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#Post#: 22478--------------------------------------------------
Charlie - 4 Prem players tested positive last season
DIR By: TomBuckQuin
Date: April 23, 2019, 8:59 am
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HTML https://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/rugby-union/48025816
Rugby Football Union says more cases of positive tests reflects
society use
By Chris Jones
BBC rugby union correspondent
The RFU has been publishing its annual anti-doping report since
2010-11
Four Premiership rugby players tested positive for **** last
season, which the Rugby Football Union say reflects increasing
drug use in society.
There were three more cases in 2017-2018 compared to the
previous campaign.
"The positives reflect risks 18-35 year-olds are exposed to when
going out socially," RFU's Dr Simon Kemp says.
"We are trying to have a policy which continues to protect the
game, but recognises illicit drug use in society is becoming
increasingly common."
Dr Kemp added that the players who tested positive for
recreational drug use had found themselves peripheral figures at
their clubs.
"These positives are not from players who are typically playing
and training every week," the medical chief explained.
"These are players who [have become] somewhat dislocated from
their clubs, either through injury or non-selection.
"All of these players were reviewed by an independent specialist
psychiatrist, and plans to manage any ongoing problems were
created."
The RFU run an illicit drugs programme independent of the World
Anti-Doping Agency (WADA), and carried out 332 tests during the
2017-2018 season, 94% of which were hair samples and have a 3-5
month detection period.
"We are confident that this level of testing, which is over and
above what we are required to do under the WADA code, tries to
cover off both protecting the reputation and integrity of the
game and addressing some of the health issues we know are
associated with illicit drug use," Dr Kemp added.
Under the programme, players are guaranteed anonymity for a
first offence, but are fined and required to undergo a
rehabilitation programme, which the authorities insist is enough
of a deterrent.
"With 300-plus tests, covering three to five months worth of
use, if this was a broader problem and it hadn't been a
disincentive, we would see more positives," said Premiership
Rugby's Phil Winstanley.
Drugs testing in sport
'Anti-doping programme comprehensive'
The two anti-doping violations - Ashley Johnson of Wasps and
Brandon Staples of Yorkshire Carnegie - were announced at the
time of their failed test.
Johnson received a back-dated six month suspension for taking a
banned diuretic, while Staples was banned for four years last
April after testing positive for steroids.
Last year it emerged a Premiership player could go a whole
season without being tested once, and while this remains the
case, there has been an 18% increase in the number of samples
taken due to an increase in funding.
"The programme was comprehensive and has now been further
improved through UKAD's increased testing investment, so it is
still one of the most comprehensive programmes we run," said
Hamish Coffey of UK Anti-Doping (UKAD).
"But testing is not just about numbers, it is about the quality
of those tests."
"It is about striking a balance that not only deters and
detects, but is unpredictable," added the RFU's Anti-Doping and
Illicit Drugs Programme Manager, Stephen Watkins.
"It is about running something players don't necessarily expect.
But we are always looking for ways to improve our programme."
-------------------------------------
Thought the bit in bold was particularly interesting in light of
some of the questions we've had over "why so-and-so isn't
getting picked". Not speculating that any of the 4 positive
tests were one of our boys but just goes to show the extent of
things we don't see behind the scenes that Gussy et al have to
deal with.
#Post#: 22481--------------------------------------------------
Re: Charlie - 4 Prem players tested positive last season
DIR By: InsertQuinsPunHere
Date: April 23, 2019, 9:57 am
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--- Quote from: TomBuckQuin link ---
>
> ...
> Under the programme, players are guaranteed anonymity for a
first offence, but are fined and required to undergo a
rehabilitation programme, which the authorities insist is enough
of a deterrent.
> ...
>
--- End Quote ---
I like that approach. Rehabilitation over retribution.
#Post#: 22500--------------------------------------------------
Re: Charlie - 4 Prem players tested positive last season
DIR By: RodneyRegis
Date: April 24, 2019, 5:27 am
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Really not sure why anti-doping authorities are even testing for
recreational drug use. Catch people using PEDs and give them
lengthy bans, preferably lifetime. Who cares if players are
taking drugs which don't affect performance or recovery?
