Re: Hardaker kicked out of grand final squad... : Mon Oct 09, 2017 5:42 pm  

Barba got 12 match ban after testing positive for cocaine use. Hock got 2 years. What will ZH get without an Aussie accent?

Re: Hardaker kicked out of grand final squad... : Mon Oct 09, 2017 6:10 pm  

Bigredwarrior wrote:

Barba got 12 match ban after testing positive for cocaine use. Hock got 2 years. What will ZH get without an Aussie accent?

2 years Barba was out of comp

Re: Hardaker kicked out of grand final squad... : Mon Oct 09, 2017 6:21 pm  

Bigredwarrior wrote:

Barba got 12 match ban after testing positive for cocaine use. Hock got 2 years. What will ZH get without an Aussie accent?

Barba’s wasn’t after a game IIRC? It was just a club thing wasn’t it?

Re: Hardaker kicked out of grand final squad... : Mon Oct 09, 2017 6:32 pm  

Wigg'n wrote:

Barba’s wasn’t after a game IIRC? It was just a club thing wasn’t it?

He tested positive for cocaine 4 days after the grand final.

Re: Hardaker kicked out of grand final squad... : Mon Oct 09, 2017 6:38 pm  

Bigredwarrior wrote:

He tested positive for cocaine 4 days after the grand final.

My bad! Must’ve been thinking about another player.

Just read Barba got suspended indefinitely by the NRL though.

Re: Hardaker kicked out of grand final squad... : Mon Oct 09, 2017 6:40 pm  

Aboveusonlypie wrote:

I. I'm not going to get all sanctimonious about this. A performance enhancing drug should be treated differently to a recreational drug IMO.

This, a thousand time.The (deliberate?) muddying of the waters between performance-enhancing and recreational drugs is frankly dishonest, it seems to me, and this applies to all pro sport, not just RL. These drug-testing regimes were brought in originally because of performance-increasing drugs in athletics, cycling, etc.

I'm not saying there shouldn't be any sanctions for recreational drugs, but the distinction between them should be clear.

Re: Hardaker kicked out of grand final squad... : Mon Oct 09, 2017 6:49 pm  

moto748 wrote:

This, a thousand time.The (deliberate?) muddying of the waters between performance-enhancing and recreational drugs is frankly dishonest, it seems to me, and this applies to all pro sport, not just RL. These drug-testing regimes were brought in originally because of performance-increasing drugs in athletics, cycling, etc.

I'm not saying there shouldn't be any sanctions for recreational drugs, but the distinction between them should be clear.

I am going to disagree. In any sport in the world, if you have been found to be using recreational drugs you will get banned, sacked or both. The rules are set out in black and white. I dont think we need to distinguish the two. Enhancement drugs are for cheats and recreational drugs are for losers. I am quite happy for them to be treated the same. Any sportsman is supposed to be a role model and if they are doing drugs of any sort they need to be seen to feel the full force of the governing bodies. Mental health issues or not, you dont have to turn to drugs.

Re: Hardaker kicked out of grand final squad... : Mon Oct 09, 2017 8:17 pm  

Pieman wrote:

2 years Barba was out of comp

That's not true. He was tested positive in November 2016, less than a year ago. Moreover it was the second time he had been caught. If it had happened here he would have got 2 years plus. Why he was allowed to play for Saints this year is making a mockery of drug regulations.

Re: Hardaker kicked out of grand final squad... : Mon Oct 09, 2017 8:21 pm  

Barba is so lucky to be playing the game. To be caught twice and get a 12 game ban, regardless of it being in or out of season, is a total and utter farce.

To think Saints appealed!

Re: Hardaker kicked out of grand final squad... : Mon Oct 09, 2017 8:33 pm  

I'm in the view that recreational drugs are just as bad (if not worse) than performance enhancers. Not only are they breaking sporting rules they're committing criminal offences. How many kids would want to be like Zak Hardaker? I'm no snob and not naive by any stretch but I'd stick with 2 years minimum on 1st offence and lifetime ban if caught a 2nd time.