They'll have to get rid. Otherwise they're left with a player on a large salary not playing for 2 years...

That was my thoughts. Given the salary cap I can't see him being retained in any capacity, although like Andy says, that does leave him free to sign up for whoever wants him when he returns.

I wonder whether there would be scope under his contract, employment law and the RFL's rules for Wigan to suspend him without pay for two years while he serves his ban, thereby preserving his registration?

They could employ him as a community liaison at wigan, going into schools and saying dont do drugs or u could go same way i did, then when his ban is up sign him back up for them sticking by him.

Well he's not available for selection, so I'm sure they could fine him, but that's not getting around any salary cap issues. Thinking about it, despite it being a sensible idea, I can't see it being a starter.

if I were Wigan I'd get rid - after all he's done more harm than good by his 'recreational' lifestyle & I think he now should pay the penalty - 2 years away from the sport may make him realise how stupid he has been - after all look at Hudson - he has really turned his life around since he was found guilty a few years ago Publicity like this isnt needed in our sport (I'll get off my soapbox now

)

Some people on the Wigan board are saying he can't work for Wigan in any capacity during any suspension.

Maybe there'll be a Goonies 2 now he's got spare time.

That'd only work afer he's served hios ban imo.. to earn any sort of respect.

They should just get rid. No place for druggies in the game. Serve the ban and take it from there. He's a Wigan lad through and through so maybe he'll want to go back. If not, life goes on!

Just looking ahead maybe all players should be tested and not just a few randomlyat a time.Maybe several clubs a week with only minimum prior warnings to the clubs concerned.Maybe a bit of a logistical nightmare,but you would certainly catch more of the users.

I know my pro cycling quite well (so well up on drugs

) and I suspect it is similar to what happens there, as it is all done following WADA guidelines and I know the RFL have signed up to them. In cycling the cyclist loses his racing license (all racing cyclists, even amateur have to hold a racing license to compete in mass start road racing) and with it his job, as you can't employ a cyclist who can not race! You can not sign up to do any other sport either who have also signed up to WADA, and of course most sports do!

So, I think that Gareth will lose his RFL registration and as such his job at Wigan (I think this gets round employment law issues as well and the reason that they register to play) and they will not allow him to re-apply for the duration of his ban, which is most probably going to be two years as this is the WADA recommendation and precedent in other sports.

So how come if you're so expert on drugs & cycling is Tom Boonen able to ride in the Tour de France given that he's failed 3 drugs tests for alleged cocaine use in the past 2 or 3 years?

If it is the problem you suggest, what do you propose the RFL do to clamp down? More drugs testing? What will that result in? More people being caught? Is that what you want? To see all the players you suggest are taking Cocaine banned for two years? We will end up with a more laughable league than we already have (quality wise).

Whilst not condoning him for one second, for mine, Cocaine is a social drug and does not offer performance enhancing properties. I would like the RFL and Wigan help to rehabilitate Hock, as what is he going to do for the next years? Take more? They should work with him, get him out into schools and academies over the country to help educate the "yoof" of today to stop them making the same mistakes he has.

I agree with this post in principal and the points that you have made, the best form of re-habilitation is getting Hock to speak about his mistakes in schools and colleges etc

Hypothetically speaking here of course, is it beyond comprehension that he could continue taking this banned substance for the next 18 months knowing that he will not have to undertake any tests from the rfl during any possible period that he is banned from playing?

I don't know if this is regular rfl practice or not, but i would like to see Hock tested every week, throughout his potential 2 year ban, if he gets one of course, to make sure that he has not indulged again during his ban!

I agree, let him use his mistakes to help educate others, I am sure hearing from someone known to a lot of them who has "been there done that got the t shirt" would have much more of an effect than a teacher telling them not to touch drugs.

Of course though this depends if he wants to move on and come off the drugs and turn things around, if he does the Club and the RFL should support him to do this and then encourage him to turn the experience into something positive.

The main cause for people failing drug tests is their underestimating the time it stays in the body.

There is a bit of misinformation out there and that is cocaine is out of your system in 2-3 days. Well while that might be true LABS DON'T TEST FOR THE DRUG ITSELF. Yes, that is true, they look for the metabolite. A metabolite is something that the body produces when it ingests something, in the case of cocaine it is "benzoylecgonine" that will stay around long after the drug is gone, up to 30 days for a frequent user. THE DRUG ITSELF can stay in your bloodstream up to 72 hours. It can stay in your urine for about 1 or up to 3 days after single use. Habitual or chronic use can be detected in urine for up to 12 weeks depending on quantity, duration, and frequency of use.

Cocain can stay in your hair up to about 90 days. But there are also information that cocaine can stay in your hair for about 25 years after you only take it once.

That's why i have asked the question, do the rfl test banned players throughout their banned period

Whilst agreeing with the education of others by Hock, there is a major problem.

Gareth isn't the sharpest knife in the draw and it would probably take him 12 months intense training for him to be able to present in a coherent manner.


It's not a criticism just a fact.

He's screwed up big style.

Somebody made the point on Friday, that it's quite strange that so many high profile players are injured at the moment.

Without acusing any player of any wrong doing, which high profile players are out injured at present

An England International Centre...

And teachers have what influence on kids anymore? There are more teachers leaving the profession than ever before, that is a fact, see the IFL documents. And the majority of those leaving are because nowadays they can no longer influence and educate kids. So someone is a 'celebrity' and who has been there and done it would, quite possibly, have more of an influence.

For him to be eligible to play again he has to agree to out-of-competition testing during his ban, which means he may be required to give whereabout information so they can test when they want. If Hock tests positive for anything again he's banned for life.

If say he decided to retire from rugby league tomorrow, then changed his mind at the end of the 2 years - he wouldn't be eligible to play again for another two years.

did some work with a fella who used to work for [url=http://www.asada.gov.au/ASADA[/url a few years back, he used to test at iron man competitions - and said some of the athletes used to looking at him knowingly as if to say 'you'll never catch us', the drug manufacturers are always looking at masking agents too - and are normally a couple of steps ahead of the testers - he said you with many drugs you really need to fck up to get caught.