Interesting to read how this thread has developed in the past day or so, from what was a one off pill into a 12 year habit, and a fari bit of ongoing implications, even though he is an ex-player - I'd even forgotten he had a run around at all this year.
Haven't had the opportunity to catch the Gould interview, but the big bit is that the Newcastle Club knew about illegal drug use... and there'll be an issue between the NRL and Newcastle about that for sure. (Whether the NRL also knew, with reference to Australian duties may be something the public never get a clear answer on.)
As for Joey, I have sympathy that he's been putting up with depression/bi-polar, but a lot of people do. I know of people who do and choose to self medicate with Es and coke instead of the prescribed drugs, by reading the articles it seemed like at times he mixed both? I honestly think that as a person Joey would have had this pattern of drug use whether he was a footy player or not.
So again we come back to the issue of how does the game deal with the fact that a lot of 18-30 yos do this. We're in the same boat as AFL and Union, and I'd imagine Soccer in countries where that is a high paying sport. Where does the NRL sit on illegal behaviours and club knowledge, and to what if any level do they enhance tests for illegal (but not performance enhancing) drugs?
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