Cass charged with drug offence

[mightytiges]

He could always use the Warney excuse - "my mum gave it me" 

When does Cass actually find out if he'll be suspended or not by the way? It's only 6 weeks until the start of the season when I believe a final decision on which trial rookie gets the gig needs to be made.

[one-eyed]

Tigers knew of positive drug test of Travis Casserly
Mark Stevens
Herald Sun
February 08, 2011

RICHMOND welcomed Travis Casserly to the club as a rookie aspirant knowing he had tested positive for a performance-enhancing drug.

The Tigers yesterday confirmed Casserly was open about his plight before starting the pre-season at Punt Rd.

"We were aware of it from the start," Richmond football manager Craig Cameron said. "Travis was up front about it."

It is for that reason that it was business as usual at the Tigers when news of Casserly facing a two-year ban broke publicly at the weekend.

The 23-year-old defender, who spent 2006-08 on Richmond's list, tested positive after playing for Swan Districts in the WAFL Grand Final.

Knowing that issue would not be resolved before the rookie draft, the Tigers did not consider Casserly for a position in December. But they have continued to support him in his wish to train.

Casserly's fate should be known some time in the next fortnight -- before the Tigers have to make a call.

Casserly is believed to have tested positive to a drug similar to pseudoephedrine, which contains stimulant properties, that was in a cold and flu tablet he had consumed.

He had been feeling unwell before the Grand Final.

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

http://www.heraldsun.com.au/sport/afl/tigers-knew-of-positive-drug-test-of-travis-casserly/story-e6frf9jf-1226001880194

[Penelope]

Casserly had his hearing last night. Some interesting things to surface;

Swans last night said that Casserly took one 60mg Sudafed tablet before the grand final and one at half-time to treat a hay fever condition he had suffered from throughout his career.

The dosage is usually considered within the prescribed limits under ASADA guidelines, with written evidence from Richmond that Casserly has taken the medication since his first stint at the AFL club running from 2006 to 2008.

Swans also claim Casserly drank champagne and up to four full-strength beers after the grand final before first being approached by ASADA for testing.

Documents state that it took Casserly an hour to provide his first urine sample - two hours after the grand final, due to dehydration, with Swans arguing the time and other fluids consumed could have produced the adverse test results.

Occupational Drug and Alcohol Services of Australia biochemist Bruce Myles has presented evidence on behalf of Swans that pseudoephedrine levels in the samples were low even for therapeutic means, let alone for performance-enhancing reasons.

Casserly had been previously drug tested after playing against Subiaco in June last year having taken one Sudafed tablet at the start of the game.

But he returned negative results.

It has already had implications on the AFL hopeful's career, with Richmond football operations manager Craig Cameron confirming in a written statement the club would have selected the defender in last year's rookie draft, if not the national draft, if the positive test had not occurred.

http://au.news.yahoo.com/thewest/sport/a/-/wafl/8904382/im-not-a-drugs-cheat-claims-swans-flag-star/

Perhaps some jumped the gun a bit in condemning the kid as stupid?

[wayne]

So is he in the clear?

Does he get to have a game next week?

[Penelope]

Decision to be handed down next week.

Whether he plays next week will be determined by the penalty I'd assume.

It is understood the Tigers will still consider Casserly for their remaining rookie position, which will be decided at the end of the pre-season competition, if any ban is no longer than 12 weeks.

[Infamy]

2 year ban, that's ridiculous, you get the same for using steroids. I wonder if he can/will appeal.


Tiger hopeful Travis Casserly hit with two-year drug ban

Michael Washbourne
From: PerthNow
February 28, 20114:53PM

RICHMOND rookie hopeful Travis Casserly has been suspended for two years for testing positive to a performance-enchanting drug.

Casserly, 23, who has spent the past two years at Swan Districts and is trying out for a spot on the Tigers' rookie list, tested positive to banned substance pseudoephedrine after his team’s thrilling one-point win over Claremont in the WAFL frand final.

During a hearing last week, it was argued by Swans officials that Casserly had taken the drug to treat a bout of hay fever – a condition he has suffered throughout his playing career.

But WAFL tribunal chairman Paul Heaney ruled today that use of the substance was “beyond therapeutic” and that Casserly had knowingly taken the drug to improve his performance.

"I am satisfied that the high reading of pseudoephedrine found in player Casserly’s urine sample, indicated that his use of the substance went beyond the therapeutic to the enhancement of his sporting performance and that is was his intent for it to do so," Heaney said in his findings.

Heaney today handed Casserly a two-year suspension – the maximum penalty recommended by the Australian Sports Anti-Doping Authority – backdated from October 18 last year.

It is believed this is the first time a sportsperson has been handed a two-year ban for testing positive to pseudoephedrine.

The decision all but ends Casserly’s AFL dream.

Casserly was given another AFL lifeline by the Tigers in December when selected as one of three players to train with the club in a bid to win the final spot on the rookie list before the start of the season.

Richmond was aware that Casserly had tested positive when it selected him in the rookie draft.

Casserly was vying for the final rookie spot with Victorian Mitch Keddell and South Australian Liam Corrie.

Casserly is the second WAFL player suspended for drug taking in the past year.

East Perth midfielder Dean Cadwallader, 20, was also given a two-year ban after testing positive to an anabolic steroid before last year’s State game.

