Cousins Crashes Career

 by Lisa Albergo reporting for AFANA from Chicago

Oct. 16, 2007

Ben Cousins, whose trip to the USA to continue his rehab was delayed due to the death of Chris Mainwaring, has played his last game for the Eagles after being arrested for drug possession. He was stopped by police one late morning due to "erratic driving" in the Perth nightclub district. When his car was searched, police found drugs and arrested Cousins. He was then taken to a station and charged with possession and failure to provide a blood sample to police. He was also charged with one count of failing to comply with a requirement to undergo a driver assessment. 

The Eagles convened a board meeting soon after learning of Cousins' arrest and decided enough was enough and immediately delisted him. In a media statement released by CEO Trevor Nisbett and chairman elect Mark Barnaba, the axing of Cousins comes not only as the result of this latest incident, but an  "accumulation" of events over the past few years. Cousins returned to the club earlier this year after a stint in a California rehab center under a new contract which specified a zero tolerance for any breaches. Nisbett said that while the club had no choice, it was still a painful decision for the club. Nisbett said that the club would continue to support Cousins and do what they could to help him. Nisbett was quoted in the media statement, "It (drug taking) is an illness and he's terribly sick. He needs rehabilitation....but this behavior can't be tolerated at a club level."

Cousins has also been deregistered by the AFL and Andrew Demetriou, currently in Europe, said it was highly unlikely that Cousins would play league football again. Cousins, should he want to continue, would have to submit an application to the league for approval. Demetriou echoed the sentiments of Eagle officials in saying that the first priority was for Cousins to regain his health and put his life back together. He also said that the AFL would assist Cousins in anyway possible.

Cousins appeared in court two days later on charges of drug possession and failing to take a blood test after being arrested. Cousins did not speak on his own behalf, Instead, his attorney, Shane Brennan, requested that the hearing be postponed for 90 days so Cousins could return to the California clinic where he began his rehabilitation earlier this year. The request was granted by the court and a new hearing was scheduled for January 21.

The next day, police released more information, saying the drugs found were oxycontin, diazepam (Valium) which is prohibited in liquid form, and Viagra. Also found was a $20 note which was analyzed and found to have traces of MDMA, which is ecstasy and cocaine. Despite Cousins' inability and/or unwillingness to produce a prescription for the drugs, the charges of possession were dropped. He still is facing charges of refusing to take a driver assessment and providing a blood sample.

Despite the drug charges being the dropped, the Eagles are standing by their decision to axe Cousins due to the breaches of the strict contract he agreed to upon his return to the club. While the club will not foot the bill for Cousins continued rehab in the USA, they said they will allow him access to the club's counseling and medical services when he returns from the States.

In related news, the league could once again come under pressure from the Federal Government to toughen penalties for players who test positive for drug use. The Government recently announced it would fund 6000 out of competition tests for all sports at an estimated cost of $21 million. They also want those who test positive a first time to face fines and suspension. A second test positive would see the player named and a player testing positive for a third offense could face a lifetime ban.

However, the AFLPA sees no reason to change the current AFL policy which tests for both performance enhancing drugs as well as illegal substances. The AFL policy, under which players voluntarily submit themselves for testing, was introduced in 2004 and still has three years to run. The policy goes beyond the requirements of the World Anti-Doping Agency which tests only for performance enhancing drugs. The Australian Sports Doping Agency (ASDA) tests for other substances.  

Sports Minister George Brandis, a leading critic of the AFL policy, said the government would not link federal funding of the testing to individual sports' codes, but was pitching the proposal to all sports. Brandis believes the AFL policy is weaker than those of other sports.

The AFL continues to argue its policy of education, rehabilitation and counseling instead of naming and shaming has the support of drug treatment experts. One of those experts is Dr. Richard di Natale, a former VFA football player. Natale said the government's response was more about election politics than player welfare. The current policy also has the support of Professor John Currie, director of drug addiction medicine at St. Vincent's Hospital as well as members of Sports Medicine Australia.

Cousins has since returned to the USA to continue his rehabilitation.

Source: Melbourne Age