33 replies to this topic

[AndyCapp]

EX-NRL and Super League player Adrian Vowles says it would be naive to think Australia's professional football codes are clean from performance enhancing drugs and a significant amount of rugby league players have gone through careers without being caught.

Vowles's views found support on Twitter from Bobbie Goulding, the former England halfback and Super League great, who replied: ''It's frightening what I know pal and probably you.''

I hope this is not the case :-(


Link
http://www.smh.com.a...1023-283v5.html

[Padge]

Why don't they both make known what they know.

Simples.

[1976PMJwires]

Not man enough.....so they'd rather just comment, with no further comment.

[gingerjon]

The RFL is, I believe, considered to be one of the better governing bodies when it comes to testing, punishment etc.

I'd be surprised if they'd come close to catching everyone though.

[Johnoco]

Its impossible to catch everyone who has illegal stuff in their system.
This being so, you can only do so much. And given its resources, RL doesn't seem to do that badly at catching offenders. For sure, many will slip through the net but that's inevitable.

[Tex Evans Thigh]

groundhog post.....you cant test for growth. most of SL is probably on it. (waits for some moron to say 'put up or shut up').

[Johnoco]

groundhog post.....you cant test for growth. most of SL is probably on it. (waits for some moron to say 'put up or shut up').

Well exactly. The cheats are always one step ahead, even of the IOC. So its not like they can't fool the RL authorities.

[Lounge Room Lizard]

There are cheats and dopers in all sports even darts and snooker. People can pretend it doesnt happen but sadly its out there and players in League have been caught and banned. No doubt their are others doing it and why we have tests done so often. But they cant detect the most advanced technology and often its behind those pushing technology to find better and more undetectable drugs.

[Wolford6]

I think players now are, on average, a bit leaner than they were in the early years of Superleague. Maybe the use of bulking-up drugs was more prevalent in the playing days of Adrian Vowles and Bobby Goulding

[Oracle]

groundhog post.....you cant test for growth. most of SL is probably on it. (waits for some moron to say 'put up or shut up').

What about Terry Newton? He tested positive for HGH, admittedly he is the only athlete to be banned for its use.
Also, in response to why dont people name and shame others - i seem to recall a story regarding Jamie Bloem, when he was banned for 2 years for steroids earl in his career, when he claimed that it was rife in the sport, he was told to shut up and keep his mouth shut for his own good.

[zorquif]

IIRC Terry Newton didn't 'test' positive for HGH. He admitted to it. Someone else will have more details, I am sure.

[Saint Toppy]

Or we could just do like the Australians and immortalise players who take illegal drugs !!!!

[RidingPie]

IIRC Terry Newton didn't 'test' positive for HGH. He admitted to it. Someone else will have more details, I am sure.

Not quite. He tested positive, and then admitted to taking it. His admission removed the need for the 'B' sample to be tested before the hearing

Please see here

[HKR AWAY DAYS]

Terry Newton was the first professional sportmans to have tested positive for HGH, he subsequently admitted the doping offence and received a 2-year ban.

However, it wasn't a case of him trying to get ahead of the game, he was trying to keep up with the pack. That suggests to me, particularly after reading his book, that rugby league isn't as innocent as some like to make out.

[Dave T]

Or we could just do like the Australians and immortalise players who take illegal drugs !!!!

Well we did give an award to Ryan Hudson to celebrate his career, including the 2 years where he sat on the sidelines for drug offence.

[Dave T]

There will always be drugs cheats. The important thing is that the governing body tries its best to make the game clean, firstly through education and comes down hard on people who are found guilty.

There isn't much else to it.

[Viking Warrior]

Or we could just do like the Australians and immortalise players who take illegal drugs !!!!

difference between recreational drugs and performance enhancing drugs!

but RL is among the strictest sports as regards to their testing and eventual punishment criteria, we even ban our internationals!! unlike the FA who allowed an england footballer to go missing for a few days to let the cocaine leave his system............

Edited by Viking Warrior, 26 October 2012 - 09:52 AM.

[getdownmonkeyman]

Isn't the RFL one of the few sports to be fully signed up to WADA's testing suite and subsequent bans?

[dhw]

Isn't the RFL one of the few sports to be fully signed up to WADA's testing suite and subsequent bans?

The subject of the thread is not that the governing body in England do not test for drugs it is that cycling is not the only sport with widespread drug use. Also RFL is only reponsible for a minority of RL players.

[a.n Other]

Well we did give an award to Ryan Hudson to celebrate his career, including the 2 years where he sat on the sidelines for drug offence.

I couldnt believe that myself when i first heard about it.

Edited by a.n Other, 26 October 2012 - 11:07 AM.