by Lisa Albergo reporting for AFANA from Chicago
Just days after his suspension, Ben Cousins entered rehab. He was accompanied to a local clinic by his father Bryan, who said in a media statement that his son had a substance abuse problem. It is believed that Ben may travel to the USA for a stint at an Arizona drug and alcohol rehab center.
Bryan Cousins, who also acts as Ben's manager, thanked all those who extended their support to Ben and the family and said that his son would make a statement when he was ready and requested that Ben's privacy be respected.
Eagle Coach John Worsfold is unsure if Cousins will return to the playing field, but said he hoped Cousins could come back and would be welcomed once he is fit and healthy again. His sentiments were shared by others in the sporting community. Cricket star Shane Warne, who had his share of problems during his career, said his heart went out to Cousins and that he needed help and support, not criticism. Eagle captain Chris Judd believes Cousins could make a return as a player,but first needed time to deal with his problems.
Sydney Coach Paul Roos said he hoped Cousins could be back playing in 2007. Collingwood captain Nathan Buckley also believes Cousins' career is not over.
Amidst all the furor, Andrew Demetriou and newly appointed chairman Mike Fitzpatrick have hinted that the AFL might consider some changes to the League's drug policy with Fitzpatrick admitting that improvements could be made in how the issue is handled. While they are happy with how the policy as a whole is working,some club officials believe that they and the coaches, rather than just the club doctor, should be notified if a player tests positive. Some also believe there should be stronger sanctions against a player who returns a second positive test.
Former AFL investigator Rick Lewis has come out with the revelation that in 2002 he told then AFL Operations Manager Andrew Demetriou that there was a drug problem at West Coast. Lewis claims that he had information that two Eagle players had been overheard via phone taps discussing the purchase of illegal drugs with a local dealer. Lewis said he was prepared to make a formal inquiry, but was told by Demetriou at the time to drop it as it was a matter for the club to deal with. Demetriou has denied Lewis' claims, saying the issue never came across his desk.
In related news, the ABC obtained tapes of police wiretaps from 2003 which involve Eagles Daniel Kerr and Aaron Edwards (now with the Kangaroos) in a number of drug-related conversations with a convicted drug dealer, Carl Waters. Also caught on the tapes was a former basketball player, James Harvey, who is a close friend of Ben Cousins. On the tapes, Kerr is allegedly heard making a deal to buy a veterinary tranquilizer known as ketamine in Melbourne after a game and carrying it on a flight back to Perth. Elsewhere on tapes, Kerr is allegedly heard talking to Waters about the effect the drug had on him.
The police recordings eventually helped convict Waters of drug trafficking. Waters' girlfriend Sherryn Osborne, who once worked as the merchandising manager at Collingwood, was also convicted.
The AFL was previously unaware of the tapes but a spokesperson for the League said the AFL would cooperate fully should there be a police investigation. A spokesperson for the Eagles said because the police did not pursue it in 2003, there was probably little the club could now do.
In 2001, West Coast players were caught in two separate drug squad operations. In one, a player was heard ordering drugs, In another, the players were seen at the home of a dealer. And Kerr was fined by a Perth court in 2004 for trying to buy Valium from a pharmacy with a forged prescription. His lawyer at the time said Kerr, whom he described as hospital-phobic, was given a blank prescription form when he left the hospital prematurely after knee surgery.
World Anti-Doping Agency (WADA) director-general David Howman believes the league needs to name players caught taking illegal drugs and eliminate the "three strike" element which is a key component of the AFL's drug policy. Howman praised the AFL for its work against illegal drugs and its program of out-of-competition testing (WADA does in-competition testing only), but was also critical of the league for being too slow to recognize and admit there was a drug problem among some of its players.
Source: Melbourne Age, afl.com, & news.com.au
Just days after his suspension, Ben Cousins entered rehab. He was accompanied to a local clinic by his father Bryan, who said in a media statement that his son had a substance abuse problem. It is believed that Ben may travel to the USA for a stint at an Arizona drug and alcohol rehab center.
