Cass charged with drug offence

[Smokey]

To everybody saying he's a dumbass, he's saying he took the drug because of a head cold.  Psuedoephadrine is a component of pretty much every prescription cold and flu medicine.  We'll see what eventuates.

It wasn't even Psuedoephadrine, it was something similar to that which means it was probably one of the new versions they make of tablets like Demazin or Sudafed which people can't use to make amphetamines.
The pack even says it may make you drowsy so not sure how its meant to be a stimulant

If it wasn't psuedoephedrine then it wouldn't have shown up as that.  Those new drugs that act in a similar manner are for just that purpose - to provide similar relief from colds and flu without containing any trace of the the drug.  Hence the reason many many chemist shops nowadays will not stock any drug containing psuedoephedrine - makes the 'shoppers' go elsewhere for their supply.

And having spent 3 years already on an AFL list he would have been acutely aware of the risks/impact involved in taking it.  Probably didn't give any thought at the time to getting another crack at the title but that doesn't excuse his actions.  Dumbness of the highest order and he will now pay a very high price for his stupidity.

And my sympathy level = 0.

[Infamy]

To everybody saying he's a dumbass, he's saying he took the drug because of a head cold.  Psuedoephadrine is a component of pretty much every prescription cold and flu medicine.  We'll see what eventuates.

It wasn't even Psuedoephadrine, it was something similar to that which means it was probably one of the new versions they make of tablets like Demazin or Sudafed which people can't use to make amphetamines.
The pack even says it may make you drowsy so not sure how its meant to be a stimulant

If it wasn't psuedoephedrine then it wouldn't have shown up as that.  Those new drugs that act in a similar manner are for just that purpose - to provide similar relief from colds and flu without containing any trace of the the drug.  Hence the reason many many chemist shops nowadays will not stock any drug containing psuedoephedrine - makes the 'shoppers' go elsewhere for their supply.

And having spent 3 years already on an AFL list he would have been acutely aware of the risks/impact involved in taking it.  Probably didn't give any thought at the time to getting another crack at the title but that doesn't excuse his actions.  Dumbness of the highest order and he will now pay a very high price for his stupidity.

And my sympathy level = 0.

Try reading the article again, it never showed up as pseudoephedrine, just something similar to it

As per chemists not stocking it, I haven't found any that don't you just need to show your license. I can't take the new ones as they make my nose run like a tap.

[one-eyed]

Tiger Travis Casserly fights drug ban
Sam Lienert
Herald-Sun
February 05, 2011

RICHMOND rookie list hopeful Travis Casserly will fight to clear his name and avoid a two-year ban after testing positive to a performance-enhancing drug.

The 23-year-old defender, who spent 2006-08 on the Tigers' primary list, is battling for his AFL future after spending the past two seasons playing with WAFL club Swan Districts.

He is one of three players training with Richmond who are vying for one remaining Tigers rookie spot, along with Victorian Mitch Keddell and South Australian Liam Corrie. He was named to play in the Tigers' clash with the Indigenous All-Stars in Alice Springs tonight before the game was called off.

Casserly's positive test stems from Swan Districts' one-point win over Claremont in last year's WAFL grand final, in which then-teammate Andrew Krakouer won the Simpson Medal as best afield.

The 23-year-old is understood to have tested positive to a a drug similar to pseudoephedrine, which contains stimulant properties.

It is believed to have been contained in a cold and flu tablet Casserly consumed, as he was feeling unwell in the lead-up to the grand final.

An anti-doping violation hearing is expected to be held within the next fortnight, with Swan Districts football operations general manager Phil Smart saying Casserly will protest his innocence of any offence.

"We will be defending it vigorously," Smart said.

A Richmond spokesman said the club would not comment, as Casserley was not currently a listed Tigers player.

But the defender had been set to play for the club in Friday night's match against the Indigenous All Stars in Alice Springs, as was Keddell.

That game was cancelled due to the threat of severe weather.

Casserly is one of two WAFL players to have tested positive to a performance-enhancing drug last season.

East Perth 20-year-old Dean Cadwallader, who had been rated a potential AFL draft prospect, admitted to using banned steroid nandrolone.

Former Richmond and Footscray ruckman Justin Charles is the only AFL-listed player to have been sanctioned for performance-enhancing drug use.

He received a 16-game suspension in 1997 for using the steroid boldenone.

http://www.heraldsun.com.au/sport/afl/tiger-travis-casserly-fights-drug-ban/story-e6frf9jf-1226000305034

[Smokey]

Try reading the article again, it never showed up as pseudoephedrine, just something similar to it

As per chemists not stocking it, I haven't found any that don't you just need to show your license. I can't take the new ones as they make my nose run like a tap.

Yep, I apologise Infamy, I misread the article where it mentioned the substance.  It still doesn't change my opinion on what he did.  If the substance he took is on the banned substance list then as an ex-AFL player he would have received ample education and notification of that.  Just like all laws, ignorance is no excuse.  In my mind, the only excuse he might have is if the drug has been very recently placed on the list (after he left the AFL system) but if it is one of those pseudoephedrine substitutes then they have been around for a number of years so no dice there.

And I can assure you that around where I live it is almost impossible to find a chemist that now stocks or supplies (ID or not) psuedoephedrine-based products.  The risk to the chemist of theft/break and enter is just not worth it, aside from the society-based protective health reasons that exist.

Wonder what that says about the area I live in?  

