Related: Cronulla Sharks players accept doping bans - "Up to 12 Cronulla players who were involved in the supplements program at the club in 2011 have agreed to accept an ASADA deal which would result in a 12-month ban, back-dated to November 2013."
Read more: http://www.smh.com.au/rugby-league/league-news/cronulla-sharks-players-accept-doping-bans-20140822-10728y.html#ixzz3B4mhfPZE
Cronulla skipper Paul Gallen and Anthony Tupou will miss the final three games of the NRL season if they accept a deal from the Australian Sports Anti-Doping Authority (ASADA).
The players have been selected in the Sharks squad for the Sunday against Canberra at Remondis Stadium, Woolooware.
Gallen, Tupou, Nathan Gardner, Wade Graham and the recently retired John Morris were issued on Wednesday with show-cause notices by ASADA for the supplements program in place at Cronulla in 2011.
ASADA has offered the players a 12-month sanction for doping but will backdate their sentences to November 21, 2013 and the players, if they accept the deal on offer by ASADA be cleared to train and play from November 22, 2014.
The offers were made for the Cronulla players at a series of meetings with ASADA, the NRL and the players’ lawyers on Wednesday.
There are 12 other Cronulla players, retired or playing at other clubs, issued with show-cause notices and given the same ASADA deal.
It is understood that if the players do not accept the deal by tomorrow (Friday), ASADA will withdraw its offer and the players could face a possible two-year suspension for using prohibited substances.
If players refuse the deal, they will then have less than 10 days to make a representation to ASADA as to why an infraction notice should not be issued.
The matter will then be brought before the anti-doping rules and violation panel where medical, legal and scientific experts act as a grand jury.
They analyse all the information and decide if there is a case for the players to answer or if the case can be proven.
It is understood that ASADA has applied the ‘‘no significant fault’’ concession to the players, believing they were unwitting victims of an experimental doping program.
John Morris announced his retirement last week after battling a neck injury and Nathan Gardner has been selected in the Cronulla NSW Cup team to play North Sydney on Saturday.
Wade Graham has stress fractures in his foot and is out injured for the season.
