collingwood pair thomas and keefe get a two year … · Web viewit’s not a black and white issue...
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IT’S NOT A BLACK AND WHITE ISSUE COLLINGWOOD PAIR THOMAS AND KEEFE GET A TWO YEAR BAN DUE TO DRUG USE AFL’s Josh Thomas, 23, and Lachlan Keefe, 25, accepted a two year ban for using the banned substance Clenbuterol. Both players were delisted as well as receiving fine of $50,000 by the club. Thomas and Keefe both admitted that the substance most likely entered their body while taking illicit drugs in February. The pair fronted the media to read a short statement at the Westpac Centre on Monday morning, August 10 th . Keeffe said he and Thomas were extremely remorseful. "At no stage did we knowingly take Clenbuterol." "We apologise for the pain we have caused to those closest to us," Thomas said in a statement read to the press conference. "Having worked so hard to build AFL careers, we are now committed to starting again." Thomas and Keefe narrowly dodged a four-year suspension, but some supporters dispute that it should’ve been a life sentence. “Collingwood now condoning drug takers. Hmmm. There is no place for these miscreants in our game. They should have been sacked immediately. The AFL should enforce a life ban.” said a supporter on the Herald Sun’s website page. The issue is not as simple as it seems. If the players had been found guilty of taking illicit drugs then they would have three chances before being suspended under the AFL’s three strike testing policy. The issue was that they tested positive for Clenbuterol, a performance-enhancing drug. So was the final ruling they received fair? The pair both took illicit drugs that unknowingly contained the banned drug. Is the AFL going to start giving second chances to all drug mishaps? The AFL Board decided on the decision due to the pair saying they never knowingly took the drug. They got away lucky with the punishment they received. “We accept that this was a case of two young men who made a poor decision to consume illicit drugs – decisions they will regret for the rest of their lives.”
Transcript of collingwood pair thomas and keefe get a two year … · Web viewit’s not a black and white issue...
IT’S NOT A BLACK AND WHITE ISSUECOLLINGWOOD PAIR THOMAS AND KEEFE GET A TWO YEAR BAN DUE TO DRUG USEAFL’s Josh Thomas, 23, and Lachlan Keefe, 25, accepted a two year ban for using the banned substance Clenbuterol. Both players were delisted as well as receiving fine of $50,000 by the club. Thomas and Keefe both admitted that the substance most likely entered their body while taking illicit drugs in February. The pair fronted the media to read a short statement at the Westpac Centre on Monday morning, August 10th.Keeffe said he and Thomas were extremely remorseful."At no stage did we knowingly take Clenbuterol."
"We apologise for the pain we have caused to those closest to us," Thomas said in a statement read to the press conference. "Having worked so hard to build AFL careers, we are now committed to starting again."
Thomas and Keefe narrowly dodged a four-year suspension, but some supporters dispute that it should’ve been a life sentence. “Collingwood now condoning drug takers. Hmmm. There is no place for these miscreants in our game. They should have been sacked immediately. The AFL should enforce a life ban.” said a supporter on the Herald Sun’s website page. The issue is not as simple as it seems. If the players had been found guilty of taking illicit drugs then they would have three chances before being suspended under the AFL’s three strike testing policy. The issue was that they tested positive for Clenbuterol, a performance-enhancing drug. So was the final ruling they received fair? The pair both took illicit drugs that unknowingly contained the banned drug. Is the AFL going to start giving second chances to all drug mishaps? The AFL Board decided on the decision due to the pair saying they never knowingly took the drug. They got away lucky with the punishment they received.
“We accept that this was a case of two young men who made a poor decision to consume illicit drugs – decisions they will regret for the rest of their lives.”
The news of the accusations had been a big shock to all the Pies’ fans and they were itching for the results to come back. It definitely took a toll on the club as well as the supporters. Hopefully, the other clubs and their players can learn from
Thomas and Keefe’s mistakes. If they don’t, they might not be so lucky.
“We deeply regret our actions, and we take full
responsibility for our mistakes and we accept the consequences. We also hope others will learn from our mistakes,” Keefe said as one of his final statements.Both Thomas and Keefe will not be able to play until the late Pre-season in 2017. The club will look at redrafting the pair as rookies when they return to the AFL.
