Rugby and drugs...

Two Premiership rugby union players test positive for cocaine use (http://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/rugby-union/38761246)...

Who's been a naughty boy then..

They say in the report, it was recreational drugs and that it was out of season.

Personally, if the drugs where illegal, of which these where (cocaine is still illegal I believe), then information should be passed to the police and they should decide appropriate action (IMO). In my job, if I was found to use recreational drugs, I'd lose my job, whether or not it was done in my own time. I don't think these guys should just get away with this. Perhaps the RFU should name and shame them.

What's your thoughts..

Would you really lose your job? Also not sure what you do but there is nearly zero chance of an employer in most jobs knowing if one of their employees does coke at the weekend and they probably don't care either.

I guess I would prefer the focus to be on performance enhancing drugs.

As far as I'm aware it's illegal to possess and deal Cocaine but it's not actually illegal to use it so no reason why the Police would get involved.

Yep.. I would.

My job requires me to have a test regularly (every year). That may not seem that regular, but they take a hair sample, which I've been informed, can identify (for certain drugs) usage in the previous year (sometimes more).

Without detail, its about security clearance (shhh!!!).. so yes, I would lose my job.

Different companies have different rules

Most companies will sack you if you are under the influence of drugs while in the workplace. If you get melted at the weekend and then you're fine for work on Monday, then most companies won't even know about it so won't sack you.

Some companies will sack you if you get a criminal record so if these players are found guilty of cocaine use in a court of law, they could very well be sacked by their teams!

As a side note, sticking that stuff up your nose will do untold damage to your body. These days we're very concerned about head impacts and I'd say sniffing coke will probably do more damage to your body than a dozen Brian Lima tackles!

Hammersmith harrier wrote:As far as I'm aware it's illegal to possess and deal Cocaine but it's not actually illegal to use it so no reason why the Police would get involved.

That is correct (re legality), however, depending on workload, the Police might be interested.

The Jake Livermore (footballer) case highlights how futile discussing something like this is without all the details; for those that don't know he failed a test for Cocaine but was rightly exonerated of any blame because of severe personal trauma.

Stevens was named straight away from memory with a 2 year ban wasn't he?

Thought this was new news...is it an old story being revamped by the BBC..

From the closed season. Just wondering why one was announced quite publicly with a 2 year ban where this is kept quiet. Possibly means they are really young players or possibly under a different union? Only obvious difference is close season vs test from a game.

Rugby and drugs?

Yes, it happens.


Oh cocaine?

Well............. it's 'out of season' so the word is it's not even linked to rugby and just instead a lifestyle choice (a lifestyle choice that keeps the most dangerous criminals on the planet living in the lap of luxury btw) but a lifestyle choice and nothing more.

Yet one of its effects is to deaden pain?  So we're back to a possible connection?  And my question is: out-of-season as in before League games start but during pre-season itself - or during their genuine holiday period?

Hammersmith harrier wrote:As far as I'm aware it's illegal to possess and deal Cocaine but it's not actually illegal to use it so no reason why the Police would get involved.

 When you say "Possess and supply", do you not mean "possess for the purposes of supply"?

 Otherwise how could you "use" and not be in possession?

tigertattie wrote:Different companies have different rules

Most companies will sack you if you are under the influence of drugs while in the workplace. If you get melted at the weekend and then you're fine for work on Monday, then most companies won't even know about it so won't sack you.

Some companies will sack you if you get a criminal record so if these players are found guilty of cocaine use in a court of law, they could very well be sacked by their teams!

As a side note, sticking that stuff up your nose will do untold damage to your body. These days we're very concerned about head impacts and I'd say sniffing coke will probably do more damage to your body than a dozen Brian Lima tackles!

Yeah that was my point. I doubt the rugby lads were playing rugby while on coke.

No9 wrote:Yep.. I would.

My job requires me to have a test regularly (every year). That may not seem that regular, but they take a hair sample, which I've been informed, can identify (for certain drugs) usage in the previous year (sometimes more).

Without detail, its about security clearance (shhh!!!).. so yes, I would lose my job.

Are you a pilot or bus driver or something?

GunsGermsV2 wrote:

No9 wrote:Yep.. I would.

My job requires me to have a test regularly (every year). That may not seem that regular, but they take a hair sample, which I've been informed, can identify (for certain drugs) usage in the previous year (sometimes more).

Without detail, its about security clearance (shhh!!!).. so yes, I would lose my job.

Are you a pilot or bus driver or something?

He's an anti narcotics police officer......

GunsGermsV2 wrote:

No9 wrote:Yep.. I would.

My job requires me to have a test regularly (every year). That may not seem that regular, but they take a hair sample, which I've been informed, can identify (for certain drugs) usage in the previous year (sometimes more).

Without detail, its about security clearance (shhh!!!).. so yes, I would lose my job.

Are you a pilot or bus driver or something?

I've visited some construction sites where a drug and alcohol screening is mandatory, and we do random ones around the office. It's probably more common than a lot of people think.

Oh, as for the hair testing - keeping it short reduces the risk

As a scotland and edinburgh fan drugs have become essential consumption over the years to get me thru the games!

dummy_half wrote:

GunsGermsV2 wrote:

No9 wrote:Yep.. I would.

My job requires me to have a test regularly (every year). That may not seem that regular, but they take a hair sample, which I've been informed, can identify (for certain drugs) usage in the previous year (sometimes more).

Without detail, its about security clearance (shhh!!!).. so yes, I would lose my job.

Are you a pilot or bus driver or something?

I've visited some construction sites where a drug and alcohol screening is mandatory, and we do random ones around the office. It's probably more common than a lot of people think.

Oh, as for the hair testing - keeping it short reduces the risk

Mine is REALLY short, but that doesn't help as they then take the sample from my "short and curlys". Just means that being tested gets a little more embarrassing....

SecretFly wrote:

GunsGermsV2 wrote:

No9 wrote:Yep.. I would.

My job requires me to have a test regularly (every year). That may not seem that regular, but they take a hair sample, which I've been informed, can identify (for certain drugs) usage in the previous year (sometimes more).

Without detail, its about security clearance (shhh!!!).. so yes, I would lose my job.

Are you a pilot or bus driver or something?

He's an anti narcotics police officer......

...cant say, who I work for or what I do. But I can say, that my commute to work is 10 times worse when the Cheltenham Gold Cup is on...

Hmm, I'm Irish so I wouldn't be familiar with the lay of the land there in Cheltenham...but I love a good puzzle and in a few secs of searching.................... I think I know *touching my nose*

Your secret is safe with me Don't send the bad boys round to my house

If you drug tested every player in the leagues in Wales, most teams would not have enough players to field a team as they'd be banned for steroids.

For the vast majority of lower league Welsh players you can simply see from their body shape and mannerisms, aggressions etc that they are on the gear.

I was at Pendine Sands over the Halloween holiday and heard a load of rugby players from a team staying there, talking about it while sat at a table and joking their team would close if they ever got tested... says it all.

One of my mates works up in London in the banking industry. They get tested for cocaine on a regular basis. He tested negative the other day and is now facing the sack with no chance of acquittal

Steffan wrote:One of my mates works up in London in the banking industry. They get tested for cocaine on a regular basis. He tested negative the other day and is now facing the sack with no chance of acquittal

 What would have happened if he had tested positive?

aucklandlaurie wrote:

Steffan wrote:One of my mates works up in London in the banking industry. They get tested for cocaine on a regular basis. He tested negative the other day and is now facing the sack with no chance of acquittal

 What would have happened if he had tested positive?

Kept his job and gets a payrise if he goes 6 months of being tested positive