Aussies 'exempt' from drug tests

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AUSTRALIAN players in this month's rugby league Tri-Nations series against Britain and New Zealand will be granted an exemption from World Anti-Doping Authority (WADA) policies.

Australian Rugby League (ARL) chief executive Geoff Carr said that drugs-testing agencies in New Zealand and Britain had been advised that any Australian player returning a sample positive to a prohibited substance during the series will have his case heard in Australia.

Carr said the code's governing bodies in Britain and New Zealand had agreed to the ARL's request.

The ARL and the country's National Rugby League (NRL) club competition have anti-doping laws in place, but they still refuse to comply with the full list of banned substances drawn up by WADA last year.

In contrast, the New Zealand Rugby League and Britain's Rugby Football League have agreed to WADA's requirements, although the Rugby League International Federation (RLIF) has also yet to do so.

With all sporting bodies expected to fall in line with WADA by January 1, Carr said rugby league, Australian Rules football (AFL) and cricket in Australia were negotiating for variations allowing players to continue using pseudoephedrine and cortico-steroids - contained in some skin-cream products - under special circumstances.

"In principle, we fully support what WADA is doing but we do have concerns, along with the other professional sports, about a number of issues, and we are trying to resolve those by January 1," Carr said.

"What we have done is notify the appropriate bodies in New Zealand and Great Britain of our position and advise them that under the regulations of the RLIF any hearings are to be held in a player's home country.

"All of our players are bound by the anti-doping rules of the NRL anyway but what we don't want is to have someone dying of flu in the north of England and the team doctor can't prescribe him pseudoephedrine without the player facing a two-year ban.

"The other one is cortico-steroids, which are contained in creams for skin rashes and are not performance-enhancing, while we also have a concern about puffers for asthmatics."

Carr said NRL players in the New Zealand team and the Sydney Roosters' English forward Adrian Morley were also likely to be covered by the same policy, meaning if any of those players returned a positive test overseas, the case would be heard in Australia.

The Tri-Nations series kicks off in Auckland on Saturday with New Zealand taking on Australia, with the English section of the tournament beginning on October 23 with Australia taking on New Zealand at Loftus Road in London.

Agence France-Presse

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[borat]

That is strange isn't it. Sounds like knows something about the squad that the rest of the public don't.

 

[Stranger]

yeah sounds suspicious

 

[Stomp]

If a player is drugged .. well, thats just stupid - if they know, even worse!

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[ibeme]

It just means that some drugs that are banned over there, aren't banned in Australia. That means there's no reason for players not to be using those drugs for legitimate reasons. To cast guilt on any player who does have those drugs in their system would be unfair, because they're obiding by their governing body's rules, and their case should therefore be heard by their governing body.

 

[borat]

It just means that some drugs that are banned over there, aren't banned in Australia. That means there's no reason for players not to be using those drugs for legitimate reasons. To cast guilt on any player who does have those drugs in their system would be unfair, because they're obiding by their governing body's rules, and their case should therefore be heard by their governing body.

I totally disagree. If we start picking and choosing what drugs we ban and what drugs we don't then we are going to end end with a sport like baseball in the US.

Its called the World Anti-Doping Authority for a reason, its meant to apply to everyone, every sport, everywhere. If its good enough for Olympians why isn't it good enough for League. The ARL should pressure the NRL to tow the line and abide by the same guidelines, not apply for exemptions for international competitions.

 

[El Diablo]

The title of this thread is ridiculous. They aren't exempt from the tests.

 

[Stranger]

"All of our players are bound by the anti-doping rules of the NRL anyway but what we don't want is to have someone dying of flu in the north of England and the team doctor can't prescribe him pseudoephedrine without the player facing a two-year ban.

"The other one is cortico-steroids, which are contained in creams for skin rashes and are not performance-enhancing, while we also have a concern about puffers for asthmatics."

If thats all it is its ok but it still sounds suspicious.

 

[borat]

"All of our players are bound by the anti-doping rules of the NRL anyway but what we don't want is to have someone dying of flu in the north of England and the team doctor can't prescribe him pseudoephedrine without the player facing a two-year ban.

"The other one is cortico-steroids, which are contained in creams for skin rashes and are not performance-enhancing, while we also have a concern about puffers for asthmatics."

If thats all it is its ok but it still sounds suspicious.

But these are always the same excuses. You know, I drank too much coffee, I had a cold, my mum gave me the tablet. If we start coming up with acceptable excuses like these it will be abused. The rest of the world saw fit to ban them.

 

[macavity]

hmm... those who have ever had a sudafed or an asthma puffer, raise your hands....


now take your 2 year ban.....

im with the ARL on this one.

 

[avsterooster]

*edited - no more!*

 

[Razor]

Australia's regarded a bit of a joke worldwide in regards to drugs especially with the pissweak suspensions handed out to Ben Tune, Samantha Reiley, Shane Warne, etc.

 

[Porkypine Head]

[Edited out and admin warning. Please read the members guidelines and the special controversy corner rules.]

 

[Razor]

Can't edit posts so I'll make a new posts

Remember in Sydney the 16 year old gymnast who tested positive to a non-performancing enhancing substance that is also contained in headache tablet(which she claimed it was). She got a lifetime ban from the Romanian authorities. Had she been Australian, she'd have got 3 months tops.

 

[RB30DETT]

*edited*

I dub thee "Forum Fool".

 

[avsterooster]

why edit what i said

i was just being honest with what i saw

 

[Anonymous]

avsterooster, A moderator edited your post with good reason.

Just because you saw something doesn't immediately mean you can put it on a public forum.
People other than yourself have to answer to your post.

I'm sure you'll be able to contribute to discussions without naming names and making claims.

Please familiarise yourself with the members guidelines.

Thanks.

 

[Stomp]

The title of this thread is ridiculous. They aren't exempt from the tests.

It was the name of the article.. :roll:

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