One Rule For All

[momentai]

I disagree along with you Rosy... but maybe for different reasons.

Our kids need role models just like we did.They need ecouragement to stay in school just like we did and they need to know that the taking on of a personal stand against drug taking is not a matter which will put them out of step with contemp values. Performance enhancing drugs are necessarily at the top of the Drug Code hit list but Benny Gale and his mates at the AFL Players Assoc have done us no favours by causing the AFL to soft peddel on recreational drugs.

One well known midfielder from a WC club is not going to be helped by the time it will take before he is finally exposed. Does any one seriously believe that these drugs are not addictive.  IMO the AFL should require that the players Coach be informed immediately there is any positive test.

 

[Phar Ace]

i disagree. unless the drug is performance enhancing, it's none of our business what players do or take in their private lives

I disagree.  ;D 

Performance reducing drugs would be of equal concern for clubs.  They have the right to expect their players at optimal fitness and able to perform at an elite level.  They would probably also expect the players be law abiding citizens.  They are paid very well to be role models to people who pay a lot of money to watch them.  If substances are banned by the league or in their contracts they're not acceptable.

They can do what they like when they retire.

Disagree as well Ian.  To restate.  IF SUBSTANCES ARE BANNED BY THE LEAGUE OR IN THEIR CONTRACTS THEN THEY ARE NOT ACCEPTABLE.  I can't see there are any shades of grey on this.

The only bad publicity the AFL will get is if they are found to not publish the results, or worse, not extend some sort of penalty combined with some rehab if deemed necessary. 

 

[purepoweryouth]

i disagree. unless the drug is performance enhancing, it's none of our business what players do or take in their private lives

I disagree.  ;D 

Performance reducing drugs would be of equal concern for clubs.  They have the right to expect their players at optimal fitness and able to perform at an elite level.  They would probably also expect the players be law abiding citizens.  They are paid very well to be role models to people who pay a lot of money to watch them.  If substances are banned by the league or in their contracts they're not acceptable.

They can do what they like when they retire.

Hear hear Rosy. :clap

 

[Anduril]

Agree with Malthouse on this one too. Coaches need to know who has tested positive, it can affect management of the playing group in many ways.

 

[GhostofJimmyJess]

I disagree.  ;D 

Performance reducing drugs would be of equal concern for clubs.  They have the right to expect their players at optimal fitness and able to perform at an elite level.  They would probably also expect the players be law abiding citizens.  They are paid very well to be role models to people who pay a lot of money to watch them.  If substances are banned by the league or in their contracts they're not acceptable.

They can do what they like when they retire.

Spot on, rosy. While I think alcohol is currently a bigger problem in our sporting culkture than drugs (recreational or performance-enhancing), at present it is a legal substance, and I think we'll have to deal with that in a different manner.

But a professional football club has every right to expect that it's players are doing everything they can to maintain physical and mental fitness, and recreational drugs, I'm sorry to say, tend to have the opposite effect.

 

[Ghost Who Walks]

I disagree.  ;D 

Performance reducing drugs would be of equal concern for clubs.  They have the right to expect their players at optimal fitness and able to perform at an elite level.  They would probably also expect the players be law abiding citizens.  They are paid very well to be role models to people who pay a lot of money to watch them.  If substances are banned by the league or in their contracts they're not acceptable.

They can do what they like when they retire.

Spot on, rosy. While I think alcohol is currently a bigger problem in our sporting culkture than drugs (recreational or performance-enhancing), at present it is a legal substance, and I think we'll have to deal with that in a different manner.

But a professional football club has every right to expect that it's players are doing everything they can to maintain physical and mental fitness, and recreational drugs, I'm sorry to say, tend to have the opposite effect.

You either ban them and make public who used them regardless or embrace them like Major League Baseball.

This wishy washy approach does nothing, there is no middle ground.

Players are paid employees of the club, Fireman, Air Traffic Controllers and other occupations have zero tolerance at the workplace so it is not unreasonable for the AFL to do the same.

I admit that the other occupations have a greater responsibility and consequence due to the actions of the individuals, but why should AFL players be treated with kid gloves.

You are paid very well as an AFL player, if you do not like it quit.

 

[Gordietiger]

Coaches must be told on first report of recreational drug use-so the club can determine what sanctions/consequences/rehah it wants to put in place . The 3 strikes approach is actually in front of WADA as atheletes are not tested out of season for recreational drugs-in fact-most are not at all.
On the other hand -Brian Waldron the CEO of Melbourne storm was on the front foot this week in regard to this
"any player who brings our brand name into disrepute will be sued-I will take money off them"!!

