One-Eyed Richmond Forum
Football => View from the Outer => Topic started by: one-eyed on March 25, 2016, 08:21:36 AM
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Collingwood drugs scandal: Up to 11 players test positive for illicit substances
Mark Robinson
Herald Sun
March 25, 2016
A QUARTER of Collingwood’s playing list recorded positive tests to illicit drugs over summer.
The bombshell is evidence that the AFL and its 18 clubs are losing the fight against their use.
The Herald Sun yesterday confirmed that up to 11 Magpies had tested positive to drugs over the off-season, despite two teammates — Josh Thomas and Lachie Keeffe — last year being rubbed out for two seasons after being caught with illicit substances in their systems.
But the Pies, who will face Sydney on Sunday night, are not the only club with alarming hair-test results.
Industry sources say at least two other clubs recorded worse drug-test results than Collingwood, while several other clubs’ results were said to be close to those of the Magpies.
The AFL, Collingwood and the other clubs could not discuss the revelation last night because of a confidentiality agreement struck between the AFL and the players.
But sources have said several clubs have been shocked by the amount of positive results among their players, despite strong warnings to them before they departed for holidays.
The Herald Sun has learnt that three positive tests, recorded by one club, was considered very low by the AFL and celebrated as a successful intervention.
The Magpies believe the drug code must change because the players’ behaviour isn’t being altered by the current policy.
The club is in favour of a suspension after a single positive strike.
Collingwood president Eddie McGuire was first made aware of the positive tests by the Herald Sun.
Three positive tests, which was recorded by one club, was considered very low by the AFL and celebrated as a successful intervention.
He said it could become the big issue for the first half of the season.
“We don’t get any information, we’re speaking to the AFL about the hair-testing in the next couple of weeks, but until the clubs have some control over it there’s no point talking to the clubs. It’s an AFL and AFL Players Association matter,” he told Fox Footy.
McGuire went on to stress that drug use was a widespread issue, calling it a “pandemic in society”.
He said Collingwood would have to make a decision about the future of hair-testing and the consequences for players who tested positive during the off-season.
“We have to decide what we’re going to do. Do you even have these tests ... do we even bother if we’re not going to do anything about them?
“Or do we say, ‘This is what we demand of our players’?” he said.
Collingwood chief executive Gary Pert has previously warned that some players were guilty of “volcanic behaviour” during the off-season.
Two weeks ago he reiterated his concerns about drug use.
“I still believe is the biggest issue in the AFL,” Pert said.
Changes to the drugs code were made last year after Thomas and Keeffe were suspended.
The Herald Sun had revealed Collingwood and other clubs were exploiting a loophole in the illicit drugs code by “self-reporting” the use of drugs to avoid a strike.
Changes to the code saw the three-strike policy move to a two-strike policy this season, which will see players publicly named, fined and suspended if they test positive to an illegal substance a second time.
Sources said there was at least two other clubs with higher readings than Collingwood and several clubs in the vicinity of Magpies’ results.
Pert said the new policy should be reviewed even further as part of the discussions surrounding the new collective bargaining agreement, which was supported by outgoing Gold Coast chairman John Witheriff.
“I know there are some people in the industry — and I must admit that I have got some pretty strong views on it, if we move to a model that is designed to stop the behaviour rather than just a medical model,” Pert said.
The hair-testing was a voluntary process by the players and the results do not count for a strike.
It is, however, the true reflection of drug use among players.
Illicit drug use in the AFL have made headlines in recent years.
Former Gold Coast players Harley Bennell and Karmichael Hunt were also linked to illicit drug use last year.
Keeffe and Thomas received their suspensions after a banned performance-enhancing substance was detected in their system, believed to have been ‘cut” into an illicit drug they had consumed.
Bennell, who was traded by the Suns to Fremantle, received an automatic strike after photographs of him with drugs in a Tasmanian hotel room were published on the Herald Sun front page in July.
Hunt pleaded guilty to charges of cocaine possession last year.
http://www.heraldsun.com.au/sport/afl/teams/collingwood/collingwood-drugs-scandal-up-to-11-players-test-positive-for-illicit-substances/news-story/bb4244f6e817e34db27c96a7b44dfc7f
ps. A reminder to not post, guess or allude to any names of players.
