Tests for cannabis begin this weekend

[Guest Urbanhog]

The Daily Telegraph

Edition 1 - StateSAT 14 DEC 2002, Page 093

 

Taking a pot shot - Tests for cannabis begin this weekend

By JOHN TAYLOR

 

 

NATIONAL Soccer League players have been warned that drug testing for cannabis will start this weekend.

It's part of the new FIFA Doping Policy by the Australian Sports Drug Agency.

 

Clubs have been advised by the league to display memos in dressing rooms and team meeting rooms.

Anyone found to have cannabinoids -- the breakdown product of cannabis found in marijuana, hashish and hashish oil -- in their system will face the wrath of soccer officials.

 

Australia's Olympic team players (under 23s) have been tested under the International Olympic Committee anti-doping program but this is the first time the scheme has been introduced for the national league players.

 

Unlike national team players around the world who can be tested by FIFA at any time, Australian players in the domestic competition will only be screened during NSL matches.

 

Under the Soccer Australia anti-doping policy, anyone testing positive can expect a two-year ban or in certain cases a maximum of just three months.

 

The most recent Australian player to test positive to a recreational drug was Jason Connolly, playing for Wollongong Wolves in 1998. He received a two-year ban for using an amphetamine.

 

The revelations of the new drug testing laws comes as the NSL hits the halfway stage of the competition now shaping as a two-horse race.

 

Even with a changed finals format, it's hard to imagine the Olympic Sharks and Perth Glory won't be playing in the grand final for a sec-ond year running.

 

They are a class above everyone else.

 

Instead of the normal knockout series, the top six teams will play home and away and, at the end of the 10 rounds, the top two will play off in the grand final.

 

The system is designed togenerate more funds.

 

The advantage of finishing first and second at the end of the normal competition (26 rounds) is that there is a bonus of six points and three points respectively.

 

It is anyone's guess who the other four teams will be to make the playoffs.

 

Talk to the coaches at the start of the season and most predicted that Parramatta Power would be one of the teams to serve it up to the Sharks and Glory.

 

It has taken the Power a long time to jell. You can offer excuses for so long but now is the time for Parramatta to stand up and be counted.

 

It only takes a team to string together a few wins on the trot and the make-up of the six can change dramatically.

 

Sydney has just one out of five teams in the six.

 

1

OLYMPIC SHARKS (26 pts)

Ready to turn corner as competition leaders. A treat to watch when they knock ball around. Chances could depend on how many players are called up for Olympic team.

Rating 9/10

2

PERTH GLORY (24)

Regardless of whether club is deducted three points for breaching rules on German import Andre Gumprecht, they'll still finish in top two. Have produced new style going through the middle.

Rating 8.5

3

NEWCASTLE UNITED (17)

Coach Ian Crook is starting to lose patience with his players on road trips. They've won just one game away from home and can't possibly expect to keep on tails of the Sharks and Glory.

Rating 7

4

STH MELBOURNE (17)

Even with a strong squad of players it was always going to take time for them to get used to new coach Danny Wright.

Built a fortress at home but need to improve away results.

Rating 7

5

KINGZ (16)

Amazing what a change of coach can do for a club. Ken Dugdale, the former NZ boss, knew right from the start defence had to stop leaking goals. With Glory, they've got best defence in the league.

Genuine top six candidate.

Rating 7.6

6

ADELAIDE (15)

Like Kingz, they were awful last season and have improved out of sight under new coach Charley Villani.

Lack depth, however.

Rating 7.2

7

SYDNEY UNITED (15)

There's been a huge improvement defensively but they lack a reliable finisher. If they show more consistency may sneak into the playoffs.

Rating 7

8

MELBOURNE KNIGHTS

(14)

Tipped to finish near bottom but have done better than most expected. One of the hardest teams to beat at home.

Rating 6.2

9

WOLLONGONG WOLVES

(13)

Coach Ron Corry can never be accused of not giving young players a chance but it takes time for the young players to settle in.

They have been struggling to score goals.

Rating 6.2

10

PARRAMATTA POWER (12)

Been hugely disappointing but still a chance of making playoffs. Can only get better.

Rating 6

11

NORTHERN SPIRIT (11)

Two games in hand because of postponements. Playing more attractive brand of football than when they first joined the comp.

Rating 6.8

12

MARCONI (8)

Injuries haven't helped cause and, as shown, they lack real depth.

Losing quality striker Joe Spiteri has been big blow.

Rating 6

13

BRISBANE STRIKERS (8)

Had shocking season compared to last year. Like most teams lack a good finisher and probably wish Paul Foster hadn't retired.

Rating 6

[Green Finned Demon]

Testing for speed is ok because it is a performance enhancer. Marijuana testing is a breach of civil rights. If he smokes nonstop it will probably lead to him losing his place in a team. If a player is so drunk he craps like Fat Freddie's Cat into a team mates shoe, gets in a brawl and vomits all over the place he is one of the boy's but if he has a bong he is a drug fiend. Most football player's are brain dead redneck's anyway.