers star Brent Naden admitted to his club days after the grand final he had taken cocaine in the lead-up to the biggest game of the year as he now fights to avoid a two-year ban and save his NRL career.

Naden, 24, has been stood down from all World Anti-Doping Agency approved competition after being notified on Tuesday of a positive sample to metabolites of cocaine from a test taken after Penrith's 26-20 loss to Melbourne.




The NRL has provisionally suspended Brent Naden under its Anti-Doping Policy for returning a positive A-sample for cocaine.

The centre, who started the grand final on the bench, approached the club in the week after the decider to seek help for a number of personal issues, admitting to taking the drug during Penrith's preparation for their first grand final in 17 years.

The Panthers immediately notified senior NRL officials and Naden checked into a rehabilitation clinic in Sydney to deal with his issues, including alcohol abuse. He has left the facility, but is still being treated as an outpatient.

Naden can now request his B-sample be tested and choose to front the NRL's anti-doping tribunal for a hearing, which will most likely be held in the new year.

The Panthers were investigating whether Naden's case could be one of the first applicable to a new WADA code, set to begin on January 1, which allows athletes to escape with a ban potentially as short as one month for returning positive out-of-competition tests to illicit drugs unrelated to sport performance.

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Brent Naden has returned a positive A-sample to metabolites of cocaine after the NRL grand final.CREDIT:GETTY

Cases could be retrospectively examined.

But leading sports lawyers told the Herald Naden's test is likely to still be classified as in competition, even if he can prove he didn't take cocaine for performance enhancing purposes, given he played a game with the stimulant in his system.

Naden was one of five Panthers players tested at ANZ Stadium on grand final night.

Dual code international Wendell Sailor was banned for two years after testing positive to cocaine after a Super Rugby match in 2006.

Earlier this year the Queensland Rugby League imposed a two-year ban on Mackay Cutters player Jordan Kenworthy after he failed an in-competition test to cocaine in 2019.

Cocaine is usually present in a person's system for between 48-72 hours.

Sports Integrity Australia refused to comment on the Naden case when asked whether he would be captured in the new WADA provision.

But the Herald has been told SIA is already aware of Naden's version of events and anti-doping experts said his admission to the club, and their notification to the NRL, before the positive test was officially returned is likely to significantly help his case in front of the code's anti-doping tribunal.

The NRL is also set investigate whether Naden breached strict biosecurity protocols during grand final week.

I've never had to deal with anything like that in my life until a few weeks ago. That's why it hit me so hard.

Brent Naden
There is no suggestion Naden, who lives with another Panthers player not involved in the case, ingested the drug at a place he wasn't allowed to be under the "bubble" restrictions.

Panthers officials were relieved Naden had finally sought assistance for his problems, which were exacerbated after he alleged a group of fans racially abused him during a match on the Central Coast.

Naden received an apology from one of the men and the NRL chose not to impose any bans on the spectators.

"I've never had to deal with anything like that in my life until a few weeks ago," Naden told the Herald in September. "That's why it hit me so hard."

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Brent Naden scores a try during minor premiers' Penrith's stunning NRL season.CREDIT:GETTY

Penrith sent welfare officials to be with Naden in his home town of Wellington in regional NSW on Tuesday when he was told of his positive test.

Naden had spoken earlier this year about his frustration of not being able to return to see family given the COVID restrictions and how he has previously been urged by his family to stick it out in Sydney multiple times during his career as he thought about returning home.

Penrith coach Ivan Cleary was criticised for dropping Naden to the interchange before the Panthers' tense preliminary final win over South Sydney, where the centre didn't get on the field.

Cleary decided to keep him on the bench for the grand final – Tyrone May started in the centres – and Naden helped spark a Penrith revival from 26-0 down during his 32-minute stint.

His club confirmed they would continue to support Naden, who is the final year of his contract, despite the drug revelations.