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There is a rumor doing the rounds that Ben Cousins used to be on the gear
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There is a rumor doing the rounds that Ben Cousins used to be on the gear
No speculation please.
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The Herald Sun yesterday confirmed that up to 11 Magpies had tested positive to drugs over the off-season, despite two teammates — Josh Thomas and Lachie Keeffe — last year being rubbed out for two seasons after being caught with illicit substances in their systems.
::) What a way to twist things to make a point. They were rubbed out for having performance enhancing drugs in their system. These hair tests that they are referring to are for recreational drugs, not performance enhancing.
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Clearly, they weren't performance enhancing drugs :snidegrin.
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Call me cynical but why did Robbo only name the Pies?
Supposedly, there 2 maybe 3 other clubs that have more positive tests. So why didn't he name them?
Very strange indeed
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My guess is not as high profile
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Call me cynical but why did Robbo only name the Pies?
Supposedly, there 2 maybe 3 other clubs that have more positive tests. So why didn't he name them?
Very strange indeed
It couldn't be us otherwise I think he would've named us. If not him then surely another reporter.
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Call me cynical but why did Robbo only name the Pies?
Supposedly, there 2 maybe 3 other clubs that have more positive tests. So why didn't he name them?
Very strange indeed
It couldn't be us otherwise I think he would've named us. If not him then surely another reporter.
I reckon it's an interstate side and a low profile Vic club.
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Call me cynical but why did Robbo only name the Pies?
Supposedly, there 2 maybe 3 other clubs that have more positive tests. So why didn't he name them?
Very strange indeed
It could be an expansion club and he realises the AFL won't take too kindly on bad publicity for those clubs. It's hard enough getting players to stay there. Imagine parents asking the AFL not to allow their kid to be drafted there. :whistle
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Just on this topic
You should all know the drill by now
Don't try and guess and name players
And don't name other clubs
Suggesting it could be a an interstate or small Vic club is OK but don't name clubs or players
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Call me cynical but why did Robbo only name the Pies?
Supposedly, there 2 maybe 3 other clubs that have more positive tests. So why didn't he name them?
Very strange indeed
Yes, very strange
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It's the only test They've ever gotten 11 out of 22.
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Call me cynical but why did Robbo only name the Pies?
Supposedly, there 2 maybe 3 other clubs that have more positive tests. So why didn't he name them?
Very strange indeed
It couldn't be us otherwise I think he would've named us. If not him then surely another reporter.
Did you catch any sen radio yesterday?
Perhaps hungry for sport
Or Kb chatting to plough
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Did you catch any sen radio yesterday?
Perhaps hungry for sport
Or Kb chatting to plough
Yes I did hear a bit of SEN yesterday
Interestingly NO ONE has named any other club, not one other club, hence why no one can name or speculate on other clubs on this site
Clear >:(
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Attack on Pies' players 'a disgrace': Tiger
AFL.com.au
March 29, 2016
RICHMOND has Collingwood in its sights on Friday night, but the Magpies have the sympathy of Tigers forward Sam Lloyd, who says it was "a disgrace" that the Pies have been linked to illicit drug use.
Reports emerged last week that up to 11 Collingwood players have tested positive to illicit drugs in hair tests during the off-season.
It has led to a wide-ranging debate about the AFL's new illicit drug policy, and raised concerns about the confidentiality of the results.
Pies president Eddie McGuire said on the weekend that the club had been "thrown right under the bus".
Lloyd, who kicked two final-quarter goals last week to help the Tigers to a hard-fought win over Carlton, said he was disappointed the Magpies players had been caught up in the scandal.
"I think the Players' Association have our interests at heart and I believe strongly that clubs are happy with the process as it is at the moment. It's more about education and welfare of the players than trying to name and shame them," he said on Tuesday.
"I'm happy with the AFLPA running it, and the players are going to have their say no matter what as we've got a couple of delegates that are going to voice our opinion as a club."
The AFL Players' Association has called on clubs to allow the new hair testing policy to play out before pushing for change, and Lloyd backed that stance.
"I don't like the way it got brought out into the public in the Collingwood saga; I think that's a bit of a disgrace. As a club, we're pretty comfortable with [the policy]," he said.
http://www.afl.com.au/news/2016-03-29/richmonds-sam-lloyd-supports-collingwood-players-over-drug-testing