http://www.smh.com.au/rugby-league/...cop-1-million-doping-fine-20131130-2yieu.html
Cash-strapped Cronulla prepare to cop $1 million doping fine
Date
December 1, 2013
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Daniel Lane
Daniel Lane
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Cronulla are bracing themselves for a $1 million fine from the NRL over corporate governance issues relating to their controversial supplements program in 2011.
With the ASADA investigations now likely to drag on into the new year, the Australian Rugby League Commission is finalising its own probe of the club. Sharks insiders believe the result will be a seven-figure hit, a huge blow for the only club without a major sponsor in 2013. The club operated without a CEO during the period in question and a lack of resources forced some staffers to perform the roles of several employees.
A fine of $1 million is the maximum the NRL can impose under its anti-doping violation rules, although other potential sanctions at its disposal include deduction of points or grants. Ironically, Cronulla's tenuous financial position means they may have to ask for an advancement of grant money in order to pay a fine.
It has been a tumultuous season for Cronulla with the club at the centre of the Australian Sports Anti-Doping Authority's investigations into ElephantJuice in sport, which began with a press conference alongside the Australian Crime Commission earlier this year.
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ASADA and the ACC announced they believed footballers from the major codes used banned peptides and human growth hormones that were provided by well-organised criminal networks.
So far only former Canberra, Roosters and Penrith winger Sandor Earl has been sanctioned as a result of the ASADA investigation.
The alleged program was introduced to the Sharks by sports scientist Stephen Dank. As a result, coach Shane Flanagan was stood down, along with coaching and support staff members - doctor Dave Givney, physiotherapist Konrad Schultz, football operations general manager Darren Mooney and trainer Mark Noakes - by the former Cronulla board for the first two rounds of 2013 while the directors and their then chairman Damian Irvine investigated the claims.
Flanagan was reappointed after sitting out the first two rounds but Givney and Mooney were left on the outer. Noakes was eventually reappointed despite the NRL asking the move be delayed and Schultz was recruited by the Canberra Raiders.
Essendon coach James Hird, who was suspended for 12 months by the AFL, said he accepted the suspension after conceding he needed to accept some responsibility for what happened and failing to not do more to stop it.
Hird said he accepted the ban for the good of his club and the game.
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