Raider on thin ice Daily Telegraph
By James Hooper
November 17, 2004
SACKED Canberra centre Jason Bulgarelli has previously tested positive to "ice" the street name for the recreational drug intercepted in a suspicious package mailed to Raiders headquarters.
With his reputation in tatters, Bulgarelli is now locked in a battle to save his career after being sacked by Canberra for breaching the club's code of conduct.
While Bulgarelli denies the allegations, The Daily Telegraph can reveal official police tests on the substance in the package prove it was methamphetamine.
Methamphetamine is a nightclub drug colloquially known as ice, meth, crystal or crank.
Bulgarelli, 28, failed an in-house drugs test for the same substance when he first joined the Raiders at the end of 2002 from the Queensland Cup.
The hard-running centre is now fighting alongside the Rugby League Players Association and his manager David Riolo to salvage his playing career, with other NRL clubs unlikely to be interested in signing him.
At the time Bulgarelli tested positive for both methamphetamine and marijuana, club officials opted to remain silent about the issue.
The Raiders centre was handed an official caution and afforded a counselling service after he promised club management he would cease using recreational drugs.
Early reports on the suspicious package intercepted by Canberra officials suggested it contained a commercial quantity of ecstasy more than half a kilogram but it has now be confirmed it was a trafficable amount of ice.
Ice can come in liquid, powder or tablet form but it is understood when the package was opened and analysed by police they discovered tablets of the street drug which affects the central nervous system.
The suspicious package, which is now in the hands of ACT police, arrived at Canberrra headquarters addressed to "Jason Brow", a fictitious name, in early September.
It had been sent from Queensland by another fictitious name, "N Brow", an avenue which the Australian Federal Police is believed to be continuing to investigate.
Club officials were immediately alarmed and chose to contact police without opening the package.
It is understood on the same day in early September, Bulgarelli was asking Raiders staff members if a package addressed to "James Brow" had arrived at the club.
The Raiders player is believed to have questioned several staff at the club about the package but has since refuted this, claiming he was looking for a jumper he was supposed to autograph.
Bulgarelli was the Raiders' rookie of the year in 2003 and was due to receive a $100,000 salary increase next season.
The centre intends to fight his dismissal for breaching the Canberra club's code of conduct and is in the process of receiving legal advice.
The Rugby League Players Association has pledged to support Bulgarelli in his appeal, claiming Canberra have unfairly dismissed him.
But the Raiders received extensive legal advice before deciding to terminate Bulgarelli's contract.
The matter appears likely to end up at the NRL appeals committee.
