Ben Cousins

[Dutchy]

Looks like Jars might be the big benefactor here!

[Adelaide Hawk]

Not sure how much people know about the illict drugs policy....

A bit of light reading for you...

Illicit Drugs
http://www.afl.com.au/Portals/0/afl_docs/afl_hq/Policies/Illicit%20Drugs%20Policy%20Feb%202007.pdf

Anti Doping
http://www.afl.com.au/Portals/0/afl_docs/afl_hq/Policies/Anti-Doping%20Code%20January%202008.pdf

Here is an interesting clause from the illicit policy

3.3 All tests conducted on match days shall be referred to be dealt with under the
AFL Anti-Doping Code, to the exclusion of this Illicit Drugs Policy.

That basically means that is a player is caught with Illicit Drugs in their system on game day they are sent straight to the tribunal.

Having spent the time to read the policies I would say the AFL aren’t soft on Drugs

Just my thoughts

So ... having done all that reading .... how do you think it is possible that a player confessing to a drug addiction over several years does not test positive to an AFL drug test?

Nobody has yet provided a satisfactory answer to that question.

The AFL may be strong on policy, but still very weak in practice.

[wycbloods]

Not sure how much people know about the illict drugs policy....

A bit of light reading for you...

Illicit Drugs
http://www.afl.com.au/Portals/0/afl_docs/afl_hq/Policies/Illicit%20Drugs%20Policy%20Feb%202007.pdf

Anti Doping
http://www.afl.com.au/Portals/0/afl_docs/afl_hq/Policies/Anti-Doping%20Code%20January%202008.pdf

Here is an interesting clause from the illicit policy

3.3 All tests conducted on match days shall be referred to be dealt with under the
AFL Anti-Doping Code, to the exclusion of this Illicit Drugs Policy.

That basically means that is a player is caught with Illicit Drugs in their system on game day they are sent straight to the tribunal.

Having spent the time to read the policies I would say the AFL aren’t soft on Drugs

Just my thoughts

So ... having done all that reading .... how do you think it is possible that a player confessing to a drug addiction over several years does not test positive to an AFL drug test?

Nobody has yet provided a satisfactory answer to that question.

The AFL may be strong on policy, but still very weak in practice.

That is the biggest mystery in all of this to me. He had been tested but never returned a positive. I am not sure how long the drugs it is alleged he has used stay in the system but seen as he admitted he was addicted i would've thought it would've shown up in a test as he probably used regularly.

[catchit]

is it a urine sample? do they watch? i am a die hard west coast man and i am spewing he is not a eagle,but to shave the body just looks sus.. makes you wonder how he did pass previous tests

[NO-MERCY]

Listening to a Nathan Buckley interview easy 6 weeks ago on 5AA, Buckley said with what he knows Ben Cousins won't play AFL football again as he doubts whether any club will draft him.
Sounds like he's right.
What does he know that we don't?

[MW]

Port will take him late in the draft on saturday

still reckon this is right.

[McAlmanac]

Listening to a Nathan Buckley interview easy 6 weeks ago on 5AA, Buckley said with what he knows Ben Cousins won't play AFL football again as he doubts whether any club will draft him.
Sounds like he's right.
What does he know that we don't?

I find Buckley to be a very authoritative voice.

[Psyber]

is it a urine sample? do they watch? i am a die hard west coast man and i am spewing he is not a eagle,but to shave the body just looks sus.. makes you wonder how he did pass previous tests

Addicts are notoriously good at faking urine samples - e.g. someone else's sample in a condom in your underwear - and staff are supposed to watch the sample being provided in serious testing facilities, but I've known staff, even staff in drug programme facilities to take short cuts when busy, especially if the "client" is charming and friendly on presentation. And the experienced know to front up at busy times. Some drugs don't take long to clear out of the blood and then the urine, but persist longer in the brain, but you can't sample that. Residues do get laid down in the growing hair though - hence hair testing.

[Dutchy]

Addicts are notoriously good at faking urine samples - e.g. someone else's sample in a condom in your underwear - and staff are supposed to watch the sample being provided in serious testing facilities, but I've known staff, even staff in drug programme facilities to take short cuts when busy, especially if the "client" is charming and friendly on presentation.

Psyber...you seriously think this happens at AFL level?

[Psyber]

Addicts are notoriously good at faking urine samples - e.g. someone else's sample in a condom in your underwear - and staff are supposed to watch the sample being provided in serious testing facilities, but I've known staff, even staff in drug programme facilities to take short cuts when busy, especially if the "client" is charming and friendly on presentation.

