I wonder if the RFL have "targeted" any other players?
I wonder what led them to "target" Mr Newton in this way?

I was under the impression that the drug tests are under the control of the UKAD and not the RFL, I may be wrong though.

Andy Gilder is right though, how long has he been using this drug if its only just become detectable?

From last night's YEP OnlineHe was "targeted" for a drugs test following information passed by the RFL to UK Anti-Doping, who have described his positive test as "a major breakthrough in the international fight against doping in sport".[/i

Ah I see, cheers Tvoc. So who's grassed Newton up then?

Who ever it was they would have had to talk very loudly?

Wow, news of a Wakefield Rl player has reached the NFL stateside.

rlhttp://blogs.nfl.com/2010/02/24/report-nfl-favors-blood-tests-for-hgh/rl

Is Matt Diskin on something as well:

“For the last four years they (Melbourne Storm) have been way ahead of anyone else in the NRL," said Diskin. "We've been the same in Super League."

interesting


The NFL Players Association reportedly opposes the initiative on the grounds that its players should not have to be subject to blood testing

Maybe they could start by using any of the American professional wrestling organisations as a trial ?

Its just steak, eggs and hard work in the gym you know

Taking the international impact of this case a bit further.....
Again this is from NFL.COM......
"...The substance is believed by some to hasten healing, but there is still a debate over whether it increases strength.

A blood test for HGH has been in existence since the 2004 Athens Olympics and available in the U.S. since 2008, according to United States Anti-Doping Agency executive director Travis Tygart.

Tygart said the test was available to professional leagues, but only through World Anti-Doping Agency labs.

"It's one that's been well-vetted, well-discussed," he said by telephone from London. "Further research has been done to get it to a point where it's scientifically valid, and we're happy to help any entity that's interested in having an effective test, whether we're involved with their program or not, getting them comfortable with the validity of the science."

While MLB can institute blood tests for players on minor league rosters, it must reach an agreement with the players' association to start blood testing for unionized players on 40-man big league rosters.

"We are well aware of the important news with respect to the HGH blood test in England," Major League Baseball said in a statement. "We are consulting with our experts concerning immediate steps for our minor league drug program and next steps for our major league drug program. The commissioner remains committed to the position that we must act aggressively to deal with the issue of HGH."

Tygart said the window for detecting HGH through the test is three days at the most, making it most useful for out-of-competition testing. According to Weiner, it may be even shorter.

"Even those who vouch for the science behind the test acknowledge that it can detect use only for a day or so prior to collection," he said."

My focus was drawn to the statement highlighting the 'window of traceability'........
1/tracking back it suggests when TN took it and theoretically which club he was with if anyone had doubts.
2/Gives interesting background on how a testing plan needs a strategy to 'catch' users only has a significantly less than 50% chance in any week of succeeding.Number crunchers feel free to query that.
3/i wonder if a lot of 'forgot to appear to be tested' but available a day later scenarios may become more suspicious.

But we are talking about drug use in professional sport... I did not know actors were going to be subject to testing now as well!!! I wonder what Equity will have to say about this...

Injecting yourself with them can't be fun

According to the VT, Terry Newton has bought the Ben Johnson pub in Wigan.

You couldn't make it up...

The NFLPA is against blood testing for the same reason pro cycling teams were against it for so many years...

2 Further articles that I found interesting concerning this case, particularly the paras re how Newton was "targeted": www.bbc.co.uk/blogs/gordonfarquh ... heats.html www.bbc.co.uk/blogs/georgeriley/ ... l_ski.html The narrow critical window for the tests has to be a concern because I'd argue that they were lucky to detect HGH in Newton's blood, a few days earlier or later & it would have been missed. I had missed the fact that Newton was the 1st to be caught anywhere using HGH. I wonder if he'll come clean to the authorities on the source of the drug?

2 Further articles that I found interesting concerning this case, particularly the paras re how Newton was "targeted": www.bbc.co.uk/blogs/gordonfarquh ... heats.html www.bbc.co.uk/blogs/georgeriley/ ... l_ski.html The narrow critical window for the tests has to be a concern because I'd argue that they were lucky to detect HGH in Newton's blood, a few days earlier or later & it would have been missed. I had missed the fact that Newton was the 1st to be caught anywhere using HGH. I wonder if he'll come clean to the authorities on the source of the drug?