The inconsistency of the RFL is astounding at times !

What inconsistency?

www.ukad.org.uk/anti-doping-rule ... iolations/ Click on Martin Gleeson's name, this opens up a hidden paragraph with more detail. Click Decision , to read the full report on PDF document. Names Sean Long as the team mate who purchased the product 'OxyElite Pro' for him (from as shop in Wigan) whereas Gleeson originally stated originally he has purchsed the item himself.

www.ukad.org.uk/anti-doping-rule ... iolations/ Click on Martin Gleeson's name, this opens up a hidden paragraph with more detail. Click Decision , to read the full report on PDF document. Names Sean Long as the team mate who purchased the product 'OxyElite Pro' for him (from as shop in Wigan) whereas Gleeson originally stated originally he has purchsed the item himself.

Reading the report on Hull FC Conditioner Ben Cooper gives more insight into the goings on. (I also have a degree of sympathy for Gleeson and Long here), although Long hasn't been charged with anything.

Click Decision


To summarise:

*3rd June - UKDA charge Gleeson.
*4th June - Cooper signs statement that he supplied Gleeson with OxyElite Pro in error.
*9th June - Cooper hands in signs 2nd testament to show he was solely to blame for the positive test.
*9th June - Cooper confirms when interviewed the above testimony, where Gleeson handed him a sealed packet of OxyElite Pro and asked him to check if okay to use (to combat fatigue). The reason for this was the usual supplements (provided by Hull's Official Supplement Supplier) was out of stock and the club didn't have a similar product at that time.

*When questioned further, Cooper confirms the statements above as false and that it was not Gleeson who came to him, but another Hull FC team mate (named as Sean Long in Gleeson's Report)
*Cooper admitted he checked the ingredients for Long on the WADA website but failed to check on the Global DRO database when previously he claimed he did.

The only thing Gleeson could really be found guilty of is the 'white lie' in an attempt to protect his mate.

All this begs the question, if a player has the 'sniffles' / needs legal supplements and buys a product off the shelf, should he trust his club staff before use? Or should he double check the ingredients himself on the numerous websites to cover his ass?

Here we are 8-9 years after the 'Cunningham Saga' and we still have club conditioners making errors.

It's nothing to do with the RFL, the Drugs Agency set the bans. If you are referring to K. Cunningham, that was eight years ago and the drug concerned was only banned in 2010.

WADA rules state that the athlete is ultimately responsible for what goes into their body and you can't really argue with that. However, your average rugby player isn't the sharpest tool in the box and rightly checked with those who are employed by their club to know these things. To some extent I have a degree of sympathy with Gleeson, however he's lied and made the situation much worse than it needed to be. Not for the first time, Gleeson has got into trouble when a certain other player is in the vicinity.

So what was Cunningham fined £2500 and given a suspended one-year ban for?

Bugger! Straight cough, I'm wrong, however as I understand it the one that Gleeson took was only banned in 2010.

Having had a look I think the one Gleeson was done for is only prohibited "in-competition", even more of a double whammy. By "in-competition" I'm assuming it could be used pre-season and only flags up if shown up in an after match test?

Now that does make things complicated, but when are some sportsmen going to realise that they have to thoroughly check everything they take?

Quote Wigan28/Leeds18 Andy="Wigan28/Leeds18 Andy"Not for the first time, Gleeson has got into trouble when a certain other player is in the vicinity.'" Agreed. They'd have been better off speaking to Bernard (who know's all about these things: www.guardian.co.uk/sport/2004/jan/31/rugbyleague ) than Cooper it would seem.

Quote Wigan28/Leeds18 Andy="Wigan28/Leeds18 Andy"Not for the first time, Gleeson has got into trouble when a certain other player is in the vicinity.'" Agreed. They'd have been better off speaking to Bernard (who know's all about these things: www.guardian.co.uk/sport/2004/jan/31/rugbyleague ) than Cooper it would seem.

UKAD have revealed Gleeson was supplied the drugs by Sean Long who was told by Ben Cooper that the drugs were permitted