NRL stars drug tested by the league following toilet cubicle ejection

NRL stars Kalyn Ponga and Kurt Mann have been subjected to drug tests by the league after being kicked out of a toilet cubicle.

Newcastle have launched an investigation after a video emerged of Kalyn Ponga and Knights teammate Kurt Mann being kicked out of a toilet cubicle by security.

Newcastle Knights duo Kalyn Ponga and Kurt Mann have been drug tested by the NRL after being kicked out of a toilet cubicle.

In the short clip, Ponga and Mann are asked to step out of a toilet cubicle. Both men walk out, fully-clothed with drinks in hand.

“Oh, that’s a surprise,” the security guard can be heard saying as the two men walk out.

The four-second clip is captioned: “Ponga getting done in the toilet.”

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NRL 360 co-host Paul Kent revealed the pair were tested on Tuesday but the results are not yet known and may also not ever become public.

“The NRL have acted on the investigation that they are currently undertaking in regards to the two Newcastle players Kalyn Ponga and Kurt Mann,” Kent said on NRL 360.

“The NRL sent their drug testers up there today under the illicit and hazardous drugs policy and both players have undergone drug tests today (Tuesday).

“It is confidential at the moment and the results will be confidential. But clearly the NRL is acting on the evidence they have already received.

“It is a drug test for illicit drugs. I don’t think it is performance enhancing. I think it is social drugs.

“We all draw our own conclusions about what was going on in the cubicle and the NRL have today reacted responsibly in regards to that and sent their drug testers there to see if there was social drugs involved.”

Screen grabs from the footage of the duo being kicked out.

Screen grabs from the footage of the duo being kicked out.

Kent explained the rules surrounding the NRL’s drug policy, if it is a first strike for either player nothing will come out from it. However a second strike results in a 12 week suspension.

“The investigation is about what happens next to these two players in terms of their punishment,” Kent said.

“It is clearly a bad look for the game. There was a lot of talking around what was potentially happening in the cubicle.

“But the NRL have gone right to the heart of it by bringing drug testers in there to figure out if they have a case to answer.

“Under the NRL drugs policy it is a three strikes policy. First offence the player’s identity will not be revealed. Under the first offence we will not be told of any positive or negative findings. That basically results in a warning and counselling if there is a positive drug test.

“Once we get to a second offence and second positive drug test it is then a mandatory 12 week suspension.”

Ponga is out for the remainder of the season. (Photo by Matt King/Getty Images)

Ponga’s father Andre told the News Corp publication that the Newcastle duo were in the toilet together due to illness.

“He made an exciting house purchase Saturday and celebrated with a few mates drinking,” he said.

“Sick in the toilet and his mate went in to help him.”

NRL 360 co-host Braith Anasta and journalist James Hooper were highly sceptical on the excuse given by Ponga’s father.

“We might have to get pinocchio out again, we’re not believing that fairytale are we?” Hooper said on NRL 360.

“It’s not often you go to the toilets with a mate to throw up, do ya,” Anasta said.

Hooper added: “They’re both coming out holding bourbon and cokes. It’s a bad scene.”

Knights director of football Peter Parr refused to comment on the specifics of the issue as he revealed in a press conference the club had referred the matter to the NRL Integrity Unit.

He said the club would support the Integrity Unit in whatever they need.

“We haven’t discussed any punishment yet because we don’t know if there’s any punishment to be had,” he said.

“We’ll run the process, work out exactly what’s happened or what hasn’t happened and then make some decisions. We don’t have to make any decisions on that yet because the process hasn’t been finalised.

“As I said, we don’t even know whether punishment is necessary.”

Originally published as NRL stars drug tested by the league following toilet cubicle ejection