National Rugby League Chief Medical Officer Denies League Has Prescription Drug Problem

National Rugby League Chief Medical Officer Ron Muratore said that he believes rugby league "does not have a problem with players abusing prescriptions drugs but that the game's governing body is determined to find out," according to James MacSmith of the CANBERRA TIMES. The NRL announced on Wednesday it had "reached an agreement with the Rugby League Players' Association to begin testing for two classes of prescription drugs this year." Muratore said that his "own research had indicated that was not the case." Muratore: "I'm pretty confident we don't have a problem but until we test the players we can't be sure. I don't think it is a widespread problem. But we intend to find out" (CANBERRA TIMES, 3/19).