Matt Stevens banned

[RugbyReg]

Banned England prop Matt Stevens admits he has a drug problem

From correspondents in London, England
January 21, 2009

ENGLAND and Bath prop Matt Stevens has been suspended with immediate effect after failing a drug test.

The South African-born 26-year-old failed the test - not for performance enhancing drugs - following Bath's European Cup clash with Glasgow in December, the English Rugby Football Union announced.

Bath released a statement saying that there was no option under the terms of his contract - he signed a fresh four-year one last February - but to suspend him.

"Bath Rugby has been made aware of the initial positive test given by Matt Stevens following the Heineken Cup match against Glasgow Warriors in December," the club said.

"The procedure for potential doping offences is clearly laid out in both the player's contract and the European Rugby Cup Regulations. The player is immediately suspended from competition and has been suspended by Bath Rugby until the case is resolved.

"Bath Rugby condemns the use or distribution of prohibited substances or methods as defined by the World Anti-Doping Agency Prohibited List.

"Bath Rugby is considering the implications and has no further comment to make at this time."

Stevens intimated that the problem had spiralled out of control.

"I was tested for a prohibited substance but it's not performance enhancing, so you can take what you want from that," Stevens told Sky Sports.

"It's pretty distressing talking about this. When you think about how much time people have put into my career and I have thrown it away.

"Like any drug problem you don't know it's happening and then it mounts up and before you know it you have a problem and an illness."

Stevens did not specify which drug he had tested positive for, but added: "It started off with just a couple of nights where you take it after a big night out with your friends.

"It wasn't a big deal, (but) that's the problem with drugs, it so quickly becomes a big deal.

"I owe it to everyone to admit that. I want to say I'm truly very sorry.

"I want to change my life and hopefully one day get the faith back that people had in me."

Stevens' absence will come as a major blow to both club and country.

Bath play a European Cup table-topping decider against French giants Toulouse this weekend while, with more than 30 caps for England, Stevens would have brought much needed experience to the forthcoming Six Nations campaign.

Couple of points.

- Very sad. To hear him say things like "When you think about how much time people have put into my career and I have thrown it away." Its just sad to hear him admitting that now, after the fact, rather than when he was actually doing it.
- I guess it reopens the question (ala Dell) as to whether coke should be a bannable drug. Is it performance enhancing? I could argue a strong "yes" in the case of Dell, but don't know if I could for a prop. But then again, what I know about coke I get from Martin Scorcese movies.
- you'd have to think that Stevens, a popular club man, is not the only man at Bath partaking. Sounds an obvious statement, but it should be a massive eye opener for them all.
- I know he's banned, and we have to adhere to that suspension, but he'd be a pretty good signing by the Force. Although, I guess another one of 'those' type players out west, wouldn't go down too well.

 

[disco]

Performance enhancing or not I think they should still be banned as it is an illegal substance. People may argue that we don't get drug tested outside of work but we aren't role models like proffesional atheletes.

 

[RugbyReg]

Performance enhancing or not I think they should still be banned as it is an illegal substance. People may argue that we don't get drug tested outside of work but we aren't role models like proffesional atheletes.

yeah, and we don't get government funding to develop our industry. Well...I do....but most others don't.

 

[Pfitzy]

Meh. I kind of come down on the side of it being his personal life, so he can blow away his mind on smack if he wants. If he was snorting before going on-field it'd be different.

Performance enhancing or not I think they should still be banned as it is an illegal substance. People may argue that we don't get drug tested outside of work but we aren't role models like proffesional atheletes.

See your point, but the childish way in which Western Governments treat "hard" drugs just as a policy hobby horse. The costs involved in policing laws on heroin, marijuana and cocaine are a complete waste of money while we let the costs of managing alcohol and cigarettes skyrocket. The only reason they're legal is the government has an established pathway to tax and regulate these drugs, which BTW have a far higher social and healthcare cost due to their widespread use. If the government took control of growing clean heroin and cocaine, they could tax it to a lesser degree than tobacco and make a shitload more money off it. Less people would die too.

Some of the amphets like Ice are a different story though. But even eccies you could regulate and tax, and at least stop the backyard presses going into operation.

 

[Cutter]

Addictive substances like this (and alcohol and cigarettes) all impose a cost on society whether through anti-social behaviour, health care, security because of changed behaviour or policing. Humans are very weak creatures as a whole to "need" these things in the way that we do. I'm not a wowser, but I do wonder why I drink (particularly why I get wasted sometimes). Drinking is definitely a cultural thing.

