He was caught by a routine test conducted by the Australian Sports Anti-Doping Authority. What I’d like to know is the pattern of tests that currently applies. In 2007 David Gallop was interviewed by Tony Eastley about Andrew Johns’ drug taking. We are led to believe that Johns was tested 17 times, he knew he was playing Russian roulette but slipped through, that there is now a uniform policy across the clubs and the chances of being caught are greater.

Catching one bloke might mean there was only one miscreant and he was caught. It could mean that the testing regime is still too loose and he was unlucky to be caught.

I’ve heard tennis players complaining about the whereabouts notification procedures. I’d be surprised if the NRL players are similarly inconvenienced, but I just don’t know what the regime is. Until I do I don’t need to make guesses about it so I won’t.

But he doesn’t appear to be blessed with a lot of sense. A few years ago he was convicted of occasioning actual bodily harm for kicking a policeman in the head. When at the Bulldogs, according to the Courier mail, he “continually blew it, either turning up to training intoxicated – or not turning up at all.”

He was said to be a particularly gifted and versatile footballer. He suffered significant ankle ligament damage in his one test for NZ in 2006. At age 27, he was probably on a last chance to rebuild his career. Assuming the sample B is positive, who is going to give him a run in two years time with the public focus on RL player behaviour and sponsors demanding a cleanup?

He started out as an apprentice plumber. Maybe he can revive that career.

“As the mother of two junior rugby forwards, the wife of a former prop and daughter of a one-time flanker, it is time for me to come to the defence of violent sports and the men who play them.”

http://www.smh.com.au/opinion/natural-men-scolded-into-timidity-20090520-bfn3.html

Campari, Devid Drink. Campari.