Its weird how the Aussie press are claiming all 17 have taken the deal, and list Paul Aiton in that. Yet Leeds claim they know nothing about it. Really do wonder what is going on with that and whether he is or isnt involved in this.

Typical aussie reply. "This country is a joke, [iwhen it comes to doing something about their sportspeople who end up being cheats!!!" [/i


The British Head of NRL Dave Smith is livid with Cronulla.

"

"But, the players, coaches, staff and administrators are on notice that we have a zero tolerance to breaches of the anti-doping policy."

Ignorance is no defence, even if it is the only accurate defence. Everyone knows it. Players, Staff. Everyone at every NRL club.

They have got off lightly. Which happens here. As I said previously. A joke.

Given Gallen was "suspended" during the RLWC should his caps be expunged and his winners medal returned?

ASADA wrote into the admissions that the players "unknowingly" took prohibited substances. As far as can be told the evidence against the players wasn't particularly strong, but the deal they were offered was simply too good to turn down, particularly with the wording enabling them to say that it wasn't their fault and the possibility of long bans following months more of not knowing the outcome.

The head of ASADA was interviewed yesterday and said that WADA had been involved every step of the way and were well aware of the offers made to players. Suggestions that WADA might come in over the top and increase the bans are probably wide of the mark.

As for Aiton, I suspect the simple issue is that the investigation has been undertaken by ASADA, an Australian agency. After well over a year they finally got round to offering deals to the Sharks within the last week. They would have no authority in the UK, so at best they'll forward the same information to their UK equivalents to make the offer to Aiton at some stage. Given the snail-like pace of these bureacracies it wouldn't surprise me if Aiton doesn't get issued with anything this season.

In fact his safest bet might be to return to Aus in the off-season and get the same offer from ASADA whilst here, then take the short ban and go back to england for the start of next year.

One I've often wondered about is Kris Radlinski in the 2002 Challenge Cup final. It is well know that he was pumped up with drugs. They were administered by legitimate doctors and it was all above board but did those injections give him an unfair advantage over other players?

www.dailytelegraph.com.au/ryan-t ... 7034330157 interesting article

www.dailytelegraph.com.au/ryan-t ... 7034330157 interesting article