#Post#: 22501--------------------------------------------------
Re: Charlie - 4 Prem players tested positive last season
DIR By: TomBuckQuin
Date: April 24, 2019, 5:35 am
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Actually find myself agreeing with Rodders. I've always found it
a bit weird that they test for this stuff and effectively
intrude on the player's personal life. I guess there's the
argument that it's illegal and brings the game into disrepute
but the difference between this and Folau wailing about
homosexuality on social media is that if they didn't
specifically test for these substances in their blood, you
wouldn't necessarily know. I don't get tested for drug (mis)use
at work - I doubt many do. And if anything it's going to be the
opposite of performance enhancing so let them snort away for all
I care. Obviously if they get caught red handed by the police
then they face the consequences at that point.
#Post#: 22514--------------------------------------------------
Re: Charlie - 4 Prem players tested positive last season
DIR By: DOK
Date: April 24, 2019, 8:52 am
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It's funny how this can be twisted, on the Wales Online site the
headline is "English rugby hit by cocaine scandal as four
top-flight players test positive"
#Post#: 22521--------------------------------------------------
Re: Charlie - 4 Prem players tested positive last season
DIR By: Quinky
Date: April 24, 2019, 9:30 am
---------------------------------------------------------
--- Quote from: TomBuckQuin link ---
>
> Actually find myself agreeing with Rodders. I've always found
it a bit weird that they test for this stuff and effectively
intrude on the player's personal life. I guess there's the
argument that it's illegal and brings the game into disrepute
but the difference between this and Folau wailing about
homosexuality on social media is that if they didn't
specifically test for these substances in their blood, you
wouldn't necessarily know. I don't get tested for drug (mis)use
at work - I doubt many do. And if anything it's going to be the
opposite of performance enhancing so let them snort away for all
I care. Obviously if they get caught red handed by the police
then they face the consequences at that point.
>
--- End Quote ---
I tend to agree. What I find even stranger is that they can
effectively punish you for using something in a completely legal
way. If you visit Amsterdam and enjoy recreational drugs in a
coffee shop, it stays in your system for 3-5 months, as they
point out. But come back to the UK and you can be found guilty
of an offence.
I knew a chap who worked on London Underground and they had
occasional tests. Oddly enough he told me that the stronger
drugs leave your system more quickly. So a Class A might go
undetected whereas something more mild is traceable for months
after.
I should add that I don't condone drug-taking of any sort.
#Post#: 22524--------------------------------------------------
Re: Charlie - 4 Prem players tested positive last season
DIR By: BedfordshireBoy
Date: April 24, 2019, 10:34 am
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--- Quote from: DOK link ---
>
> It's funny how this can be twisted, on the Wales Online site
the headline is "English rugby hit by **** scandal as four
top-flight players test positive"
>
--- End Quote ---
Which of course makes a much better headline.
#Post#: 22551--------------------------------------------------
Re: Charlie - 4 Prem players tested positive last season
DIR By: Brown Bottle
Date: April 24, 2019, 5:04 pm
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--- Quote ---
> If you visit Amsterdam and enjoy recreational drugs in a
coffee shop, it stays in your system for 3-5 months, as they
point out. But come back to the UK and you can be found guilty
of an offence.
--- End Quote ---
No it doesn’t, even if you’re stupid enough not to get your hair
cut. And what offence? The police won’t be interested and if
your employer is, well it doesn’t matter where you did it, does
it?
#Post#: 22552--------------------------------------------------
Re: Charlie - 4 Prem players tested positive last season
DIR By: Quinky
Date: April 24, 2019, 5:37 pm
---------------------------------------------------------
--- Quote from: Brown Bottle link ---
>
> No it doesn’t, even if you’re stupid enough not to get your
hair cut. And what offence? The police won’t be interested and
if your employer is, well it doesn’t matter where you did it,
does it?
>
--- End Quote ---
The article states 3-5 months. Are they wrong? Are people not
allowed to have long hair? Do you know how quickly hair grows?
Who mentioned the police?
My point, as you probably know, is that a person who takes drugs
legally in another country could subsequently fail a drug test
in the UK, and be punished.
#Post#: 22573--------------------------------------------------
Re: Charlie - 4 Prem players tested positive last season
DIR By: marlowish
Date: April 25, 2019, 3:48 am
---------------------------------------------------------
--- Quote from: Quinky link ---
>
> The article states 3-5 months. Are they wrong? Are people not
allowed to have long hair?
>
--- End Quote ---
Above a certain age (about 25 I think ) yes they are wrong :)
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