In my book, he is a fool whatever way you cut it and certainly not a role model (but could become one).

If he took the drugs in a deliberate act to extend / improve his playing career he is an idiot a cheat and a fraud. If he was given a prescription drug by a GP that was on the band list then he is not particularly bright. The requirements of drug testing are widely knowns across sports and all he needed to say to the GP that he could be subject to testing therefore would require a drug not on the band list. If no such drug was available, he could have declared the fact to the authorities with the support of the GP. As long as this is done in advance of any test it shouldn't cause a problem (this is how Asthmatic athletics get around the problem). Checking isn't exactly hard as either McDermott or his GP could have referred the prohibited list on the WADA website.

In many jobs a failed drug test can lead to immediate dismissal regardless of whether the drug is recreational or performance enhancing, in RL it leads to a 2 year ban allowing the individual to return to play the sport if still young enough or alternatively in a different capacity.

He has let himself and his family down. Now is the time for him to to become a role model by ensuring others do not make the same mistakes he has.

well said RN,and i've never even been to Cumbria !

Brett gave a typically honest interview with the local press 2 months ago when this story first broke, for anyone who wishes to get the full facts before judging him..... www.nwemail.co.uk/news/my-drugs- ... th=raiders

Brett gave a typically honest interview with the local press 2 months ago when this story first broke, for anyone who wishes to get the full facts before judging him..... www.nwemail.co.uk/news/my-drugs- ... th=raiders

“I took some orals from the gym to speed things up. With work, I wanted to get back to fitness as soon as I could.

“I didn’t ask what was in them. I knew they were anabolic, but I didn’t ask what was in them, I just wanted to get back playing and working and this sorted us out''
=#FF0000i understand his wish to get back to work, im sure we all get that. being semi pro he has to be able to complete his 'real' job to support his family. that being said he obviously knew full well what he was doing.

“There are things you can take in competition and out of competition and I thought, as long as I’m clear when I’m playing, I would be fine''
=#FF0000With all due respect to the man thats bloody stupid. what about pre season then?

“I was never taking any performance-enhancing drugs when I was playing''
=#FF0000 clearly not, it would be a bit obvious if you started popping pills or shooting up DURING a game. people are tested year round for good reasons. if he absolutely needed to take if for medical reasons he should have actually got it from a doctor and not some meat head juicer in a gym and declared it to the powers that be. to take it knowing it is banned, from an unofficial source and say nothing is just stupid.

“It’s a bad way to end (my career). I hope people don’t judge me on what I have done now, but rather what I have done in the past.
=#FF0000i certainly wont judge him a cheat. im sure we all can understand why, hes taken this stuff for 'recovery enhancement' not performance enhancement as such. but i will judge him as bloody stupid.

Completely disagree.

Recreational drugs can easily be considered as performance enhancing: one of the differences between the 'top' sports stars and the 'also rans' is their ability to stay calm before big games and wind down afterwards. Recreational drugs taken to relax, have fun etc are clearly aiding this, and therefore performance enhancing - and if illegal deserving of a ban.

That's one of the most tenuous arguments linking recreational drugs with performance in sport I've ever heard. I doubt very, very much, that Gaz Hock (or any other player) on a night out with his mates, does a line or two in the toilets and is thinking "well, this'll help me chill before next Friday's game and therefore play better."

People do drugs such as cocaine, Es, whizz, etc to get a high on a night out. They smoke cannabis to get a bit daft, get the giggles and chill - but to suggest cannabis is performance enhancing because it relaxes you is toooo far out maaan. And remember, they need to train all week - having your body in an induced state of relaxation, or going through recovery from the drug is hardly going to enhance your performance.

As for McDermott - a sad situation. It's not hard to understand that players are looking for as rapid a recovery as possible to get back to work and earn their bread. Once you get past your 30s recovery takes a bit longer...and a bit longer...and a bit longer. But that said he knew he was popping something dodgy and has admitted his mistake.