RFL Statement on Gareth Hock

RFL Statement on Gareth Hock

The RFL can confirm that under its Anti-Doping Rules it has charged Wigan Warriors’ Gareth Hock with an Anti-Doping Rule Violation.

This was after the RFL was informed by UK Sport on Monday 22 June that there had been an Adverse Analytical Finding in a specimen provided by Hock following the Wigan Warriors versus Salford City Reds game on 5 June.  The sample contained Benzoylecgonine, a metabolite of Cocaine.

The RFL condemns the use or distribution of prohibited substances or methods as defined by the World Anti-Doping Agency (WADA) Prohibited List.

The RFL operates a robust in and out of competition testing programme of both urine and blood and its Anti-Doping Regulations have been fully WADA Code Compliant since 2005.  This means that players can be tested following a game or subjected to random testing without prior notice.

Since 2005 a total of 1,922 tests have taken place at all levels of the game for illegal substances.  In those four years there have been 20 Anti-Doping Rule Violations.

According to UK Sport figures Rugby League players were tested 508 times for illegal substances from 1 April 2008 to 31 March 2009.  This is the third highest of all UK major sports behind football and athletics.

In May the RFL nominated 17 players in its elite training squad as its ‘National Registered Testing Pool’ who under new WADA rules must agree to give notice of their location on a chosen one-hour period each day, seven days a week.

The RFL is committed to the principles of drug-free sport and works with UK Sport to regularly educate and inform players through its ‘100% ME’ campaign about the dangers of drugs and consequences of taking drugs or breaching the Anti-Doping Regulations.

Every Super League club also has a ‘100% ME’ tutor responsible for player education both formally and informally.

All players aged over 14 who make national camp are also educated each year as part of the programme, this equates to an estimated 100 players a year.  Parents are also educated as well as part of the programme.