2 years of no RL related activity that means no training with a club. If it means he has to wait to get match fit as well then that's just unlucky isn't it. He should of considered that before putting crap up his nose.

2 years for a recreational drug is a fair punishment and he should be allowed to return. Roid use and similar things used to "cheat" should be a straight lifetime ban

as far as i am aware, when track and field athletes are banned for drug use they are effectively barred from working with qualified coaches/conditioning staff for the duration also. this is also effectively a ban on any people with recognised qualifications actively working with someone who is serving a ban.
i would love to kno what these 'other' sports are.
and no, he shouldnt be allowed to train with the squad or even on a one to one basis with the teams staff until his ban is up.
its tough sh*t.

I'd love to know how many people on this thread who are preaching holier than thou have never taken a sniff of coke, or had a pull on a joint, or dropped a tab or something similar.

The Sun newspaper ran a paragraph on "DRUG CHEAT" Gareth Hock today. Since when did taking cocaine enhance your performance? True, it was a stupid thing to do, but drugs cheat? Come on.

People are allowed to make mistakes. Hock has made his, he got banned and as far as we're aware, behaved himself. The REAL test is how he conducts himself from now on.

I agree with that (i havnt done any of those, but have drank too much and too often) and my impression of him is that he isnt a bad person, just perhaps not all that bright and easily led. I saw the drug cheat line and wasn't surprised by the lazy journalism.
I hope he does come back well (he looks more like a prop now) but the 2 year ban should last 2 years

Id like to see him back

I like to watch good players, no matter who they play for.

I agree strong messages need to be sent etc..

a 2 year ban should mean a 2 year ban.what is it with the RL and this dispensation lark !!

This has nothing to with the rfl!. Please pay attention.

This has nothing to with the rfl!. Please pay attention.

So why have the RFL arranged the consultation?

He's been working with a personal trainer from what's been written so he won't exactly be unfit, how much of this will be down to getting him used to the Wigan way ready for his comeback?

Whether I agree or not with a 2 year ban for a recreational drug, a ban is a ban, and it should stand.

Well as for having a toke, sniff or dropping a tab its not my scene but i know many who do and have. However what i can say i NONE of them were in a job that this could get you banned from and certainly didn't have random drug testing.

Yes people are allowed to make mistakes. However if you know your job requires random drug testing and you take something that will get you banned/sacked your playing Russian roulette with your career and deserve anything you get. As for it not improving performance some limited studies have shown it can lead to faster reaction times and diminish the affects of fatigue (quite useful i'd say)

Yet we have drink drivers, violent offenders, alcoholics, people who molest animals, all in our game. None suffered a ban.

So i guess the lesson we are teaching our kids is, get drunk, beat a woman, put your penis in a dogs mouth, then drive home, but whatever you do not take certain drugs. It seems odd that this is the subject the game chooses to moralise on.

Getting drunk isn't a crime, drink driving will be punished outside of RL, alcoholism is a disease, molesting animals is just wierd and I honestly don't know what i'd do to handle the case you mean.

Drugs are illegal in RL.

It is actually.