NRL clubs face hefty sanctions over drug test role call for players on a daily basis

MORE Jason Bourne than National Rugby League! The NRL is forcing clubs to hand over the personal information of players so they can be drug-tested at any time.

NRL clubs face a breach notice, including suspension of staff and a hefty fine if they fail to provide a roll call of players due at training each day to ASADA, the Integrity Unit and independent illicit drug-testers, Laverty Pathology.

The daily disclosure of training schedules and player whereabouts for all 16 clubs also includes the mobile phone number and home address of every NRL and under-20s Holden Cup squad member.

The NRL also keeps a secret list of “first time” players who have returned a positive sample to illicit drugs with the power to direct Laverty to target a certain individual for further testing.

The NRL’s advanced illicit drugs policy explains why Laverty officers selected premiership-winning Cronulla fullback Ben Barba — who had previously tested positive to cocaine on Mad Monday in September 2015 — for testing just days after the Sharks’ 2016 title success.

What the NRL and drug testing officials are demanding from NRL clubs.

On average, between four and six players are asked to provide urine samples when Laverty’s drug officers arrive without warning.

Officers have been known to arrive at Mad Monday celebrations to test players.

Barba, undergoing a rehabilitation program at a Thailand clinic, was ordered to provide a urine sample four days after the grand final with his test part of 2100 conducted by Laverty this year.

Laverty also has the power to “doorknock” players for testing throughout their eight-week break in the off-season.

The NRL wouldn’t confirm if there had been a spike in positive tests throughout the eight-week “party period”.

Despite the drug net seemingly being cast far and wide by ASADA and Laverty, some players and clubs continue to find a way to skirt the procedure.

One player told The Sunday Telegraph his club was aware he “is clean” so they could call upon him at any time to undertake a test.

He would also volunteer to be tested to protect his teammates should there be any fears of a positive result.

Despite what most would concede is merely a requirement of being a professional athlete, the inconvenience and confronting nature of drug officers arriving at a player’s home continues to be an issue.

One player told The Sunday Telegraph how his partner had been left shaken by the unannounced arrival of an ASADA officer at her door.

Home alone, the player’s partner made a panicked call to the footballer, after not knowing who the testers were. The testers sat in a car outside the property for two hours as the player navigated his way home through heavy traffic from training.

Despite Laverty’s delivery of only three cases of players testing positive twice for illicit drugs over the past two years, the NRL claims the system is working.

Originally published as NRL clubs face hefty sanctions over drug test role call for players on a daily basis