Young Munster Player banned for cannabis use

trouttrout

I think this is an absolute joke. An amateur player getting banned for three months for smoking a joint or two

Considering the IRFU takes most of its ad money from drink sponsors (something I have no problem with btw), it seems grossly hypocritical that they're taking such a hard line toward an part-time player testing positive for a substance arguably less harmful than alcohol

http://www.irishtimes.com/sport/rugby/young-munster-player-serves-three-month-doping-ban-1.1423409?utm_source=dlvr.it&utm_medium=facebook

The IRFU and the Irish Sports Council confirmed that a Young Munster rugby player has served a three-month ban after testing positive for taking cannabis.

Secondrow John Moroney was tested following the All-Ireland Division One league game against Old Belvedere at Anglesea Road on February 2nd.

Today’statement read: “The Irish Rugby Football Union and the Irish Sports Council jointly announce that the Irish Sport Anti-Doping Disciplinary Panel determined that player John Moroney has committed an anti-doping rule violation.

“John Moroney, an amateur rugby player with Young Munster Rugby Football Club has served a ban of 3 months, as he was found to have taken cannabis.

CIARAN_BOYLE

I doubt its about harm of the substance more about legality of the substance

Problem123456

Well the last time I checked cannabis is illegal...

drunkmonkey

Cannibas probably gave him an unfair advantage. You could stomp on his ears and he'd hardly notice.
For the sake of fair play though, anyone who has a drink should also be banned.

totallegend

trouttrout wrote: »

I think this is an absolute joke. An amateur player getting banned for three months for smoking a joint or two

Considering the IRFU takes most of its ad money from drink sponsors (something I have no problem with btw), it seems grossly hypocritical that they're taking such a hard line toward an part-time player testing positive for a substance arguably less harmful than alcohol

It's a banned substance under WADA rules and that's the fact of it. He was competing in an IRFU-controlled tournament and must have known he was subject to testing. A three-month ban is hardly excessive either.

Alcohol has nothing to do with it.

[BTW, I don't agree that cannabis should be on the banned list, it's hardly a performance enhancer, but still...]

trouttrout

CIARAN_BOYLE wrote: »

I doubt its about harm of the substance more about legality of the substance

Problem123456 wrote: »

Well the last time I checked cannabis is illegal...

tbh, I didn't really consider that point. But even still, I think it's a harsh and lengthy ban especially considering it's an amateur player. Surely common sense should have prevailed here

JustinDee

trouttrout wrote: »

I think this is an absolute joke. An amateur player getting banned for three months for smoking a joint or two

Considering the IRFU takes most of its ad money from drink sponsors (something I have no problem with btw), it seems grossly hypocritical that they're taking such a hard line toward an part-time player testing positive for a substance arguably less harmful than alcohol

This Prohibited List is why it is not hypocritical.

Tim Robbins

Just legalise it.

stephen_n

clearly no one in Wada has ever tried to play sport stoned if they think it's performance enhancing :pac::pac:

MrDerp

I remember talking to a smoker who then played AIL about this. Swore by 3 days of cranberry juice to clean out the system, it then being a urine test.

phily2002

Bit harsh naming and shaming him, Fair enough if it was a pro game but this could get you fired from your job...

thomond2006

stephen_n wrote: »

clearly no one in Wada has ever tried to play sport stoned if they think it's performance enhancing :pac::pac:

"I was gonna play rug-by but then I got high"

Aidric

drunkmonkey wrote: »

Cannibas probably gave him an unfair advantage. You could stomp on his ears and he'd hardly notice.

The game was up when he started chewing the cauliflower ears off his own prop.

