Because the length of the ban was too harsh. Justice is the key not consistency. Ben Barba got twelve games. I think that seems more reasonable.

FWIW Tomkins is likely to be back in the halves where he started out, so maybe Zak will be welcome. I'll have no problem with that.

It might too harsh and there's an argument that it could be shorter. But 2 years is the standard punishment it seems by UKAD so at least they're consistent. Chase now has the same. Drug testers aren't exactly going to have the view of let's be lenient in their job are they just because fans don't want to see someone banned for too long.

People bringing up Barba are completely missing the fact he was tested by a different drug testing organisation in a different country out of competition. SL doesn't decide the length of the ban they just follow them, with Barba they could only either really make him miss 12 games or none at all and it'd open up a lot of messier repercussions if they did the former.

As mentioned before one was a heat of the moment thing that can happen on the pitch (also maintain that I don't think it was aimed at the referee)

The other is a conscious decision that he had time to think about doing or not doing and had time to weigh up the potential damage and he still did it. Which is made worst considering his chequered past and the closeness of the playoffs for his team who were having a dream season.

The point about Barba is the lack of consistency - the rules need to provide an even playing field.

It doesn't matter where or when you are tested the governing bodies should agree an appropriate punishment that applies to everyone

how is there a lack of consistency? have other athletes failing out of competition tests received other bans from WADA?
failing in and out of competition tests are different offences, hence different punishments.

Shawn Barber Canadian pole vaulter - no ban despite testing positive in competition
Dan Evans - tennis player - one year despite testing positive during competition

BARBER - 'World pole vault champion Shawn Barber avoided a two-year suspension for an anti-doping violation after inadvertently ingesting cocaine when kissing a woman he met on the internet.

Barber was spared a ban after successfully arguing that the drug had been passed on through “kissing”.

EVANS - 'Dan Evans has been banned from tennis for one year after claiming leftover cocaine in a washbag or the pocket of his trousers contaminated legitimate medicine.

The 27-year-old tested positive for cocaine during the Barcelona Open in April this year but the ITF said in a statement it accepted “inadvertent contamination” was to blame for the positive test and that Evans bore “no significant fault or negligence”.

Quote ="Sal Paradise"Shawn Barber Canadian pole vaulter - no ban despite testing positive in competition Dan Evans - tennis player - one year despite testing positive during competition'" Dan Evans failed an out of competition test according to this article and looks like it was the tennis association that decided the ban - just like the NRL decided Barba's. https://www.theguardian.com/sport/2017/ ... st-cocaine See Printer's post for Shawn Barber's ban. Ben Barba was banned before he came here and the RFL respected the ban imposed by NRL - dont they normally carry the bans over? Out of competion tests are for the governing bodies to deal with as far as i can tell theyve been pretty consistent.

Quote ="Sal Paradise"Shawn Barber Canadian pole vaulter - no ban despite testing positive in competition Dan Evans - tennis player - one year despite testing positive during competition'" Dan Evans failed an out of competition test according to this article and looks like it was the tennis association that decided the ban - just like the NRL decided Barba's. https://www.theguardian.com/sport/2017/ ... st-cocaine See Printer's post for Shawn Barber's ban. Ben Barba was banned before he came here and the RFL respected the ban imposed by NRL - dont they normally carry the bans over? Out of competion tests are for the governing bodies to deal with as far as i can tell theyve been pretty consistent.

Your point is what exactly?

both of these athletes tested positive in competition for cocaine and got either a reduced sentence or no ban. Perhaps it is the quality of your lawyer that determines the length of your ban?

Why did Evans have "left over cocaine" if he wasn't a user? or was it OK to use outside of competition which in his case was most of the time as he seldom made it past the first round.

It illustrates the inconsistencies in the treatment of the same offence i.e. testing positive for cocaine in competition.

It illustrates every case is judged individually despite you claiming inconsistencies. It's like saying every high tackle or crusher tackle or contact with the ref should have the exact same ban when really they're differences in each case which often means different lengths of bans.

Having said that, a blanket two-year ban, whether tested in competition or not, would simplify things for everyone. Given how dumb some players are, the idea that if they're caught at ANY time they'll be out for two years might make them think twice.

Quote ="Neruda"Dan Evans failed an out of competition test according to this article and looks like it was the tennis association that decided the ban - just like the NRL decided Barba's. https://www.theguardian.com/sport/2017/ ... st-cocaine See Printer's post for Shawn Barber's ban. Ben Barba was banned before he came here and the RFL respected the ban imposed by NRL - dont they normally carry the bans over? Out of competion tests are for the governing bodies to deal with as far as i can tell theyve been pretty consistent.'" Evans was tested at the Barcelona open - so in competition. It seems if you can come up with a good excuse you get a reduced ban - hardly consistent. as for Barber that really is stretching the imagination. As Brisbane says if you get caught the punishment needs to be the same regardless of the excuse you come up with.