Back to Stevens, from all reports, he is actually a legendary bloke whose heart is definitely in the right place, he does a lot for charities etc (including giving ?125,000 to a Nelson Mandela foundation) and its really tragic to see this happening. He knows the rules though. Hopefully he comes back strongly and this serves as a lesson to others. I wont be surprised to see Stevens turn this into a positive by, for example, becoming an anti drugs campaigner or something similar.

 

[Ash]

See your point, but the childish way in which Western Governments treat "hard" drugs just as a policy hobby horse. The costs involved in policing laws on heroin, marijuana and cocaine are a complete waste of money while we let the costs of managing alcohol and cigarettes skyrocket. The only reason they're legal is the government has an established pathway to tax and regulate these drugs, which BTW have a far higher social and healthcare cost due to their widespread use. If the government took control of growing clean heroin and cocaine, they could tax it to a lesser degree than tobacco and make a shitload more money off it. Less people would die too.

Some of the amphets like Ice are a different story though. But even eccies you could regulate and tax, and at least stop the backyard presses going into operation.

No...just no. Heroin would be a disaster. I suggest you do a bit of research about it - it's one of the most addictive things out there. It ruins lives completely - once someone is on heroin, they are, most of the time, as good as dead. Well gone from being anything even resembling a productive member of society.

On top of that, the cost to society would be huge. How could someone afford to buy the drug from the government when they could not hold down a working job? Oh wait - social security or crime...which costs the government and society.

Some drugs are banned for a very very good reason. Heroin is one of them.

Sorry for the off topic post - but had to correct that.

 

[rugbywhisperer]

He had been pulled over and tested at an RDT now he would have a criminal record.
He should be thankful all he has is a ban and the shame. Drugs are a scourge on society and a vigilant stance must be maintained -no matter what.

 

[fatprop]

They know the rules, if they don't want to sign a professional contract and do coke fine, just don't sign the contract.

 

[Scotty]

Back to Stevens, from all reports, he is actually a legendary bloke whose heart is definitely in the right place, he does a lot for charities etc (including giving ?125,000 to a Nelson Mandela foundation) and its really tragic to see this happening. He knows the rules though. Hopefully he comes back strongly and this serves as a lesson to others. I wont be surprised to see Stevens turn this into a positive by, for example, becoming an anti drugs campaigner or something similar.

Yeah, I have heard this too, through the grapevine in Bath when I was living there for a few years. I reckon he'll come good.

I also reckon that Noddy is right - you could almost guarantee there would be other Bath players involved.

 

[Scarfman]

Most of my friends have taken illegal drugs, including heroin, at some point in their lives. It only ruins your life if it is already in ruins. I agree that alcohol and tobacco cause much greater harms in our society, and hence, are together a greater "scourge."

Alcohol + an idiot = a trip to casualty (for someone).

Most of the people I know doing chemical drugs like ecstacy cause no harm to anyone.

Among my personal acquaintances, I would put the drug toll (of somewhat ruined lives) at about this:

Heroin - 0
Ecstacy - 0
Alcohol - several
Marijuana - a couple

I would prefer that they didn't test athletes for non-performance enhancing drugs.

 

[rugbywhisperer]

Most of my friends have taken illegal drugs, including heroin, at some point in their lives. It only ruins your life if it is already in ruins. I agree that alcohol and tobacco cause much greater harms in our society, and hence, are together a greater "scourge."

Alcohol + an idiot = a trip to casualty (for someone).

Most of the people I know doing chemical drugs like ecstacy cause no harm to anyone.
Among my personal acquaintances, I would put the drug toll (of somewhat ruined lives) at about this:
Heroin - 0
Ecstacy - 0
Alcohol - several
Marijuana - a couple
I would prefer that they didn't test athletes for non-performance enhancing drugs.

I am not too sure of NSW legislation but IF he had been driving in Qld and been tested, he would have a criminal conviction by now AND be banned anyway.
lets face it, drugs are not what we want for the people who are influencing our kids.
So for heron to not affect anyone, lets ask those whose homes are burgled in order for the junkie to maintain the habit, the petty crime that goes into fundig the whole thing.
A recreational drug is still a drug - mind altering, life dependent subsance and I do not have friends who take illegal drugs - well at least if they do I am not aware of it. I have however had 2 cars stolen by drugies, my son had an attempted car jackng by a druggie, my home was burgled twice by junkies so really I do NOT see the harmless face of it.
Alcohol + idiot is NOT just trip to casulty - lives are most often lost and/or ruined.
Our public figures must be seen to squeaky clean WRT to substances which could cause harm, loss, injury. Yes alcohol and cigarettes cause untold cost and harm to society ( I would like to see the sale all tobacco products banned ) and I even have problems with high profile players being intoxicated in public. If you want to misbehave, don't take the contract. Be Mr. Obscure by all means but if you are influencing the behaviour our our kids you better be pretty well un impeachable.
I don't want my kids seeing a professional footballer spaced out on ay drug and think 'this is acceptable'.