Not Playing Tiddlywinks Vinny

The illegal substance list includes caffeine levels being too high so the taking of caffeine tablets is prohibited which a whole lot of players take before games, lemsip is prohibited! The list itself is a joke

Grimebox

stephen_n wrote: »

clearly no one in Wada has ever tried to play sport stoned if they think it's performance enhancing :pac::pac:

I don't know... time slowing down could be a huge advantage

locum-motion

Not Playing Tiddlywinks Vinny wrote: »

The illegal substance list includes caffeine levels being too high so the taking of caffeine tablets is prohibited which a whole lot of players take before games, lemsip is prohibited! The list itself is a joke

This is slightly off the actual topic, but:

"Lemsip" is not prohibited. Pseudoepehdrine is prohibited, which is found in some (but not all) of the varieties of Lemsip.

If you are a player playing at a level where you might be subject to test, do not buy any over the counter cough/cold/flu remedies without checking with the pharmacist if it contains anything that might land you in trouble. You are responsible for what you put in your body.

seanm92

Not Playing Tiddlywinks Vinny wrote: »

The illegal substance list includes caffeine levels being too high so the taking of caffeine tablets is prohibited which a whole lot of players take before games, lemsip is prohibited! The list itself is a joke

In fairness, its the ingredients of lemsip that are the problem, so saying that it being on the list is a joke shows a lack of undrstanding, the main reason lemsip is banned is because it contains phenylephrine, which is used to raise blood pressure, which is adantageous in power sports, although the quantities contained in lemsip are probably too small to give a real advantage, it would cause grey areas as to how much should be allowed, so I can see why it should be banned. As they poster above mentioned, it also contains pseudoephedrine which is also banned.

Everything on that list is there for good reason, some of the stuff might seem a bit ridiculous, but besides actual PEDs themselves, there are products containing diuretics, masking agents etc. which help avoid detection.

The players know what they're signing up for by playing rugby at that level, while he is not gaining any advantage, he is still breaking the rules, you couldnt really not have something on the banned list if it was illegal in that country.

I'm surprised that anyone was caught TBH, the testing standards in this country, and rugby in general are farcical, I remember reading somewhere that something like 16 blood tests were carried out in Irish rugby last year

MBolgia

Not Playing Tiddlywinks Vinny wrote: »

The illegal substance list includes caffeine levels being too high so the taking of caffeine tablets is prohibited which a whole lot of players take before games, lemsip is prohibited! The list itself is a joke

Tear up the list, let them take everything and anything they want, give Lance Armstrong his titles back

OR

Try to ensure that no athlete harms themselves in any way in their quest for success.

Not Playing Tiddlywinks Vinny

MBolgia wrote: »

Tear up the list, let them take everything and anything they want, give Lance Armstrong his titles back

OR

Try to ensure that no athlete harms themselves in any way in their quest for success.

I agree with the prohibition of PEDs obviously but some of them are ridiculous, some of them would have no affect on a players performance

Iang87

MBolgia wrote: »

Tear up the list, let them take everything and anything they want, give Lance Armstrong his titles back

OR

Try to ensure that no athlete harms themselves in any way in their quest for success.

i hardly think he's harming himself smoking weed in a quest for anything

charlemont

MrDerp wrote: »

I remember talking to a smoker who then played AIL about this. Swore by 3 days of cranberry juice to clean out the system, it then being a urine test.

I'm not sure that works for everyone, Know a man who drank it for a month and still failed a test. I'm not saying that to disagree with you either.

phily2002 wrote: »

Bit harsh naming and shaming him, Fair enough if it was a pro game but this could get you fired from your job...

It seems to be fairly spiteful, A case of naughty boy now your in trouble, Lets name and shame you because you smoked an evil drug..:rolleyes:

trouttrout

I think we can all agree on one thing, free the green mannnnnn

PaurGasm

trouttrout wrote: »

it seems grossly hypocritical that they're taking such a hard line toward an part-time player testing positive for a substance arguably less harmful than alcohol

There, I fixed it...

danthefan

Illegal and banned substance, thems the rules. The player should have been well aware.

mohawk

trouttrout wrote: »

I think this is an absolute joke. An amateur player getting banned for three months for smoking a joint or two

Considering the IRFU takes most of its ad money from drink sponsors (something I have no problem with btw), it seems grossly hypocritical that they're taking such a hard line toward an part-time player testing positive for a substance arguably less harmful than alcohol

The IRFU have to follow whats on the WADA list and illegal drugs are on it. Its not really up to the IRFU. There are guys in the acadamys playing in the AIL you can't have them playing in a league that banned drugs aren't tested for. The IRFU aren't trying to be mean here.

