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Aussie rugby heads towards off-season drug testing
SMH | Thursday, 22 November 2007
http://www.stuff.co.nz/4284206a1823.html
There are moves within Australian rugby to introduce out-of-competition testing for illicit drugs in the aftermath of recent controversies involving Aussie rules star Ben Cousins and retired rugby league great Andrew Johns.
The Rugby Union Players Association is canvassing its membership on the proposal and says it is in discussion with the Australian Rugby Union about testing for drugs such as cocaine, marijuana and ecstasy.
The proposal is still in its infancy and not yet in blueprint form, but RUPA chief executive Tony Dempsey is confident all the parties could come to an agreement on a policy by February or March.
"We are confident that the use of illicit drugs by our professional players is not a problem that is endemic in the game," Dempsey said.
"But we recognise that an illicit drug testing policy is needed because there may be perception [it is a problem] among the public and that it may act as a deterrent for players in the future.
"I am confident that the players will support it. The RUPA board already has. There is just the devil in the detail to sort out."
Dempsey said the RUPA regarded the move as "proactive". But he admitted that scandals involving Cousins and Johns "had put the issue at the forefront of our attention".
"It would be naive to ignore other sports. But we also need to be cognisant of the need to be prepared to be proactive in the changing environment," he said.
Dempsey also said the policy would aim to educate players about the dangers of illicit drug use, address the rehabilitation of any guilty offenders, determine suitable sanctions of players and protect the image of the game.
Issues to be addressed include: who would pay for the tests, who would carry them out, how regular and extensive would they be and would they involve blood or urine or both?