Psyber...you seriously think this happens at AFL level?

I've seen it happen in hospital units that specialise in dealing with addicts - if it can happen there it can happen anywhere.
There is always to odd staff member who takes short cuts, or who thinks the protocols are unfair and embarrassing, and those who need them find them.
I even came across an instance where a nurse sneaked a "criminally insane" murderer out of a secure ward at an Adelaide hospital, and took him home for the night!

[catchit]

are you sure you dont need a test?

[catchit]

def think there is short cuts but not in afl

[Psyber]

I've worked in the situations I described, and have seen it happen, and later as a team leader had to sort out the mess later when someone took a shortcut.
I haven't worked in the AFL, but who do they actually sublet the testing to?
Demetriou doesn't hold the bottle.

[catchit]

I've worked in those situations, and seen it happen, and later as a team leader found out and had to sort out the mess later.

did the nurse get put off?

[Psyber]

I've worked in those situations, and seen it happen, and later as a team leader found out and had to sort out the mess later.

did the nurse get put off?

Once yes. Another occasion a person with a good past record was simply moved to a less critical area.

[Interceptor]

Another Cousins article today:


Why the Brisbane Lions rejected Ben Cousins
Article from: The Courier-Mail


Andrew Hamilton

November 28, 2008 11:00pm

THE Brisbane Lions have shut the door on Ben Cousins.

The Courier-Mail revealed on November 21 that Cousins would not be a Lion next year and last night the club made it official by informing his manager Ricky Nixon of their decision before releasing a statement.

"The Brisbane Lions wish to confirm that they are no longer considering recruiting Ben Cousins," the statement read. It is well known there were misgivings among the board about recruiting the 30-year-old recovering drug addict, concerns that were also shared by the football department.

The Brisbane board granted new coach Michael Voss permission to undertake an assessment and he and football manager Graeme Allen flew to Perth last weekend for a face-to-face interview to gather the necessary personal insight into his mental and physical state. But contrary to some reports, their interest was only ever lukewarm.

Cousins has nominated for today's national draft and retains a chance of being thrown a lifeline by a battling club that has kept its intentions secret to this time.

But the options are narrowing with the Lions joining St Kilda, Collingwood and West Coast in officially declaring they were not interested in the 2005 Brownlow medallist.

It is understood all have concerns about the AFL's reaction should Cousins suffer a relapse plus the potential backlash from fans and sponsors. His decision to fly to Melbourne last week to attend the funeral of a convicted drug trafficker also raised eyebrows.

Cousins is shopping a documentary about his battle with addiction to the highest bidder and any club that takes a chance on him must also be prepared for the incredible fall-out its eventual airing on commercial TV will cause.
http://www.news.com.au/couriermail/story/0,23739,24722664-10389,00.html



The more you find out about the guy, the more you see why most clubs won't touch him with a barge pole.

[Dutchy]

Addicts are notoriously good at faking urine samples - e.g. someone else's sample in a condom in your underwear - and staff are supposed to watch the sample being provided in serious testing facilities, but I've known staff, even staff in drug programme facilities to take short cuts when busy, especially if the "client" is charming and friendly on presentation.

Psyber...you seriously think this happens at AFL level?

I've seen it happen in hospital units that specialise in dealing with addicts - if it can happen there it can happen anywhere.
There is always to odd staff member who takes short cuts, or who thinks the protocols are unfair and embarrassing, and those who need them find them.
I even came across an instance where a nurse sneaked a "criminally insane" murderer out of a secure ward at an Adelaide hospital, and took him home for the night!

Hospital v AFL is a bit different, in fact the AFL dont do the tests, to even think a professional athlete could get away with that these days is dillusional

[Dog_ger]

Give him a break.....

Brake.....

Lets get behind him....

[Psyber]

... Hospital v AFL is a bit different, in fact the AFL dont do the tests, to even think a professional athlete could get away with that these days is dillusional

Dutchy, you would think it couldn't happen in a specialised unit used to dealing with addicts and with written protocols too.
I was aware the AFL wouldn't handle it themselves, and raised the question of whom they sub-let the job too above.
I'd want to know who does it how, and what the protocols are, but in the end it comes down to individuals at the coal-face.!
Prison Officers have been know to take drugs into prisons either for money or as favours for prisoners they like.
To imagine any system is fool-proof would be really delusional.

[stan]

Now that the national draft is over and cousins didnt go, I would suggest that a few clubs might be interested if hes still un touched towards the end of the pre season draft. Might be worth a real late pick. But I guess we will wait and see what happens.