Cronulla finally face the end of long journey, with ASADA to present its findings next week
Josh Massoud
The Daily Telegraph
August 16, 2014 12:00AM
PAST and present Cronulla players implicated in the ASADA probe were expecting to know their fates this week — until the anti-doping watchdog pulled out of a meeting called by the NRL.
Lawyers representing more than 20 members of Cronulla’s 2011 squad were recently made aware of the NRL’s desire to have the long-running saga put to bed before the start of next season.
Following secret discussions with ASADA about possible penalties and suspensions, the NRL wanted to call all players and support staff implicated to a meeting this week.
However, it was called-off after ASADA claimed it needed more time to prepare — an indication that show cause notices are in the works.
The meeting has now been held over until next week, although sources close to the investigation said a date is yet to be determined. Attendance is not compulsory.
ASADA has spent the past 18 months preparing a case against the club, which is suspected of conducting a systemic regime of injections, creams and pills over an 11-week period in 2011. ASADA suspects banned peptides CJC — 1295 and GHRP-6 were given to players during that time.
Use of those substances — prohibited under the WADA code — normally carries a two-year suspension.
However, the NRL’s ideal outcome is for all parties to negotiate six-month bans, meaning the code will finally be free of the scandal when the new season begins next March.
With just seven months between now and then, the NRL needs a quick resolution — hence its desire to call the meeting as soon as possible. Hence the very real possibility that show cause notices could be handed down as soon as next week.
For Cronulla, the potential bans are nowhere near as devastating as 18 months ago, when the scandal first erupted. Then, the Sharks had 10 active players in the firing line. Now they only have four: Paul Gallen, Wade Graham, Anthony Tupou and Nathan Gardner.
Five have moved to rival clubs in the past year: Jayson Bukuya (Warriors), Nathan Stapleton (Roosters), Ben Pomeroy (Catalans), Matthew Wright (Cowboys) and Stewart Mills (Broncos). The only other survivor from 2011 — hooker John Morris — announced his retirement this week.
Players who moved to other clubs prior to the ASADA probe commencing have also been invited to attend. They include Titans pair Luke Douglas and Albert Kelly, and Knights duo Jeremy Smith and Kade Snowden. All remaining members of the 2011 squad have either retired, or are playing overseas, or in England.
The entire group is represented by a range of different lawyers, with Gallen splitting from his current teammates midway through last year to hire his own crack legal team.
The players have consistently denied any wrongdoing.
Even if a six-month suspension over the off-season is negotiated, Gallen would stand to lose the most. He’s a certainty in Australia’s Four Nations squad, and has also been negotiating up to three pro boxing fights during the summer.
