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« Friday night lights beckon Wales fans | | Gavin Quinnell puts the rubbish out » February 27, 2009 Posted on 02/27/2009 Rough treatment for Stevens Matt Stevens' career lies in tatters today after being hit with a two-year ban for failing a drugs test but I can't help but feel sorry for the guy. He has been harshly treated by European Rugby chiefs, and the International Rugby Board for it is they who lay down the law, for what we assume is a cocaine problem after metabolites - whatever they are - were found in his sample. Yes - he is guilty of breaking the rules, not to mention the law, by dallying with the drug to the extent he has a serious problem. Yes - he is stupid for playing with fire and deserves a ban - but two years? Come on! He wasn't injecting HGH in order to bulk up and claim a physical advantage, or cheat, as we have seen in other sports. And to my knowledge he wasn't indulging in his dangeorus habit before running out at The Rec. A professional sportsman with money and time to burn - he succumbed to a social drug that is prevalent in today's society. He lacked a guiding light just when he needed it most. And as for barring him from the sport completely to the degree he cannot associate with the game he loves in any capacity - how does that ring true with the promises of support from the RFU down? As many of our readers have pointed out, banning him does not help him or the sport. He should get treatment for his problem and then be put to work in an educational role - touring clubs and schools talking about how he went wrong and the dangers that others can be wary of. The IRB's decision to jump into bed with anti-doping body WADA was seen as a good move but they left themselves no leeway in such issues as this. Surely time for a re-think? I'm not talking a de-classificiation, just a little common sense when it comes to handing down suspensions. And are the sport guilty of some crazy double standards? Numerous alcohol-related misdemeanors, including some violent acts, appear to be punished with meagre fines and a slap on the wrist - who has Stevens damaged except himself? Stevens is probably not the only player dicing with career suicide, being tempted by such vices, including alcohol, and the powers that be need to realise that. And this is not just an elite problem - they cannot turn their backs on such players or the threat of social drugs on their sport. Best wishes Matt, and you're welcome at our 'club' anytime.
Comments Posted Jack on 03/01/2009 Wendell Sailor of the Wallabies was put out for two years, so why are you saying Matt Stevens has been harshly treated? Seems to me that the European Rugby chiefs that you condem are being consistant. Both Wendell and Matt had choices. Now if only the IRB could get their international referees to lift their game and become consistant in their rulings. At the weekend the Italian halfback was pinged for feeding the scrum crookedly, yet both halfbacks (like all halfbacks) were doing it. The Scottish comments man said a Scotland pass was so far forward that the crowd groaned, (as they did) yet the ref did nothing. Inconsistant or biaised against a bottom rung team (Italy) or is it still biais against any team that is not english speaking, (like France has had to put up with for years) Cheers. Posted Ben on 03/05/2009 I agree with Graham Jenkins. If he had been taking performance enhancing substances then I would say ban the cheat from Rugby for life. However he wasn't. 2 years out of an already brief career is a huge blow. Posted chris marais on 03/06/2009 spot on Jenks
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