"Brent recently completed that program and continues to address his personal issues with the support of his family and Panthers staff," the Panthers said in a statement. "Working closely with Brent through this process, the club believes he has the capacity to overcome his personal issues and realise his potential."

The Rugby League Players Association said it would be working with Naden's management and the club to provide assistance and support.
"The RLPA would also like to acknowledge the work of the Penrith Panthers and commend their approach in providing Brent with ongoing support during this time," a statement read. "This is a private and confidential process and the RLPA will not provide further comment at this time."

https://www.smh.com.au/sport/nrl/br...ting-positive-to-cocaine-20201201-p56jl3.html
 

Twizzle

Administrator
Staff member
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150,753
^^^

The WADA ruling that could see Brent Naden avoid lengthy suspension despite positive cocaine test
https%3A%2F%2Fprod.static9.net.au%2F_%2Fmedia%2F2019%2F05%2F17%2F16%2F24%2Fchris-de-silva-sports-journalist-wide-world-of-sports.jpg
By Chris De Silva

Panthers star Brent Naden could serve a suspension of only a few months, despite testing positive to cocaine after the NRL Grand Final.

While Naden has been provisionally suspended under the NRL's Anti-Doping policy, he could benefit from a new WADA ruling, according to Nine's NRL reporter Danny Weidler.

Cocaine is prohibited In-Competition by the World Anti-Doping Agency (WADA) and the NRL's Anti-Doping Policy, but incredibly, if Naden can prove he used the drug in a recreational manner, rather than to enhance his performance, he could get away with serving a suspension of up to only three months.

"One of the more interesting parts of it is, previously we've seen people with cocaine in their system on gameday get years," Weidler told 2GB's Wide World of Sports Radio.
"If he has breached the bubble, the NRL are going to then have another investigation, which I'm sure they've already launched, to determine exactly how that all transpired," he said.

"None of it is good for Brent Naden unfortunately, and none of it is good for the Penrith club.

"The entire club is going to have to have a look at itself after this because whether they like it or not, it happened on their watch.

"The club has to examine what is going on in their backyard."
 

JJ

Immortal
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31,738
TBH, I think it would be good if they could have a shorter than 2 year ban...
 
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8,480
^^^


"One of the more interesting parts of it is, previously we've seen people with cocaine in their system on gameday get years," Weidler told 2GB's Wide World of Sports Radio.
"If he has breached the bubble, the NRL are going to then have another investigation, which I'm sure they've already launched, to determine exactly how that all transpired," he said.

"None of it is good for Brent Naden unfortunately, and none of it is good for the Penrith club.

"The entire club is going to have to have a look at itself after this because whether they like it or not, it happened on their watch.

"The club has to examine what is going on in their backyard."

I overlooked this...

In taking it before the GF, naden was either still inside “the bubble” or outside it.. or breached it.

If he didn’t breach the bubble that’s a whole new drama for the club... how did he get the gear in, via who etc..
 

Tiger Shark

Bench
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2,928
He could have done a line after the grand final (and I am sure he wouldn't have been the only one) and it still would come up positive.

The suggestion is he was tested right after the GF, so not like he's come in to the sheds and done a bump right there. It's suggested it was in his system during the GF.

So he's had it the night before perhaps, or before the game ?
 

ACTPanthers

Bench
Messages
4,697
Naden is a dumb merkin, no question, but how does Weilder come up with this shit?
"The entire club is going to have to have a look at itself after this because whether they like it or not, it happened on their watch."

One f**king player Danny!!!! ONE f**kING PLAYER!!!
 

SBD82

Coach
Messages
16,931
Yeah, because Cocaine is such a bogan choice of drug...

If you're going to insult bogans, that's fine, we deserve it, but at least get it f**king right.
Mate you’ve been out of Sydney too long.

Getting on the bags is definitely a standard Sydney bogan past time these days.

The biggest shock in all of this is that he was able to secure a bag that actually contained cocaine.
 
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