[Smokey]

Just did a bit more digging on the drug that was 'supposedly' taken.  The replacement for pseudoephedrine is phenylephedrine and in a nutshell, the difference between the two is in the chemical composition.  One is a chemical precursor for methamphetamine and is a stimulant, one isn't.  In addition, phenylehpedrine was removed from the banned substance list by the start of 2010 (possibly earlier but I couldn't find an exact date) and there are many anecdotal reports of tests questioning whether phenylephedrine has any benefit at all when taken.  So Casserly's positive test could not possibly be for that substance - it's either pseudoephedrine or another unrelated type of substance (hard to imagine what though).  Here's an article that reported the incident at the time (correcting a spelling mistake of Sudafed):

Drug Player in Flu Pill Defence
By Kim Hagdorn
27 October 2010 02:43PM EST

A FOOTBALLER at the centre of a drug scandal in Western Australia will argue he was using cold and flu tablets if he is suspended as expected.
WA football has been rocked with revelations that a 2010 Swan Districts premiership player has returned a positive drug test.
He has returned a positive A-sample test with league and his club officials awaiting a ruling on the B-sample.
If his B-sample is positive as well, he faces an automatic two-year ban under Australian sports drug doping regulations.
It is understood that he is a relatively experienced player who just a few season back was on the verge of a career in the AFL.
He failed a urine test to a performance enhancing drug taken immediately after Swan Districts won a thrilling WAFL grand final last month.
The latest test from the exciting grand final was conducted by Australian Sports Anti Doping Authority (ASADA) and is believed to have discovered levels of performance assisting drug Sudafed.
The drug is an amphetamine derivative. It is more commonly referred to as “speed” or “uppers” and is banned for sporting use by ASADA.
Sudafed is contained in many over-the-counter medications.
But the player is expected to claim he took medicated tablets to increase his metabolism for the big match.
He has told connections that he popped one tablet before the big game and another one during the half-time interval.
He was tested immediately following the grand final along with one teammate and two Claremont players, all in the same room with ASADA agents.
He is the second player in the WAFL this year to test positive to a banned substance.
Four months ago WA football authorities banned a young AFL draft hopeful after a positive drug test result when he was found to have been using anabolic steroids to assist his body building efforts.
East Perth midfielder Dean Cadwallader was banned for two years after he was tested while training with the WA senior squad in preparation for a match against Victoria in Perth back in May.
Cadwallader, 19, is appealing his suspension and is awaiting a hearing appointment with ASADA.
The WAFL is in line with the AFL’s controversial three-strike drug code that allows counselling and doctor-patient confidentiality for any first two offences of a positive test finding for any illicit drug.
But if ASADA find a banned substance in a player test on matchday that is considered a performance enhancing drug, he faces an automatic ban.
WAFL officials have declared a strict “no comment” on their latest drug furore until a ruling is made on the player’s B-sample.

http://www.sportsnewsfirst.com.au/articles/2010/10/27/drug-player-in-flu-pill-defence/

Be interesting to see what comes out in the subsequent investigation but regardless of that, I wonder if Richmond was aware of the tests before they invited him over to train?  Can't imagine they didn't know but if they did, why did they invite him over if he was under this cloud - unless they are very confident he will get off?

[blaisee]

looks like cass's career migt be over. Shame for the kid, but thems the breaks.

[gerkin greg]

nah his WAFL career will take off in 2 years 

[Penelope]

I thought sudafed was a brand name rather than a drug itself

[Smokey]

I thought sudafed was a brand name rather than a drug itself

It is Al, but the active constituent in the product is pseudoephedrine.  Unifed, Sinufed, Actifed, Claritin-D, Zyrtek-D are other brand names for pseudoephedrine (some have other constituents as well).  Exactly the same as Panadol/paracetamol.

[Jacosh]

possibly a problem with semi professional leagues expected to abide by professional standards.

AFL clubs have comprehensive programs to educate players on these pitfalls, while I doubt the lesser leagues would have anything similar

Cmon AL.  He was in the AFL system long enough for one, even my sons colts team in the locl league last season was warned going into finals about things like that.

I neither like nor dislike Cas but it was more than stuppidity he knows better, he shouldnt have done it.

[WilliamPowell]

AFL clubs have comprehensive programs to educate players on these pitfalls, while I doubt the lesser leagues would have anything similar

Not so al, all state leagues (VFL WAFL etc) receieved the same info it's supplied by the AFL and all clubs are required to go through it with their players before each season as all players can be randomly tested at anytime during the sourse of the system, they are told and clubs hold a listing of what's on the banned list

In this case it is made all the more stupid as Trav was in the "big boys system" (AFL) for 3 years and he should have knwon better.

Beside as any sports person that can subjected to random testing is told when in doubt don't take it. It is that simple

[Penelope]

it seems as if i stand corrected then 

[mightytiges]

and is believed to have discovered levels of performance assisting drug Sudafed.
The drug is an amphetamine derivative. It is more commonly referred to as “speed” or “uppers” and is banned for sporting use by ASADA.
Sudafed is contained in many over-the-counter medications.

Since when was Sudafed known as "speed" or "uppers"?  ???

I better hand back that U12 little aths first place ribbon I won  .


Our local chemists still sell Sudafed but it's limited to one packet per customer over say six months so the junkies can't buy up a whole batch and convert it to speed in some dodgy backyard lab.

[gerkin greg]

bit harsh on backyard labs there, some junkies take real pride in their work

[Jacosh]

Drug Player in Flu Pill Defence
By Kim Hagdorn
27 October 2010 02:43PM EST

But the player is expected to claim he took medicated tablets to increase his metabolism for the big match.
He has told connections that he popped one tablet before the big game and another one during the half-time interval.

Full article:

Swans flag hero faces ban over drug test

CRAIG O'DONOGHUE, The West Australian February 4, 2011, 5:21 am


Athletes are permitted to take some medication out of competition but cannot test positive on match day because it can be used to enhance performance.

Quotes from the 2 separate articles.
I personally think he screwed himself if he did admit to taking the “cold & flu” tablets during the game.