Sam Barlow Assaults UK Anti-Doping Officer

[Bedford Roughyed]

I am getting more confused by the minute here, so if Barlow had shouted from the window Fekk off I'm being intimate with the wife then nothing happens - why would a Tester turn up unannounced on the doorstep outside nominated hours or just on the random chance he could test someone and get a brew???

Sam has behaved very strangely here but I cant get my head around why the Tester was there.

 

 

No if he had shouted from the window, then he is acknowledging the tester.  If he had hidden behind the sofa and not sent his girlfriend outside to confront a 'burglar' then nothing would of happened (apart from the testers becoming suspicious why all the lights and TV were on).  They would of just tried again at a different time.

 

Do you really need to ask why the testers are unannounced and random?

[indomitable]

All top class athletes can be tested randomly, that is the nature of top class sports today, and having known a number of people who have been found guilty of drug taking to improve performance, the majority were nice people, but they were still guilty of cheating. Being involved in drug trials I know how difficult it is to catch drug cheats out. I am sure we all want a level plain for all sportsmen, and instead of finding excuses for them we should show them up for what they are.

Top class athletes have a list of forbidden drugs, and yet when caught they always appear to have a good excuse has to why they were innocent. It is really laughable to think a club are being picked on, this attitude only delays finding cheats, just remember how Armstrong the American cyclist got away with it. Clubs should take a positive attitude and stop any player within their club from cheating, and be proud of stating their club is drug free.

[Tex Evans Thigh]

I wish I could put what I actually know on here but suffice to say I assume the tester was acting on what is fairly common knowledge in playing circles. 

 

Aside from that, you have got to assume that people are using growth hormone or insulin based drugs that are very difficult to test. People got around this by injecting at night and then traces being out of your system by the morning given they are naturally occurring substances. This would explain the tester visiting at night and to an extent Barlow 'threatening' him to take a test as he would know when he had taken anything if indeed he had. In any case telling someone to test you is not proof of innocence and his erratic behaviour would suggest something was wrong.

 

The blind defence based on club allegiances is a little strong and misguided. If all he gets is a 4 year ban from playing rugby hes done ok to be honest...

[Angelic Cynic]

  I seem to recall reading about Derek Beaumont defending Sam Barlow and making a complaint to either UKAD or  the RFL,or both.

 

 

Even more recently he seemed to have got it wrong - in his newspaper column.

 

 

I wonder what story he was given - or invented?

 

 http://www.leighobserver.co.uk/news/the-derek-beaumont-column-we-need-to-let-rugby-do-the-talking-1-7933530

[sweaty craiq]

  I seem to recall reading about Derek Beaumont defending Sam Barlow and making a complaint to either UKAD or  the RFL,or both.

 

 

Even more recently he seemed to have got it wrong - in his newspaper column.

 

 

I wonder what story he was given - or invented?

 

 http://www.leighobserver.co.uk/news/the-derek-beaumont-column-we-need-to-let-rugby-do-the-talking-1-7933530

 

Great about young Stefan and the fundraising done for such great causes. One thing about Derek he is very loyal, maybe why he can attract great players to the club as word spreads.

[JDINTHEHIZZOUSE]

It quite easy for people to jump on the " I hate leigh for no real reason bandwagon" here. But before you do,consider this. A young mans life and career now lie in tatters due to a chain of perplexing misunderstandings,also,how would you re-act if this was one of your players? would you be dishing out comments like," he got what he deserved and the barlows are all thugs" etc?. Be honest,the answer is no.

[LeeF]

IT doesn't read as a misunderstanding and for those questioning why Barlow was tested then just read UKADs reports. It's all in there

[JDINTHEHIZZOUSE]

Im not condoning drug taking,but I am saying that there is more to this than meets the eye,and he's now finished,does that sit right with you?

[Ramite]

What more is there ? It was plain as day who he was. For reasons only known to sam and his girlfriend they decided on the burglar story. He had been tested at home before now so he knew the procedure. It's in the report why the UKAD tester W's there.

[Wellsy4HullFC]

Im not condoning drug taking,but I am saying that there is more to this than meets the eye,and he's now finished,does that sit right with you?

A moment of madness can cost many people their careers. That's life unfortunately and people need to learn from it and not repeat it.

[sweaty craiq]

What more is there ? It was plain as day who he was. For reasons only known to sam and his girlfriend they decided on the burglar story. He had been tested at home before now so he knew the procedure. It's in the report why the UKAD tester W's there.

What more is there ? It was plain as day who he was. For reasons only known to sam and his girlfriend they decided on the burglar story. He had been tested at home before now so he knew the procedure. It's in the report why the UKAD tester W's there.

Read it but missed that, why was he there?

[Ramite]

UKAD said he was there based on intelligence they had put together.

[Odsal Outlaw]

Im not condoning drug taking,but I am saying that there is more to this than meets the eye,and he's now finished,does that sit right with you?

Yes, there should be zero tolerance on drugs. If he's taken them or actively avoided a test based on intelligence he had taken them then it's fair and the club should be supporting the authorities and publically stating there support of drug policy.

[Bedford Roughyed]

Read it but missed that, why was he there?

 

 

To conduct a test.

[LeeF]

Im not condoning drug taking,but I am saying that there is more to this than meets the eye,and he's now finished,does that sit right with you?

There isn't anything else to this so I am quite relaxed about the penalty handed out and think it is fully justified

[Dave T]

There is more to it, something that he did to the copper and apologised for and is embarrassed by but wasnt documented.

Surprised there is any attempts to defend him here. He's made his bed and must now lie in it. Im all for the game supporting people and help8ng them sort their life out, but you help nobody by justifying bad behaviour.

[Phil]

Good news - 2 super league teams defeated in last 4 weeks and SKY commentators saying in Salford match the best game they had seen

in a long time.

A championship team in face of adversity can possibly make huge step into Super League.

Some terrible things from Sports village - notably Halifax coach (Karl Harrison) shouting "kill Barlow" from the dug out - resulting in Halifax forward Manning being sent off for appalling violence on the field.

For certain Barlow will not be playing next season - and with luck we will not be playing Halifax.

You do know how long it is since Harrison coached Halifax?

Don't you?

[Bedford Roughyed]

Avoided jail -

 

http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-england-manchester-37509234

[DoubleD]

Avoided jail -

http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-england-manchester-37509234

It's all a big misunderstanding your honour, his fist was clenched like that because he just wanted to fist pump the doping officer. He's really a lovely chap

[RabbitRhinoovOZ]

I have sympathy for Barlow it's not good to see a young fellas life turned upside down.  The bit I struggle with is the difference in peoples attitudes and the punishment handed out to the likes of Barlow as opposed to the Cronulla trio who if you believe the media hype are bizarrely the toast of Sydney and will be playing/coaching the GF this weekend. It just does not sit well with me at all.