Archie Bruce

[Paraquat]

https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-england-leeds-68005797

From the article:

 The use of tramadol was common among Batley's players at the time, the hearing was told.

 They used the drug to treat muscle soreness and on nights out to improve the feeling they got when drinking alcohol.

 Some members of the team also used cocaine, with one member of the squad admitting in a statement: "Everyone knows, you just have to keep it under wraps."

 

Not good

[The Blues Ox]

Rugby League players take heavy amounts of painkillers and recreational drugs - Were you shocked? No not at all.

Maybe this case is also one of the reasons behind the RFL banning Tramadol? This is such a tragic story where a young lad having his best day was seemingly let down by his elders who should have been looking out for him.

[RigbyLuger]

21 minutes ago, The Blues Ox said:

This is such a tragic story where a young lad having his best day was seemingly let down by his elders who should have been looking out for him.

I think you've hit the nail on the head there.

[Impartial Observer]

1 hour ago, The Blues Ox said:

 

Maybe this case is also one of the reasons behind the RFL banning Tramadol? 

I think it was WADA that have banned tramadol

Edited January 19, 2024 by Impartial Observer

[OriginalMrC]

Very sad news this. Echo the sentiments above about young players being looked after. Hope Batley (and it has to said some other clubs) will look at the culture around the club. 

[RogerT]

Looking at the article again Batley have looked and corrected the culture around the club.

[Angelic Cynic]

3 hours ago, RogerT said:

Looking at the article again Batley have looked and corrected the culture around the club.

The death was 2019.It appears some advice is to be given for the campaign ahead in 2024.

Awful publicity for that club and the sport.

Could be some vigorous drug searches for those entering,and leaving France,if connected with rugby league.

Trying to silence comments - given the BBC reported it - is also slightly unsettling.

[Northern Eel]

4 hours ago, Impartial Observer said:

I think it was WADA that have banned tramadol

Correct. And 17 RL players are currently banned by WADA (for a range of violations). It is the highest ratio of all sports, apparently. 

[JohnM]

Sad sad news.   As a sport, we should have zero tolerance of drug use and alcohol abuse. We need to kick the idiots out of the game.  Player and club contracts should contain a "gross misconduct" clause whereby contracts can be terminated with no compensation and clubs points deduction/suspension etc. Balanced of course by mandatory education sessions for all players, coaches, clubs etc. 

Edited January 19, 2024 by JohnM

[RigbyLuger]

26 minutes ago, JohnM said:

Sad sad news.   As a sport, we should have zero tolerance of drug use and alcohol abuse. We need to kick the idiots out of the game.  Player and club contracts should contain a "gross misconduct" clause whereby contracts can be terminated with no compensation and clubs points deduction/suspension etc. Balanced of course by mandatory education sessions for all players, coaches, clubs etc. 

We've got a history of playing up alcohol abuse, and it's hard for some to get away from that and those wanting to bring called the usual names. No number of incidents will change that, sadly.

[Red Willow]

Look at the thread about alker, he highlighted this in his book years ago and yet we are another wasted life.

[Griff]

1 hour ago, JohnM said:

Balanced of course by mandatory education sessions for all players, coaches, clubs etc. 

 We already have these.

[Damien]

People have their heads in the sand if they think these issues are unique to one club or RL. These are young lads doing the same sort of stuff that many other lads are doing of their age. That obviously doesn't make it right but the clubs can't monitor what goes on 24/7 and are fairly limited in what they can do, particularly in a part time environment.

[Griff]

The players get tested a fair bit. The method of testing is changing soon, to a blood test.

[Tommygilf]

18 minutes ago, Griff said:

The players get tested a fair bit. The method of testing is changing soon, to a blood test.

It'll stop the old "you're negative for drugs but you are pregnant" urine test results...

[Tommygilf]

1 hour ago, Damien said:

People have their heads in the sand if they think these issues are unique to one club or RL. These are young lads doing the same sort of stuff that many other lads are doing of their age. That obviously doesn't make it right but the clubs can't monitor what goes on 24/7 and are fairly limited in what they can do, particularly in a part time environment.

They aren't unique to RL at all clearly, but it is a massive problem the sport has to get a grip of. 

[JohnM]

It seems our sport is willing to change the rules of the game on- field in an endeavour to reduce the chances of getting a life limiting condition. Time to add some rules -and education - in an endeavour too reduce the chances of ending a life, too. The year is 2024 and the societal climate has never been as supportive of such an approach, I believe.

[RigbyLuger]

It's a little surprising how little reporting this has had from the RL press pack.

[Griff]

1 hour ago, Tommygilf said:

It'll stop the old "you're negative for drugs but you are pregnant" urine test results...

Times change.

That could happen.

[Tommygilf]

Its worrying how par for the course this feels.

Sadly too many men are putting all sorts in their bodies for various reasons. Alcohol isn't enough anymore for so many, and it has become very normalised amongst young people and men especially.

Drugs, legal and otherwise, spread through sport like wildfire due to the connections between teams. 

[glossop saint]

10 hours ago, RigbyLuger said:

It's a little surprising how little reporting this has had from the RL press pack.

Is it? Unfortunately I'm not sure I'll ever be surprised at a lack of reporting from RL press.

[The Blues Ox]

14 hours ago, Tommygilf said:

Its worrying how par for the course this feels.

Sadly too many men are putting all sorts in their bodies for various reasons. Alcohol isn't enough anymore for so many, and it has become very normalised amongst young people and men especially.

Drugs, legal and otherwise, spread through sport like wildfire due to the connections between teams. 

I agree with that side of things but I also think a survey of the use of pain killers in the sport would throw up some shocking results.

[OriginalMrC]

3 minutes ago, The Blues Ox said:

I agree with that side of things but I also think a survey of the use of pain killers in the sport would throw up some shocking results.

In any sport. Lots of footballers are now coming out saying they were addicted to painkillers due to using them throughout their career. 

[gingerjon]

54 minutes ago, The Blues Ox said:

I agree with that side of things but I also think a survey of the use of pain killers in the sport would throw up some shocking results.

The only shocking aspect would be if usage wasn't shown to be endemic.

[sam4731]

20 hours ago, RigbyLuger said:

We've got a history of playing up alcohol abuse, and it's hard for some to get away from that and those wanting to bring called the usual names. No number of incidents will change that, sadly.

How do you police alcohol though? With drugs you can have a blanket zero tolerance policy but that becomes more problematic with alcohol.

I'm not saying we shouldn't do anything but it's a tricky problem to tackle.