Bryan Cousins, who also acts as Ben's manager, thanked all those who extended their support to Ben and the family and said that his son would make a statement when he was ready and requested that Ben's privacy be respected.
Eagle Coach John Worsfold is unsure if Cousins will return to the playing field, but said he hoped Cousins could come back and would be welcomed once he is fit and healthy again. His sentiments were shared by others in the sporting community. Cricket star Shane Warne, who had his share of problems during his career, said his heart went out to Cousins and that he needed help and support, not criticism. Eagle captain Chris Judd believes Cousins could make a return as a player,but first needed time to deal with his problems.
Sydney Coach Paul Roos said he hoped Cousins could be back playing in 2007. Collingwood captain Nathan Buckley also believes Cousins' career is not over.
Amidst all the furor, Andrew Demetriou and newly appointed chairman Mike Fitzpatrick have hinted that the AFL might consider some changes to the League's drug policy with Fitzpatrick admitting that improvements could be made in how the issue is handled. While they are happy with how the policy as a whole is working,some club officials believe that they and the coaches, rather than just the club doctor, should be notified if a player tests positive. Some also believe there should be stronger sanctions against a player who returns a second positive test.
Former AFL investigator Rick Lewis has come out with the revelation that in 2002 he told then AFL Operations Manager Andrew Demetriou that there was a drug problem at West Coast. Lewis claims that he had information that two Eagle players had been overheard via phone taps discussing the purchase of illegal drugs with a local dealer. Lewis said he was prepared to make a formal inquiry, but was told by Demetriou at the time to drop it as it was a matter for the club to deal with. Demetriou has denied Lewis' claims, saying the issue never came across his desk.
In related news, the ABC obtained tapes of police wiretaps from 2003 which involve Eagles Daniel Kerr and Aaron Edwards (now with the Kangaroos) in a number of drug-related conversations with a convicted drug dealer, Carl Waters. Also caught on the tapes was a former basketball player, James Harvey, who is a close friend of Ben Cousins. On the tapes, Kerr is allegedly heard making a deal to buy a veterinary tranquilizer known as ketamine in Melbourne after a game and carrying it on a flight back to Perth. Elsewhere on tapes, Kerr is allegedly heard talking to Waters about the effect the drug had on him.
The police recordings eventually helped convict Waters of drug trafficking. Waters' girlfriend Sherryn Osborne, who once worked as the merchandising manager at Collingwood, was also convicted.
The AFL was previously unaware of the tapes but a spokesperson for the League said the AFL would cooperate fully should there be a police investigation. A spokesperson for the Eagles said because the police did not pursue it in 2003, there was probably little the club could now do.
In 2001, West Coast players were caught in two separate drug squad operations. In one, a player was heard ordering drugs, In another, the players were seen at the home of a dealer. And Kerr was fined by a Perth court in 2004 for trying to buy Valium from a pharmacy with a forged prescription. His lawyer at the time said Kerr, whom he described as hospital-phobic, was given a blank prescription form when he left the hospital prematurely after knee surgery.
World Anti-Doping Agency (WADA) director-general David Howman believes the league needs to name players caught taking illegal drugs and eliminate the "three strike" element which is a key component of the AFL's drug policy. Howman praised the AFL for its work against illegal drugs and its program of out-of-competition testing (WADA does in-competition testing only), but was also critical of the league for being too slow to recognize and admit there was a drug problem among some of its players.
Source: Melbourne Age, afl.com, & news.com.au
Article last changed on Sunday, March 25, 2007 - 10:53 AM EDT
Comments
Posted by gordman on December 14, 2007
I think he needs to attend a drug rehab program in order to gain part of the credibility back. Every one of us deserves a second chance and sportsmen are hard to forgive when it comes to drug use.