Quote ="Neruda"Dan Evans failed an out of competition test according to this article and looks like it was the tennis association that decided the ban - just like the NRL decided Barba's. https://www.theguardian.com/sport/2017/ ... st-cocaine See Printer's post for Shawn Barber's ban. Ben Barba was banned before he came here and the RFL respected the ban imposed by NRL - dont they normally carry the bans over? Out of competion tests are for the governing bodies to deal with as far as i can tell theyve been pretty consistent.'" Evans was tested at the Barcelona open - so in competition. It seems if you can come up with a good excuse you get a reduced ban - hardly consistent. as for Barber that really is stretching the imagination. As Brisbane says if you get caught the punishment needs to be the same regardless of the excuse you come up with.

www.bbc.co.uk/sport/rugby-union/42171264 Maybe Hardaker will only get 3 months too? Double standards?

www.bbc.co.uk/sport/rugby-union/42171264 Maybe Hardaker will only get 3 months too? Double standards?

Alledged cocaine use, a bit vague, Seems to me that's he has been caught internally so internal,discipline matter, not the same as being caught by WADA after an official drug test. That's a standard 2 years for banned performances enhancer.

I wonder if Hardie paid tax on that purchase.

I have been informed that Zak has started working for a commercial cleaning company based in Castleford.(I won't name the company)

It would be my guess that the Castleford Tigers Club have set him up with this temporary employment until he is allowed to return to playing.
(I would hope that this is also some form of punishment from the club and that he has contracted hours that he has to adhere to each day in order that he can return to playing for them once his ban elapses)

Hopefully his rude awakenings from not being allowed to play Rugby League whilst he is banned and also now having to undertake work as a cleaner will make him realise what a talented fool he is and that he will finally make some lifestyle changes that will stop himself getting into these situations ever again,But we've all thought that before so I won't hold my breath that he won't ever get into these situations in future

Would said company happen to be a commercial partner of the club?

And people think the clubs aren't complicit!

5 stars for you Superted

Don't agree with long bans for this. It's effectively a club matter and his ultimate employer the RFL. Let's be honest RL players have rarely shown themselves to be "role models". I wouldn't want my son to look up to that t!t with or without the coke use. 3 months for first offence, then double it every time he repeats. It's not "cheating" and he's only ruining himself.

except it is not a club matter its world anti doping authority matter, they tested him they caught him, they say that coke is a performance enhancer, and coke is class A illegal. its on there banned list so as a professional sportsman he comes under WADA testing, all players no the consequences of a 2 year ban if caught so letting him of with what is essentially on off season ban is no deterrent.
sick of hearing how he is some how hard done to, unlucky, cocaine is ok everyone does it. well everybody speeds when driving but its still illegal and you can get banned if caught. so tough sh*t. career pretty much over its his own fault. don't want a 2 year ban don't snort class A narcotics. its that simple.

Spot on

WADA are wrong about their bans for recreational drug use. Unless you are playing the part of Mork in Mork and Mindy cocaine is not going to enhance your performance and WADA know it. Cannabis is on the list due to US lobbying as part of their general "war on drugs". If they want to ban performance enhancing drugs then why are painkilling injections allowed. They are drugs and they enhance performance, they also f*** players up.

Whether WADA are right or wrong, and I disagree with you, the fact of the matter is that all RL players including the serial miscreant, knew how the use of Cocaine would be viewed and what the potential penalties could be. So any dumb bar steward who for his own jollies decided to flout the rules, risking a ban in the process and letting down his club, team mates and supporters deserves what ever he gets IMO. And for the avoidance of doubt if he were still a Rhino, I'd hold exactly the same view. A player, any player, who lacks the self discipline to curb his behaviour whilst he is in competition, is a liability that most clubs can do without.

Sorry DHM, I'm with Tomcat. There are plenty of laws I may disagree with, or punishments for offences within RL. But they are what they are. If you want them changed them lobby to get them changed, but its never been any kind of defence to say you disagree with the punishment.

Why do people refer cocaine as a "recreational drug?"

Its a class A illegal drug.

Apologies M'lud, i was recreationally shoplifting, speeding, assaulting, armed robbing.

Lets not confuse recreational with illegal just to make it sound acceptable. He snorted it, knew the risks, got caught...simple

He made his bed, zero sympathy