Sharks players face drug ban deadline
David Mark reported this story on Thursday, August 21, 2014 18:40:00
MARK COLVIN: A group of 17 past and present Cronulla Sharks rugby league players have until 9.30 tomorrow morning to decide whether to take a one year backdated ban, or suspension, for taking banned drugs.
PM understands the players are weighing the choice between two options: a ban that would amount to a handful of games, but taint them forever as drug cheats, or a drawn out fight in the courts against evidence which may or may not stack up.
David Mark reports.
DAVID MARK: After an 18 month investigation which has been sluggish at best, things are now moving at a lightning pace for 17 past and present Cronulla Sharks players.
Yesterday they were called into meetings with representatives from the National Rugby League and the Australian Sports Anti-Doping Authority (ASADA).
They were given show cause notices by ASADA, which allege the players took two banned peptides during the 2011 season.
They were also offered a deal: admit you took banned peptides and accept a one year suspension backdated to last November. Or risk a possible two year ban and a long court case.
For five current Cronulla players the admission would mean missing the last three games of this premiership season.
A key point here is just who proposed the deal? ASADA can't offer deals, only the NRL, which, as the governing body, can impose sanctions.
But the very fact the players were offered the deal at a meeting organised by both the NRL and ASADA at least implies the deal has ASADA's backing.
PM asked ASADA to explain why the players had been offered a backdated deal and ASADA replied with a written statement. It says in part that under the World Anti-Doping Code, there is some flexibility for the start dates of sanctions.
Then there's the question of the sudden need for speed. Why were the players given just two days to respond to the deal?
Under ASADA's rules, players have 10 days to answer the show cause notices. In theory an independent panel then weighs up their response and decides whether they have a case to answer. At various points the players can appeal to the Administrative Appeals Tribunal and even to the courts. In other words, it's a drawn out affair.
But the Sharks players were given just two days.
A source close to the case has told PM the evidence of drug taking is alarmingly poor. Given that, the deal on offer involving a one year backdated ban serves a number of purposes.
The NRL can say it has done something about drug cheats without getting dragged through the courts like the AFL is through the Essendon investigation.
ASADA can finalise at least one part of this drawn-out investigation without the quality of its evidence being tested in court.
And in the case of the Sharks at least, the five players would only miss the three matches.
The Sharks are on the bottom of the table, so the players wouldn't be missing the finals.
They could start next season with a fresh slate, except that they would be tainted forever as drug cheats.
And there's the rub. They don't believe they've done anything wrong.
PM understands the players are weighing up their options. Take the medicine and a relatively minor punishment or fight, possibly for years, to clear their names.
After being on tenterhooks for 18 months they now have half a day left to make a decision that one way or another will live with them forever.
