The NRL said today that suspended Rugby League player Sandor Earl faces allegations of multiple anti-doping rule violations – including a number of use and trafficking allegations.
Chief Operating Officer Jim Doyle said that the NRL's Anti-Doping Tribunal would now be convened to offer Mr Earl a hearing to determine the charges.
Mr Doyle said Mr Earl had admitted injecting CJC-1295 on many occasions in 2011.
Further, in relation to conduct alleged to have occurred in 2012 and 2013, he faces in the NRL's Anti-Doping Tribunal allegations of anti-doping rule violations of trafficking or attempted trafficking in other prohibited substances including the growth hormone Somatropin, Selective Androgen Receptor Modulators (SARMS), the anabolic agent Clenbuterol and the testosterone blend Sustanon.
Mr Doyle said the NRL noted that at this time ASADA has elected not to record an allegation of trafficking of the banned peptide CJC 1295 on its Register of Findings.
The League's Anti-Doping Policy provides that the penalty for using banned substances is up to two years and for trafficking or attempted trafficking it is a minimum four years up to lifetime ineligibility.
"Mr Earl has publically confirmed that he has been placed on ASADA's Register of Findings and the NRL is now proposing to move to a hearing before its Anti-Doping Tribunal," Mr Doyle said.
"There is no place for drugs in our sport and we are comfortable with the way we have handled the matter in the best interests of the integrity of the NRL competition."
Mr Doyle said the NRL's Anti-Doping Policy requires the NRL to act where it comes into possession of information that may constitute an anti-doping rule violation.
"We acted quickly to ensure a player who admitted using performance enhancing drugs was not playing in our competition. We make no apologies for taking this stance."
After Mr Earl was stood down he engaged in discussions with ASADA in relation to a possible discount in penalty to reflect substantial assistance Mr Earl may have provided to ASADA.
Those discussions have concluded, Mr Earl has been placed on ASADA's Register of Findings and the NRL is able to offer him a hearing.
The NRL made the following points:
• In the days leading up to 29 August Mr Earl made admissions in relation to breaches of the NRL Anti-Doping policy.
• The NRL acted in accordance with its Anti-Doping Policy in making this announcement public at the time.
• The policy enables the NRL to act when it comes into possession of information that may constitute an anti-doping rule violation. This operates irrespective of ASADA's register of findings.
• Mr Earl was invited to stand down and he chose to do this. The result being that any suspension Mr Earl receives will commence from 29 August 2013.
Mr Doyle said the NRL would not waiver in its determination to deal with breaches of the Anti-Doping policy.
"The use of banned substances goes to the heart of our game and we will do everything in our power to deal with those who breach our rules," he said.
