So are many other things, but players don't get two year bans for taking Ibuprofen or having a pint do they?



I've no doubt that he knew the potential consequences of his actions, and I have no sympathy for that, but the rules make no sense and should be changed.

Or we could move away from the currently illogical stance on drugs and make them legal instead.....

..

I'm baffled that coke isn't considered performance enhancing. It's a powerful anaesthetic and increases stamina.

You would have to do a line just before kick off though... it doesnt last that long







So I'm told

Playing devils advocate here...



If recreational drugs effect your mental state and you then take the field and cause a serious injury to a player due to the mental effects that drug has had over the time you have been taking it I guess that could be a good reason to stick to a two year ban which would (if the player stays clean) hopefully sort the players head out. Similar to why drugs and driving is a bad idea I guess.

Yes but who's shooting up right before kickoff?

Ill openly admit ive taken to a footy field right after a session on MDMA back in the day, it didn't really do me any favours.

Paul Cooke got a 3 month ban after moving to Rovers over an approach to another club.

Gareth Hock took illegal drugs and was caught to the detriment of any kids, fans that looked upto him.



Hardly the same is it

There was still enough in his system to fail the test, so presumably enough to make a system to his mental capacity?

Im not a doctor so I dont know but it takes time to work its way through your system, same as any food etc. I would have thought the effect on the brain would be long gone though tbh

RL signs upto the drugs agreement that covers all sports and as such any and all bans are fully enforced. Hock knew the risks if he got caught and he WILL SERVE THE FULL TERM .



I would go further and a second offence on or off the field for drugs offences and the player gets a sine die.

Good point and in hindsight I think the RFL should look at each persons circumstances as different. Ok this will mean a bit of inconsistency but I’m sure it’ll lead to much better out comes than the two year bans that we have in place at the moment.



I just feel that two years is a long time in such a short professional career.



At the end of the day Gareth Hock has clearly demonstrated in the press that he’s done wrong and I feel that this is lesson learnt for him. Its so easy to get into the drug Habit because I’ve seen it happen to people in front of my very eyes!



We should be helping and not punishing. There’s a fine line between the two.