Cadwallader was being looked at by a number of AFL clubs at the time.

http://www.heraldsun.com.au/sport/afl/tiger-hopeful-travis-casserly-fails-to-overturn-drug-ban/story-e6frf9jf-1226013649712

[WA Tiger]

Gee thats really bad news....

[Smokey]

The hearing proved one thing - it was pseudoephedrine and not one of the substitute products.  And his reading was well above that of "therapuetic use".

My original opinion stands:  sympathy level = 0.

[WA Tiger]

The hearing proved one thing - it was pseudoephedrine and not one of the substitute products.  And his reading was well above that of "therapuetic use".

My original opinion stands:  sympathy level = 0.

Well if that is the case smokey...0 care factor for me too.

[jackstar is back again]

do the crime , do the time

[WilliamPowell]

do the crime , do the time

Agree Jack

2 year ban, that's ridiculous, you get the same for using steroids. I wonder if he can/will appeal.

Technically that's what he has been suspended for taking a performance enhancing drug; steriods are deemed performance enhancing.

Pseudoephedrine is a performance enhancing drug. It's on the banned list, he should have known

He got caught - he gets the mandatory whack for it

[taztiger4]

pretty quick to condemn a bloke who took 2 SUDAFED !!!

[WilliamPowell]

pretty quick to condemn a bloke who took 2 SUDAFED !!!

It's not about condemning

first, he had been in the AFL system 3 years, he would have known what he was allowed to take and what he wasn't

Second, all players (actually make that all sports people) are told if you are in doubt DONT take it and check with a doctor.

Final, read the news report - it says his readings were very high and went beyond being "therapeutic":

"I am satisfied that the high reading of pseudoephedrine found in player Casserly’s urine sample, indicated that his use of the substance went beyond the therapeutic to the enhancement of his sporting performance and that is was his intent for it to do so," Heaney said in his findings."

Would think that is pretty damning

[taztiger4]

Apparently the Swans Club Doctor gave them to him

Drug authority website says 3 Sudafed you are over, he took 2

Appeal will be forthcoming I would think either thru the WAFL or most probably the courts

I would think RFC would have done a bit of homework here before invting Cass along, I would say they are as shocked by this sentence as no doubt Cass is

[Smokey]

Apparently the Swans Club Doctor gave them to him

Drug authority website says 3 Sudafed you are over, he took 2

Appeal will be forthcoming I would think either thru the WAFL or most probably the courts

I would think RFC would have done a bit of homework here before invting Cass along, I would say they are as shocked by this sentence as no doubt Cass is

Read the comments attributed to him originally - apparently he took a substitute, apparently he took them to increase metabolism, apparently he took them for a cold, apparently he took them for hay fever, apparently he took one before the match and one at half time, apparently he took 2 when a website says 3 is too many.

In reality he has been given a wealth of information over his sporting career about what, when and how much to take.  In reality he was caught with a level much higher than if they were to be used therapeutically.  In reality he was either a very very dumb sportsman or he was cheating.  On either account he got what he deserved and my sympathy level is still 0.

And this article today would suggest that this is the outcome of his appeal, not the original decision.  Court looks like his last chance and he will need a few $$'s to get that over the line.  A bit harder to get the 'good' dollar when you aren't a professional sportsman any more.

Drugs body upholds ban on rookie hopeful

By Jennifer Witham 5:47 PM Mon 28 Feb, 2011

Travis Casserly at Tigers training in 2008

THE RACE for Richmond's final rookie spot has narrowed to two contenders after Travis Casserly's two-year ban for using a performance-enhancing drug was upheld by the Australian Sports Anti-Doping Authority on Monday.

The 23-year-old, who tested positive for pseudoephedrine and was suspended by ASADA earlier this month, failed to convince a Perth hearing his overuse of the substance was accidental.

Casserly had been training with the Tigers in the hope of winning a spot on the rookie list.

Perth magistrate Paul Heaney was unconvinced by Casserly's defence that use of  cold and flu medication had caused the positive test, conducted after his side's one-point WAFL grand final triumph last year.

"Having heard the evidence at the tribunal hearing ... I am not persuaded to a comfortable persuasion of the absence of intent to enhance his sporting performance," Heaney said after the ASADA hearing.

"I am satisfied to the requisite standard that ... Casserly did have the intent to enhances his sporting performance.

"I am satisfied that the high reading of pseudoephedrine found in ... Casserly's urine sample, indicated that his use of the substance went beyond the therapeutic to the enhancement of his sporting performance and that is was his intent for it to do so."

Heaney said he Casserly's period of ineligibility would begin from October 18 last year.

Casserly was on Richmond's list from 2006-08 before spending the past two seasons playing for Swan Districts in the WAFL.

He was invited to train with the Tigers alongside other hopefuls Mitch Keddell and Liam Corrie vying for the rookie place on the 2011 list.

Casserly was pencilled in to play for the Tigers in their pre-season hit out against the Indigenous All-Stars in Alice Springs before the game was cancelled due to poor weather.

He is the second WAFL player to recently test positive to a performance-enhancing drug after East Perth's Dean Cadwallader admitted to using banned steroid nandrolone last season.

An AFL spokesman said the League supported the decision made by ASADA and the anti-doping code.

http://www.afl.com.au/news/newsarticle/tabid/208/newsid/108572/default.aspx