Kiwi coach critical of drug testing

Press, 12 July 1988, Page 48

Kiwi coach critical of drug testing

By

JOHN COFFEY

Drug testing of rugby league players has been branded as "’"a waste of time and money” by the Kiwi coach, Tony Gordon. The New Zealand scrum-half, i; Clayton Friend, andahis understudy, Gary ; Freeman, were required to give urine samples (after the big World Cup:; win over Papua New Guinea at Carlaw Park; ’Auckland, on Sunday! f,; Friend, Freeman (who had been ;ia second/ half replacement in the 66-14 victory) andAtwo Papua New Guineans, Arnold Krewanty (wing) and Gideon Kouoru (loose forward), became the first rugby league players to be drug tested in this country.

Tests are to be taken on two players from each side after all international

fixtures, a move which does not have the support of the New Zealand Rugby League.

Mr Gordon’s criticisms were echoed by Michael Knowles, the N.Z.R.L. executive director.

“Last year’s International Board meeting brought in /.compulsory testing, at the expense of the home country,” said Mr Knowles. |

“It has been a nightmare to organise and will cost us a flew bob. The samples have to be sent to Calgary, one of the two centres which can handle them, and we don’t expect any results for three or four weeks,” he said.

Earlier, Mr Gordon had mentioned “a couple of thousand dollars for each player,” but Mr Knowles said that, while expensive, he did not expect the costs to be that high.

“It would be allright, maybe, if they knew what they were looking for,” said Mr Gordon. “If someone drinks half a dozen cups of coffee the day before they might come up with a caffeine reading; if you put a shot of cortisone into a player to treat an injury that could show up,” he said.

“It’s fair enough to have drug testing in the Olympic Games and such like, but I don’t think there should be any testing in contact sports at all.

“I believe it is a waste of time. It’s just a case of someone else making capital out of it,” said Mr Gordon.

Drug test* have been carried out in the New South Wales premiership for at least the last two seasons. No players have been found guilty of drug taking.