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Drugs bans Six-month suspensions for West Tigers pair
Updated: Wednesday March 28, 2001 11:05 AM
SYDNEY (Reuters) -- The Australian National Rugby League (NRL) banned two players for six months Wednesday after they tested positive for recreational drugs. West Tigers halfback Craig Field was banned for testing positive for cocaine while his teammate Kevin McGuiness was suspended for taking ecstasy. The lengthy bans will mean they will miss the rest of the 2001 season. The two players admitted taking the drugs at a party in February. They were tested at a random training session held before the start of the competition and volunteered to stand down as soon as the results of their A tests were announced. Both players refused to speak after the NRL tribunal's decision was handed down but West Tigers chairman John Chalk said they would appeal against the severity of the fine. "On behalf of the club I'm extremely disappointed with that decision," Chalk said. "The legal representatives of the players will make statements at the end of the week in regard to dealing with that decision." Although cocaine and ecstasy are not performance-enhancing they are on the NRL's list of banned drugs and carry an automatic ban of between 12 weeks and two years. Hopoat banned for "interference" Former Australian rugby league international John Hopoate was banned for 12 weeks Wednesday after being found guilty of "interfering" with opponents. The Wests Tigers winger was said to have jammed his fingers up the backsides of three North Queensland players during a match last weekend. NRL judiciary commissioner Jim Hall said: "I must say in my 45 years involvement in rugby league I've never come across a more disgusting allegation than I've had to deal with now." Hopoate denied the charges, but television replays appeared to support them. Hopoate, who is as well known for his antics off the field as his ability to score tries on it, continued his protest, saying he thought he had nothing to answer for. "I'm a great believer in what happens on the field should stay there," he said. But the graphic accounts of Hopoate's three victims helped condemn the giant Tongan-born winger to another lengthy suspension. "There was pressure there. I know he wasn't doing it accidentally. He was definitely pushing," said North Queensland player Paul Bowman. "I was disgusted. I couldn't believe it."
Copyright 2003 Reuters Limited. All rights reserved.
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