Micheal Phelps got a 3 month ban for cannabis a few years ago so the player is in good company. It possibly would have been a longer ban had it been a performance enhancing drug.

The government are looking at alcohol sponsorship in sport. I heard that by 2020 alcohol sponsorship in sport will be ended (or maybe thats what they are aiming for).

[Jackass]

I think the harshest punishment of all is being named in a national newspaper for testing positive from cannabis use.

Aside from any potential stigma that might be attached to drug use (personally I couldn't care, but some people would), as an amateur it can't do his career prospects much good if he's working in a large business, where any recreational drug use can be grounds for dismissal.

caliwali

The issue could be the exact opposite of being performance enhancing. If someone played while high they are putting themselves at risk of getting hurt. Also it's illegal so he can't really be let off. Still no need to name him in the media though. That'd definitely hurt more than the ban.

Does anyone know if he can be prosecuted for using drugs now? Just out of curiosity.

Quint2010

He was hardly running onto the pitch stoned?

lotmc

Dope

caliwali

Quint2010 wrote: »

He was hardly running onto the pitch stoned?

Well no I presume not, but you don't want to create a situation where that is allowed.

phog

Wouldn't be too happy that he was named but there my sympathy ends fir him.

Even as an amateur he must have been aware that he was taking a banned substance. The IRFU had no option but to ban him once he was found to have used cannabis.

thomond2006

Fair enough with the ban but I don't see why his name would be published. Rugby isn't his livelihood.

Anyone find it strange that this is reported now, after the ban was served?

danthefan

phog wrote: »

Wouldn't be too happy that he was named but there my sympathy ends fir him.

Even as an amateur he must have been aware that he was taking a banned substance. The IRFU had no option but to ban him once he was found to have used cannabis.

My thoughts precisely.

totallegend

Not Playing Tiddlywinks Vinny wrote: »

The illegal substance list includes caffeine levels being too high so the taking of caffeine tablets is prohibited which a whole lot of players take before games, lemsip is prohibited! The list itself is a joke

OMG that's outrageous. It's not true of course, caffeine is not on the banned list at all, but I'm still outraged.

As for the guy being named, it's very harsh given that he's just an amateur, but them's the rules. We either apply them or we don't.

thebaz

stephen_n wrote: »

clearly no one in Wada has ever tried to play sport stoned if they think it's performance enhancing :pac::pac:

so true, its like a generation thing - OMG he was on drugs !! - i remember playing the day after smoking , and I was wretched - also weed stays in your system for a couple of weeks - completly different to steroid
abuse , used to enhance performance - also he was an amateur , probably having a few tokes at the weekend - big deal . Anyway , wish him well.

AngeGal

As others have said, it's pretty horrible that he was named. Can't imagine there is any requirement to do this so pretty shameful from the IRFU.

desertcircus

MBolgia wrote: »

Tear up the list, let them take everything and anything they want, give Lance Armstrong his titles back

OR

Try to ensure that no athlete harms themselves in any way in their quest for success.

If you want to prevent athletes harming themselves in their quest for success, then you'll have to ban rugby.

totallegend

AngeGal wrote: »

As others have said, it's pretty horrible that he was named. Can't imagine there is any requirement to do this so pretty shameful from the IRFU.

It's not IRFU policy, it's the Irish Sports Council rules.

