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Leagues and Governing Bodies

Rugby League Players Association Calls For New Panel To Address Cocaine Issue

The Rugby League Players Association called for the establishment of a new "rehabilitation panel and integrity committee" as part of a "fresh approach to dealing with the issue of illicit drugs" in the National Rugby League, according to Adrian Proszenko of the SYDNEY MORNING HERALD. The NRL "has been rocked by a spate of cocaine busts involving players and officials that have damaged its brand." The RLPA wrote to all of its players on Wednesday to "outline its blueprint for dealing with the issue" under the banner, "A New Approach to Illicit Drug Use." The message, from RLPA CEO Ian Prendergast, called for a "more sophisticated solution than simply increasing sanctions," claiming there was "no evidence to suggest that a more punitive approach was proving effective." The RLPA is "seeking a raft of changes under the collective bargaining agreement including increased funding for education and improved processes regarding NRL integrity unit investigations, the process of issuing breach notices and the sanctioning of offenders" (SMH, 5/10). In Sydney, Brent Read reported hair follicle testing "is back on the agenda after the players union confirmed it was open to discussing use of the procedure" as a detection rather than a sanctioning tool. The NRL is also reportedly "prepared to consider its introduction on a limited basis, heightening the chances that the game’s battle against illicit drugs could soon be expanded to include hair tests." The Australian Football League "has used hair testing as a means of detection for years." Under its policy, positive hair follicle tests "do not result in strikes under the illicit regime." Instead, the results are then used to "target test anyone who may have supplied a positive sample" (THE AUSTRALIAN, 5/11).

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