 

[Western Tiger]

Can we stop calling them "recreational drugs" there is nothing "recreational" about them, they are ILLEGAL.

 

[Al Bundy]

However, I have it from a good source, the AFL is aware of 2 other steroid positive tests in the past 5 years.

all was kept hush hush as they didnt want the bad publicity.

If this is fact it is a disgrace on behalf of the AFL, but hear say without concrete proof will be always hard to believe when a statement like that is said.

 

[Tigerdog]

Recreational drugs are a players private business. Sure we should expect more from them but geeez these are young men we are talking about. That stuff happens. They shoudn't be hanged for it! Yes I agree let the coach know, but the rest is their private business.
If it is something that affects there performance then ok punish them as needs be. But let's not get all holier than thou when it comes to these things. They earn a big wage and will be tempted from time to time to indulge in such things as most young men do.
Let's not forget that these guys are 17 and up.
Whoever is sinless from that age onward is welcome to cast the first stone Just make sure you aren'yta hypocrite when you do that

 

[an_oxford_man]

Recreational drugs are a players private business. Sure we should expect more from them but geeez these are young men we are talking about. That stuff happens. They shoudn't be hanged for it! Yes I agree let the coach know, but the rest is their private business.
If it is something that affects there performance then ok punish them as needs be. But let's not get all holier than thou when it comes to these things. They earn a big wage and will be tempted from time to time to indulge in such things as most young men do.
Let's not forget that these guys are 17 and up.
Whoever is sinless from that age onward is welcome to cast the first stone Just make sure you aren'yta hypocrite when you do that

Exactly, TD.

I don't understand why it is such a big deal.

 

[Tigers of Old]

Can we stop calling them "recreational drugs" there is nothing "recreational" about them, they are ILLEGAL.

This is true enough.

What is a recreational drug anyway?

Tea, coffee, nicotine, alcohol?

Pot, E's, Speed, Heroin?

If I was an administrator of a footy club I'd be pretty concerned if my highly paid, professional athlete was abusing any drug and I'd feel entitled to know about it. "Recreational" or otherwise.

Players are paid employees of the club, Fireman, Air Traffic Controllers and other occupations have zero tolerance at the workplace so it is not unreasonable for the AFL to do the same.

I admit that the other occupations have a greater responsibility and consequence due to the actions of the individuals, but why should AFL players be treated with kid gloves.

You are paid very well as an AFL player, if you do not like it quit.

Agree entirely.

 

[Leysy Days]

Recreational drugs are a players private business. Sure we should expect more from them but geeez these are young men we are talking about. That stuff happens. They shoudn't be hanged for it! Yes I agree let the coach know, but the rest is their private business.
If it is something that affects there performance then ok punish them as needs be. But let's not get all holier than thou when it comes to these things. They earn a big wage and will be tempted from time to time to indulge in such things as most young men do.
Let's not forget that these guys are 17 and up.
Whoever is sinless from that age onward is welcome to cast the first stone Just make sure you aren'yta hypocrite when you do that

Exactly, TD.

I don't understand why it is such a big deal.

Leysys completely with ya as well on this one lads, well said TD

 

[RoyceHart]

I heard on the news today that there is a court case underway between the AFL (with the Players association) and some media outlets who want to publish the names of the three repeat offenders. Will certainly be interesting to see the outcome of this case.

The AFL must be fuming as apparently they did not even have the information leaked.

It was also noted that the three named are from non-Victorian teams.

 

[Jools]

There's an article about this on the Journos board.

http://www.puntroadend.com/yabbse/index.php?topic=20223.0

 

[Ian4]

with 3 people disagreeing with me on page 2 of this thread i guess i'd probably better explain myself a little further as i probably didn't use the right words to make my point.

first of all i better dispell one stereotype. while i openly say i'm i raver and i love my trance music, i am not pro-drugs and nor do i condone them.

it is just my opinion that testing out of season is an invasion of privacy. what a player does in the offseason is none of our business (i also believe this is also the AFLPA's view). if it's illegal, it's a matter for the police, not us and not the AFL. i also believe it's not for us to pass judgement on a player.

yes players are role models, but not by choice, and the reality is the amount of players found to have recreational drugs in their system is lower compared to what it is in normal society.

the obvious exception of course is performance enhancing drugs. if they take those and get caught they deserve an automatic 2 year suspension as per the WADA code