Prince backs Titans' tough drugs stance
Tuesday, January 23, 2007 - 4:30 PM
Gold Coast co-captain Scott Prince says he fully supports his NRL club's hardline stance on illicit drugs, despite the players' association backing the controversial "three-strikes" testing policy.
Almost one-third of NRL clubs have rejected the AFL-style policy aimed at introducing standardised procedures for testing for recreational drugs.
"I think from day one we've set a stance and if any of the players overstep the mark they pay the consequences," Prince told reporters.
"I'm totally behind Searley's (Titans managing director Michael Searle) approach to drugs in sport."
Under the "three-strikes" policy, tabled by the NRL to its clubs in November, players would receive a suspended fine for a first offence.
A second failed test would result in a player being fined 15 per cent of his salary, and a third positive would mean an automatic 12-week suspension.
Clubs would also have the power to sack a player following a third failed test.
Searle said the NRL needed to send a stronger message to players that illicit drug use would not be tolerated in the game.
The Titans have a policy in place in which a player testing positive to illegal drugs can be sacked and fined 25 per cent of his contract.
"We understand that's not going to work for every club but from our point of view we feel that the three-strikes policy can be modified a little bit," Searle said.
"We would like to see a stronger message sent.
"All the players are explained in the first week of orientation that their contract can be terminated if they test positive to illicit drugs.
"In saying that, we do have a parachute clause where if they were to appeal we could come up with another result."
North Queensland, Canberra, Cronulla and Melbourne are other clubs seeking more stringent penalties.
Both Searle and Prince denied Titans players would be more tempted to use recreational drugs on the Gold Coast, renowned as a party capital.
"I'm sure you'll get your drugs anywhere in the world and the Gold Coast is no different," said halfback Prince.
"We try and stay away from that. We're professional athletes and we've got to live our lives accordingly."
Searle said he supported the actions of North Queensland chief executive Peter Parr, who tore up Mitchell Sargent's contract in August last year after the prop tested positive to cocaine from an in-house test.
It flies in the face of the Rugby League Professionals Association's push to implement the "three-strikes" policy, with secretary Matt Rodwell arguing it should be based around welfare, education and rehabilitation.
"If your son or daughter came home from a night out and they were involved in drugs, would you kick them out of home on a first strike or would you sit down with them, discuss the issue and educate them about the dangers behind it?" asked Rodwell.
"We're trying to educate and rehabilitate players rather than discard them, throw them out on the streets and say `do your best'."
Searle said the Titans would conduct more than 200 in-house drug tests on its players this year.
Source: AAP