to understand the full extent of the problem, look at the "Elite" England squad named last year, who all have to make themselves available to testing everyday - and look at some of the "shock" omissions from that squad.

For everything the RFL says in public they will want less tests - not more - and therefore less players testing positive.

I suspect they won't because it's impractical and too expensive. It's taken since November for Newton's results to come out. If you tested the lot of 'em Sam Tomkins would be retired from the game by the time the results were known.



While I don't think is practical to test all players (does any team sport do this?) if the issue is as rife as you suggest then the random test regime isn't working. That doesn't mean they aren't doing enough tests but that they aren't targeting them properly. Hock only got caught out because he was picked for England and as such came under a more rigid testing regime. It should not just be the elite players who get tested regularly as seems to the the case.

Despite Hock the elite players are IMO most likely to be the clean ones especially when it comes to steroids. They also know they get tested more often and only a twit like Hock would risk it when being an England player. He was monumentally stupid given he was a rep player. It's the average players who stay under the radar looking for an advantage that I would expect to be the most likely to succumb to temptation.

So my point is given I don't think its practical to test all the players then testing the elite players regularly is not enough. They need to pick on an entire team every now and again and treat that team as "England" and test it accordingly.

Dave

Whether he's had a good career or not is irrelevant to whether he is respected outside of Wigan. I think he's probably the most loathed player in the modern game and very, very few people outside of Wigan will be shedding tears at this piece of news.

He's not well liked, but you only hate the good 'uns.

Depending on what substance it is, very few from wigan will be shedding tears, RL fans as a comunity dont really like cheats (apart from your lot that is ) so if its for performace enhancing i think most will say he gets what he deserves and perhaps should get more!

As far as I am aware, the RL is signed up to the WADA conventions on doping. WADA implemented the whereabouts system for elite atheletes which means that sportsmen have to select a day of the week a sportsman to be available for a full hours testing. www.wada-ama.org/en/World-Anti-D ... ereabouts/

As far as I am aware, the RL is signed up to the WADA conventions on doping. WADA implemented the whereabouts system for elite atheletes which means that sportsmen have to select a day of the week a sportsman to be available for a full hours testing. www.wada-ama.org/en/World-Anti-D ... ereabouts/

According to Sky Sports text the RFL have asked Paul Cullen to explain his claims on boots 'n all that Terry Newtons case is only "the tip of the iceberg"

Ouch. This could get messy.

Interesting. Cullen was very emotional about the subject. His honest was refreshing and inspiring to be fair to the fella.

Jeez. The RFL won't punish players who attempt to decapitate other players but the minute anyone expresses an honest opinion they're sniffing around like dogs. He did say quite clearly that he couldn't prove anything.

Do the RFL want to stifle any sort of open discussion about anything?

Shouldnt be too dificult for him, after all he was the coach of a super league club,
also everyone on these boards can point the rfl in the direction of drugged up players in various towns on the weekends.

Seen it a million times (when i turned out regular) and Brian Carney couldnt have been that shocked his mate has been caught!

Spot on.

Warrington players can assault players on the field, but a man can't express an opinion about drug cheats.

The RFL are utterly inept and pathetic.

As i have said previously why do clubs not randomly test there own players once a week.
Would be quite easy to do computer picks 5 players at random every week for a hair follicle test which i believe is the one that will give a result over a longer period of time. Or if not that a blood test i am sure it would not add to much to the clubs yearly budget and it would show the way to all other sports.
Test results to go to the club and to the RFL and sports drug council just to show no cover up.

rlClickrl