If IRFU turned around and said that they weren't enforcing the WADA list and were ignoring the Irish Sports Council rules, how would that look?

irishbucsfan

totallegend wrote: »

It's not IRFU policy, it's the Irish Sports Council rules.

If IRFU turned around and said that they weren't enforcing the WADA list and were ignoring the Irish Sports Council rules, how would that look?

He said its shameful that they announced his name. And that was the IRFU's decision.

totallegend

irishbucsfan wrote: »

He said its shameful that they announced his name. And that was the IRFU's decision.

But under Sports Council rules, they had to make it public. I don't agree with it but you either enforce the rules or you don't.

http://www.irishsportscouncil.ie/Media/Latest_News/2013/Anti_Doping_Violation_Issued_on_behalf_of_the_IRFU_and_ISC.html

The hearing was held under Article 8 (Disciplinary Process) of the Irish Anti-Doping Rules and this announcement is made pursuant to Article 15 (Public Disclosure of the Rules).

In fairness, it's hardly generated a media frenzy either, the only place I've seen it reported is here.

.ak

When I read the thread title I was about to close the thread, but now I've seen the IRFU have named the player? Considering it's an illegal substance outside of the sport I think that's very poor form. Surely a judgement call should've been made regarding publicly naming him.

I'd be onto my solicitor if it was me, regardless of how in the wrong I was.

molloyjh

trouttrout wrote: »

tbh, I didn't really consider that point. But even still, I think it's a harsh and lengthy ban especially considering it's an amateur player. Surely common sense should have prevailed here

Common sense is that the player tested positive for a drug that, Wada aside, is an illegal substance. What kind of message would it send out if the IRFU did nothing after finding out he had been breaking the law? They have more to think about than the Wada rules and regulations. The name of the sport is also a consideration. See below for a link where a player was suspended for bringing the game into disrepute even though he hadn't broken any doping rules. Fair enough it was "only" cannibus in this instance, but that's "only" illegal itself.

http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport2/hi/rugby_union/international/2830165.stm

seanm92

totallegend wrote: »

OMG that's outrageous. It's not true of course, caffeine is not on the banned list at all, but I'm still outraged.

As for the guy being named, it's very harsh given that he's just an amateur, but them's the rules. We either apply them or we don't.

Caffeine itself is not banned, but if caffeine is found in a blood/urine test above a certain concentration then that athlete may be banned. Not really outrageous at all caffeine has definite performance enhancing properties in sports, however the limit is massive, I think you'd have to drink something like 10 or 12 cups to be over the limit. So I can see why players would be discouraged from taking caffeine pills pre match

totallegend

seanm92 wrote: »

Caffeine itself is not banned, but if caffeine is found in a blood/urine test above a certain concentration then that athlete may be banned. Not really outrageous at all caffeine has definite performance enhancing properties in sports, however the limit is massive, I think you'd have to drink something like 10 or 12 cups to be over the limit. So I can see why players would be discouraged from taking caffeine pills pre match

I was only joking about being outraged, but athletes can take as much caffeine as they like:

http://www.wada-ama.org/en/World-Anti-Doping-Program/Sports-and-Anti-Doping-Organizations/International-Standards/Prohibited-List/QA-on-2012-Prohibited-List

Caffeine was removed from the Prohibited List in 2004. Its use in sport is not prohibited.

Caffeine is part of WADA's Monitoring Program. This program includes substances which are not prohibited in sport, but which WADA monitors in order to detect patterns of misuse in sport.

The 2010 and 2011 Monitoring Programs did not reveal global specific patterns of misuse of caffeine in sport, though a significant increase in consumption in the athletic population is observed.

windmill39

I guess I would be permanently over the limit for caffeine as I drink loads of coffee. As for the legality of cannabis it depends on where he was when he consumed it. A coffee shop in Amsterdam while on a stag , like I was recently.

kgarvey

Grimebox wrote: »

I don't know... time slowing down could be a huge advantage

Very good..... It would help him think he is much faster than everyone else.