Seems harsh to me for cocaine, given it's not a PED and his absolute admision of guilt (refused to get B test tested).
Remember this is the same ban as someone who actively takes steroids and other PEDs with a view to cheating.
But then he's a role model, very high profile and so he's being made an example of. But I'm not sure who to. Not to the gen pop in terms of cocaine use, but to other sporting people, and surely a 1 year ban with the ability to continue to train and with some mandatory community service promoting the game / anti drugs to kids would have been in everyone's best interests?
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It's a banned substance because it is a PED - although he would have been taking it recreationally.
I think it's a fair outcome and it's good that he has taken punishment humbly. Hopefully he can come back from this with abit of integrity in tact.
Rugby, Unlike football have signed up to the WADA list, So any drug is banned..
Face it the guy is a prat, With Phil Vickery coming to the end of his career the place was his for years to come.. and he threw it all away
time will tell what happens to his rugby career now
Reaches for diary.. Me and FB agreed on something !!
Still looking for some wesh ancestory so I can enjoy tonights game...
He's 26, and international star and loaded. He developed an adiction that he's now getting treatment for. Perhaps I'm thinking then that the bigger issues are a lack of punishment in athletics and especially girlyball. My worry is that someone who ends up in a simmilar place in the future doesn't seek the help they need for fear of such a harsh punishment. Aren't there a load of snowbarders that have been allowed to carry on despite recreational drugs being found in their systems?
I think if I applaud one thing it's his admission of guilt - did you ever see Dwayne Chambers, Marion Jones, Ben Johnson etc admit their guilt despite all the evidence - OK Jones did but pretty reluctantly in the end.......
hopefully Stevens and rugby generally will be better for the admission...
and he's not the 1st rugby player to be banned - others have but mainly for steroids - but is the highest profile so far
Chambers et al went through constant denial of guilt until they were proven guilty by testing - yet of course they knew they were in the wrong but weren't prepared to accept it until much later - it's that that pees me off........
He clammed up big time and he knows it. So honest and open of him to admit it only a few months after he was absolutely nailed to the wall.
sounds like he did know where they were.