Yep. Same stance if it was a Leeds player.

You live by the sword, you die by the sword.

You wona go on the sniff? You know the risks. Hardaker got caught. Tough luck. Time to do the time.

I agree however it is very likely that he was using the same substances when he was a Leeds player and (call me a cynic) it is equally likely that Leeds were fully aware. Just maybe it was one of the reasons for him being shown the door rather than the inevitable happening.
I don't think it will be a popular opinion on here but I reckon that Leeds swept the issue under the carpet for business reasons and got rid rather than losing an asset.

Coke is rife in RL allegedly. He might have been on it whilst at Leeds and he might not have been alone.

I`m sure you are most probably correct in your assumption.
But I would imagine that if he was a known taker that and many other misdemeanours will have been picked up on.
And despite numerous warnings Leeds felt enough was enough and got rid.
I also expect Cas knew of his wrong doings and felt they DP in particular could sort him out.
That risk backfired on DP, the fans and his team mates and he now deserves his punishment.
Notwithstanding there will be others who got away with it at Cas and no doubt Leeds.
But he didn't`get away with it and will get banned for up to 2 years.
Cas will have to decide to keep him or get rid like Leeds did only this time at a cost of £150,000.

If clubs are stupid enough to turn a blind eye to players doing something that could get them banned for 2 years then they deserve to lose players to suspension. I would hope that hardaker would be used by clubs to try to clean things up if they haven't already. 'Everyone else does it' is not and never has been a valid excuse.

Actually "Everybody else does it" is a valid excuse. I could accept his punishment as fair if he was genuinely the only one indulging. If drug use is indeed rife as many posters are suggesting then Zak has been guilty of stupidity, nothing more. I'm not convinced that is a reasonable reason for a ban.

The only way to cure stupidity is better education (and there are various things that can be offered to him). And if people believe that he is beyond help in that way then it makes no sense to ban him for two years. The punishment under these circumstances hardly fits the crime.

I'm surprised at the lack of sympathy on these boards. People who were willing to accept his homophobia have all of a sudden developed a zero tolerance view on drugs - now that he no longer plays for Leeds. Which is unrelated of course.

Out of interest where has it been proven that he is homophobic?

Quite a difference between blurting out an insult in the heat of the moment In a match to taking drugs knowing the consequences of a failed test.

I think most Leeds fans would have no sympathy with him if he failed a drugs test whilst here.....weren't aren't Wigan fans with Hock. Wigan probably already eyeing up for two years time since Tomkins is flopping on big money on his return.

Whatever ban he gets should be consistent with others. Hock got 2 years so why not Hardaker? Whatever he, Rangi Chase and Adam Walker get it should be the same unless there is a good reason for varying ban lengths.

I can't quite grasp what the relevance of your post is and how in your mind that these two separate indiscretions could possibly be dealt with in the same way by any disciplinary body for any player that was actually found to be guilty of either indiscretion

I personally have no sympathy for any player caught taking drugs of any kind and would love to see a zero tolerance policy taken for all guilty players in order to rid our sport of these drug users.
I also would never condone homophobic abuse in any form and anyone proved guilty should face the consequences.If any one was found to be guilty then i would not feel any sympathy for them what so ever

Would you like to enlighten us with your reasoning behind your post,especially after stating that the incidents are unrelated and why you feel people should show some sympathy for Zak for being caught taking drugs during competition time?

Rangi Chase has got a 2 year ban announced today.

Apparently one of 7 SL players caught using Cocaine - perhaps the drug is more widely used than many suspect

They should all get 2 year bans, if found "guilty".

I think most, on here at least, realise how widely used it is. The surprising part would be the sudden very high increase in failed tests. 3 known cases in 3 months at SL. How many failed tests have they been since Gareth Hock in 2009?

And from the dates the ban runs to and from it seems he was caught one week after signing a permanent deal at widnes!! What a moron.

Like I said, it may be widespread but if any club condones the use of banned drugs in any way then they deserve to lose players for long suspensions - and yes I include Leeds in that. If any club officials are stupid enough to try to help players 'get away with it' then they should be dumped as well.