 

[RugbyReg]

Among my personal acquaintances, I would put the drug toll (of somewhat ruined lives) at about this:

Heroin - 1
Ecstacy - 0
Alcohol - 0
Marijuana - 0

That's my list. But I'm still relatively young.

 

[Scotty]

My list is the same as Noddy's.

Heroin is the worst. Life goes downhill quickly on that drug.

rw - I reckon if tobacco products were invented/found now then they would be banned. Not much chance of it happening after all these years though - is it?

 

[rugbywhisperer]

rw - I reckon if tobacco products were invented/found now then they would be banned. Not much chance of it happening after all these years though - is it?

I agree - same as motor bikes. A pollie was asked about 1980'ish if someone invented a motor cycle now would it ever be registerable - answer an emphatic NO. but I can't imagine life without one/

But we have banned illicit drugs and for very good reason. Maybe when you guys are on the ugly end of a druggies rampage, theft or assault you might have a change of heart.
The guy that tried to car jack my son ( infantryman/hand to hand combat specialist in the Army) came off very second best (steering lock backhander to the nose area) and then had the gall to start assault proceedings once they arrested him some 12 months later helping himself to someone elses assets up in Proserpine. The cops say he hasn't been straight for years and is a one man crime wave.

 

[Scarfman]

Martin Johnson agrees with you guys.

"Illegal drug use cannot be tolerated. The regulations are very clear that any player who has tested positive is immediately provisionally suspended from all competition pending a disciplinary hearing. Matt has admitted that he has a problem and on behalf of the England players and management we hope that his rehabilitation programme is successful."

http://www.rugbyheaven.com.au/news/news/it-is-unacceptable/2009/01/22/1232471471142.html

I would rather that Wales and the RWC itself weren't sponsored by beer companies.

 

[RugbyReg]

rw - I reckon if tobacco products were invented/found now then they would be banned. Not much chance of it happening after all these years though - is it?

I agree - same as motor bikes. A pollie was asked about 1980'ish if someone invented a motor cycle now would it ever be registerable - answer an emphatic NO. but I can't imagine life without one/

But we have banned illicit drugs and for very good reason. Maybe when you guys are on the ugly end of a druggies rampage, theft or assault you might have a change of heart.
The guy that tried to car jack my son ( infantryman/hand to hand combat specialist in the Army) came off very second best (steering lock backhander to the nose area) and then had the gall to start assault proceedings once they arrested him some 12 months later helping himself to someone elses assets up in Proserpine. The cops say he hasn't been straight for years and is a one man crime wave.

without belittling the incident, that sounds pretty damn cool in a 80's action movie type of way. I hope your son did it right by following up with a witty one liner like "hit the road, jack" or "didn't your mother ever tell you not to play in traffic?".

That would have been cool!

 

[rugbywhisperer]

rw - I reckon if tobacco products were invented/found now then they would be banned. Not much chance of it happening after all these years though - is it?

I agree - same as motor bikes. A pollie was asked about 1980'ish if someone invented a motor cycle now would it ever be registerable - answer an emphatic NO. but I can't imagine life without one/

But we have banned illicit drugs and for very good reason. Maybe when you guys are on the ugly end of a druggies rampage, theft or assault you might have a change of heart.
The guy that tried to car jack my son ( infantryman/hand to hand combat specialist in the Army) came off very second best (steering lock backhander to the nose area) and then had the gall to start assault proceedings once they arrested him some 12 months later helping himself to someone elses assets up in Proserpine. The cops say he hasn't been straight for years and is a one man crime wave.

without belittling the incident, that sounds pretty damn cool in a 80's action movie type of way. I hope your son did it right by following up with a witty one liner like "hit the road, jack" or "didn't your mother ever tell you not to play in traffic?".

That would have been cool!

From all accounts he was pretty proud of it. He also recently arrested another junkie breaking into local cars. His car was hit one night and every night he sat up waiting and eventually caught the guy. Crept up behind him while he was breaking into car and with a 1 m length of 20mm copper pipe and swiped him across the back of the legs and held him till the cops came.
pretty cool

No offence to the druggies but there is not a lot of sympathy in this house for them.

Just got word youngest son asked to attend NTS - whoooo

 

[RugbyReg]

Awesome news RW. Congrats!!!

 

[rugbywhisperer]

Awesome news RW. Congrats!!!

Thanks Nod

 

[Cutter]

Congratulations. What's NTS?

Lives ruined:

Heroin - 2
Ecstacy - 0
Alcohol - 2
Marijuana - 1

I must hang out in the wrong circles. I hate talking to people who are on persians.