Knights silent on possible ASADA talks
By BRAD WALTER, DANIEL LANE, ADRIAN PROSZENKO and BRETT KEEBLE
July 22, 2013, 11:02 p.m.
THE Knights would neither confirm nor deny speculation on Monday night that forwards Jeremy Smith and Kade Snowden were two of 30 NRL players asked to schedule interviews with the Australian Sports Anti-Doping Authority (ASADA).
In a statement issued last night, the NRL said 30 players "and a number of support staff" had been given 48 hours to make arrangements to be interviewed by ASADA investigators. Those interviews will begin on August 1.
Knights chief executive Matt Gidley would not comment last night when asked by the Newcastle Herald whether Smith and Snowden had been contacted by the NRL.
Smith and Snowden were Cronulla players in 2011. ASADA's investigation is understood to focus on allegations Sharks players were given banned substances during 2011.
Snowden told the Herald on May 10 that he was not worried about the prospect of being interviewed by ASADA.
"I haven't heard anything. They've been in and talked to the Knights so I'll just leave it up to them, then they'll get to me," Snowden said.
Speaking to the media on March 10, shortly after the drugs scandal broke at Cronulla, Knights coach Wayne Bennett said he had not spoken to Smith or Snowden about the investigation.
"We're just getting on with business here, and Cronulla have got to sort themselves out first before they start worrying about anybody else," Bennett said.
The Knights were one of six NRL clubs referred to in February in the Australian Crime Commission's Project Aperio investigation into drugs in sport and organised crime.
Gidley joined chief executives from Canberra, Cronulla, Manly, North Queensland and Penrith at a February 12 meeting with the NRL integrity unit, then met privately with ASADA officials.
In a statement issued after those meetings, Gidley said: "While no specific details or players were mentioned by the ASADA representatives, they made it clear the Knights coaching staff and support team, and their procedures, were given the all-clear."
Cronulla players have no concerns about the resumption of interviews with ASADA and want a speedy resolution to the investigation into allegations of drugs use at the club.
Up to 14 Sharks players are among 30 players and support staff from various clubs told yesterday to schedule interviews with ASADA as part of its investigation.
After a previous round of interviews with NRL players was abandoned following a dispute over the level of co-operation provided by Cronulla's Wade Graham, the NRL will now have a representative sit in on interviews.
NRL chief operating officer Jim Doyle said the players, which include a number of former Sharks, were being advised of specific areas of inquiry and would be required to co-operate with investigators in line with their obligations under the game's anti-doping policy.
"ASADA has made it clear that the investigation is moving to an important stage and it remains in everyone's interests that we get these matters resolved," he said. "Players could face sanctions under the anti-doping policy if they are not found to have provided reasonable assistance. It is not possible to put a timeline on the outcomes of this investigation but it is important to ensure that everything possible is being done to get to a conclusion."
Fairfax Media understands talks next week will establish a timeframe and legal process.
While some Sharks players are "nervous" at being quizzed over doping allegations with up to two-year bans if charged, most "want to get it over and done with".
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