Please. Respect and credibility are not handed out by an organisation on the other side of the world.
kungl, WADA isn't 'an organisation on the other side of the world'.
They are a world wide body, of which we are a part (indeed the head of WADA is an Aussie, which I assume you know already) headquartered in Switzerland. So what, they have to have headquarters somewhere. It represents our interests as well, IF, our interests are to eliminate substance abuse in sport.
It's not some evil mob trying to destroy our game for their own ends (I know you haven't implied this, but I'm sure some think it so). Let's not get into paranoia about this.
You asked what would be lost. PR and myself both gave what I consider to be reasonable responses. You're right, respect and credibility are EARNED, not given. They are earned through actions, behaviours, attitudes. This would encapsulate a number of elements. As a sporting body I believe that attempting to eliminate substance abuse would be a prime factor in that. It takes a long time and a lot of effort to earn respect and credibility, but one misstep can quite easily damage that. Telling WADA to shove it would be quite a serious misstep in my opinion.
Respect and credibility are not earned by tearing an entire competition to pieces over an alleged dodgy trainer handing out maybe dodgy substances for a few weeks.
There's a lot more to come on this it seems, and it's likely to drag out over a long time. It's rash to pass judgement on this yet. If it proves to be as you say, then yes the reaction has been over the top. However I don't think that is the fault of the rule makers and investigators, it's a function of the reaction of the media and public commentary. That can't be avoided in a modern society with a free press. It's part of the price to be paid for having an open society.
The NRLs actions should not be dictated by WADA. Punishments should be handed out because they are fair, not because an organisation in Switzerland with no reason to have any influence here says so.
Again, the organisation represents our interests as well, and derives it's charter from the input of many including us. I don't see it as an outside evil influence.
If the NRL were to go it alone on this it would, if it still intended to address the substance issue, need to fund and resource the whole thing itself. Given that ASADA is struggling to meet the demand, and it is a government funded body, what sort of strain would that place on the NRL to do it effectively? As it is it struggles with managing a salary cap regime. It would be open slather on the drugs front. You are THEN looking at a scenario that could ruin the integrity of the sport.
I agree wholly that fairness in punishments should be the key, but on what basis are you suggesting that punishment isn't fair, given there hasn't been any seen yet? Bear in mind that most of what we are privy to is media hype only at this stage. The regulatory authorities HAVE NOT issued any punishments or findings to date. The only fallout so far has been at the behest of a club board, and that appears to have been poorly handled. Hardly the responsibilty of WADA or ASADA I would have thought.
We need to be careful to understand who's doing what to who, and not see it all as a big conglomerate of decision making.
