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Sharks to stonewall ASADA yet again
Cronulla officials are expecting their players to submit to ASADA interviews from next week, but it appears interrogators won't be getting any additional cooperation this time around.
So far, Sharks back-rower Wade Graham has been the only NRL player grilled, although that interview was aborted amid legal arguments over how much cooperation was required. But as the anti-doping body prepares to interview the other 30 players of interest, the majority of questions are likely to again be dead-batted as lawyers preserve their client's right against self-incrimination.
Graham has been pilloried for not opening up about the supplement program during his time at the club, but he was not obliged to do so. Rugby League Players' Association boss David Garnsey said ASADA's second attempt at interviews would progress along the same lines as its first.
''If interviews are going to proceed, I imagine they will proceed as they did in the past,'' Garnsey said. ''There was an extensive and lengthy analysis done and the [Graham] interviews were proceeding according to the rules.
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Once changes outlined in the ASADA amendment bill become law, the anti-doping agency will be able to demand phone records, text messages, documents and medical prescriptions of players and others, regardless of whether
that evidence is self-incriminatory. While ASADA can compel players to attend interviews via a ''disclosure notice'' - with those refusing to cooperate facing fines of $5100 per day - players can still refuse to answer any questions which could lead to self-incrimination.
Cronulla general manager Steve Noyce said he was yet to be contacted by the NRL or ASADA - ''All we know about it at this stage is what's been written in the paper today'' - but confirmed the players would cooperate. ''They've done that to date. At this stage, yes [they will],'' Noyce said. ''No one has been in touch officially about these things but we'll respond as we have before, in a proactive way.
''We've said all along there is a process in place, everyone understands that. However, we've been asked to support it, we've done that. If what [is reported] is going to happen, so be that. We'll make sure we have the right support, advice and assistance for the players and we'll go forward from there.''
The NRL is expected to officially announce the interview process will resume in coming days. The first interview is expected to be scheduled for next Monday. ''We have always highlighted the ongoing nature of this investigation,'' an NRL spokesperson said. ''We are not in a position to confirm further details of ASADA's progress at this stage. It is in everyone's interests that these issues are resolved and we will continue to work closely with ASADA.''
The timing couldn't be worse for Cronulla, who are attempting to cement their place in the finals series. Coach Shane Flanagan and the players had previously attributed their slow start to the season to the uncertainty hanging over the club.
Asked whether the timing - with the club in a fight to make the playoffs - was a concern, Noyce said: ''I haven't been part of the whole process but I don't think the timing, at any time, is how you'd like it.
''It is as it is, you deal with these things as they come up The process won't get finished until it gets started - I said that when the original interviews were on.
''Everyone in rugby league would like the process to be resolved sooner rather than later.''
The dramas have had an adverse effect on Cronulla's bottom line. The Sharks were so close to securing Cenovis as their major sponsor that they were already planning launches to celebrate the announcement. But after a spate of negative NRL headlines, the vitamins and supplements company pulled the plug on a deal which would have plastered their name on the front of Cronulla jersey until the end of 2015.
However, there has been some positive news on the sponsorship front. Remondis has taken up the naming rights for their home ground, Painaway has come on board as a sleeve sponsor and One Solution is now emblazoned on their shorts. On Friday, the club signed off on a deal with Reozeone, who will sponsor Flanagan and the club's table-topping NSW Cup team.
''There is lots of exciting news in that regard and we will keep on working on whatever commercial opportunities there are for the club,'' Noyce said. ''There's a good culture; people are coming on board.''
Read more: http://www.smh.com.au/rugby-league/...a-yet-again-20130720-2qb20.html#ixzz2ZcdmIJuU
Cronulla officials are expecting their players to submit to ASADA interviews from next week, but it appears interrogators won't be getting any additional cooperation this time around.
So far, Sharks back-rower Wade Graham has been the only NRL player grilled, although that interview was aborted amid legal arguments over how much cooperation was required. But as the anti-doping body prepares to interview the other 30 players of interest, the majority of questions are likely to again be dead-batted as lawyers preserve their client's right against self-incrimination.
Graham has been pilloried for not opening up about the supplement program during his time at the club, but he was not obliged to do so. Rugby League Players' Association boss David Garnsey said ASADA's second attempt at interviews would progress along the same lines as its first.
''If interviews are going to proceed, I imagine they will proceed as they did in the past,'' Garnsey said. ''There was an extensive and lengthy analysis done and the [Graham] interviews were proceeding according to the rules.
Advertisement
Once changes outlined in the ASADA amendment bill become law, the anti-doping agency will be able to demand phone records, text messages, documents and medical prescriptions of players and others, regardless of whether
that evidence is self-incriminatory. While ASADA can compel players to attend interviews via a ''disclosure notice'' - with those refusing to cooperate facing fines of $5100 per day - players can still refuse to answer any questions which could lead to self-incrimination.
Cronulla general manager Steve Noyce said he was yet to be contacted by the NRL or ASADA - ''All we know about it at this stage is what's been written in the paper today'' - but confirmed the players would cooperate. ''They've done that to date. At this stage, yes [they will],'' Noyce said. ''No one has been in touch officially about these things but we'll respond as we have before, in a proactive way.
''We've said all along there is a process in place, everyone understands that. However, we've been asked to support it, we've done that. If what [is reported] is going to happen, so be that. We'll make sure we have the right support, advice and assistance for the players and we'll go forward from there.''
The NRL is expected to officially announce the interview process will resume in coming days. The first interview is expected to be scheduled for next Monday. ''We have always highlighted the ongoing nature of this investigation,'' an NRL spokesperson said. ''We are not in a position to confirm further details of ASADA's progress at this stage. It is in everyone's interests that these issues are resolved and we will continue to work closely with ASADA.''
The timing couldn't be worse for Cronulla, who are attempting to cement their place in the finals series. Coach Shane Flanagan and the players had previously attributed their slow start to the season to the uncertainty hanging over the club.
Asked whether the timing - with the club in a fight to make the playoffs - was a concern, Noyce said: ''I haven't been part of the whole process but I don't think the timing, at any time, is how you'd like it.
''It is as it is, you deal with these things as they come up The process won't get finished until it gets started - I said that when the original interviews were on.
''Everyone in rugby league would like the process to be resolved sooner rather than later.''
The dramas have had an adverse effect on Cronulla's bottom line. The Sharks were so close to securing Cenovis as their major sponsor that they were already planning launches to celebrate the announcement. But after a spate of negative NRL headlines, the vitamins and supplements company pulled the plug on a deal which would have plastered their name on the front of Cronulla jersey until the end of 2015.
However, there has been some positive news on the sponsorship front. Remondis has taken up the naming rights for their home ground, Painaway has come on board as a sleeve sponsor and One Solution is now emblazoned on their shorts. On Friday, the club signed off on a deal with Reozeone, who will sponsor Flanagan and the club's table-topping NSW Cup team.
''There is lots of exciting news in that regard and we will keep on working on whatever commercial opportunities there are for the club,'' Noyce said. ''There's a good culture; people are coming on board.''
Read more: http://www.smh.com.au/rugby-league/...a-yet-again-20130720-2qb20.html#ixzz2ZcdmIJuU
