SNOTY
20 years ago
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NRL stars on Sudafed
By James Hooper
May 20, 2005
LEADING NRL doctors have dropped a drugs-in-sport bombshell by revealing a
number of star players request Sudafed tablets before matches.
In a stunning development, The Daily Telegraph has learned players at Manly,
Cronulla and Wests Tigers have used the behind-the-counter drug during the
past two seasons.
Manly doctor Paul Bloomfield confirmed some senior Sea Eagles players had
requested Sudafed tablets this season, but admitted the practice concerned
him.
"I find it's really only the older players that ask for it. They might come
and ask for it before a big game," Bloomfield said.
Sudafed is used to treat the common cold but the ingredient pseudoephedrine
is also a stimulant.
"If they can't get [Sudafed] from me then they're going to go and buy a
bucket load of it. I'd rather be able to supervise them," Dr Boomfield
added.
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"In the old days they used to take 10 or 15 of the things, which was very
risky."
Once a banned substance but widely available from pharmacies, Sudafed's
active ingredient pseudoephedrine hydrochloride was removed from the World
Anti-Doping Association prohibited list in January 2004.
Other NRL club doctors have expressed grave concerns about the use of
Sudafed, issuing a strong recommendation for players to avoid or stop taking
the tablets.
Cronulla doctor Peter Malouf confirmed some Sharks players had previously
requested the tablets, but said he was against keeping them in the club
dressing rooms before games.
"Last season we had a couple of players who came from other clubs who wanted
some but we didn't have any and they had to get them from the chemist,"
Malouf said.
"We've got a couple of players who have taken Sudafed in the past but we
don't hand it out.
"I tried to discourage the players from taking it because there's no obvious
evidence that it helps."
NRL chief executive David Gallop conceded the image of players using Sudafed
before matches sent the wrong message to mainstream society and especially
children.
"Like caffeine it's not a practice that we support and it clearly sets a bad
example," Gallop said.
"We will be making some inquiries with our clubs about it. We have not been
advised of any increase in its use.
"ASDA has advised us that its effect is psychological as much as anything
else. That's why it's no longer on the banned list."
The Daily Telegraph
NRL stars on Sudafed
By James Hooper
May 20, 2005
LEADING NRL doctors have dropped a drugs-in-sport bombshell by revealing a
number of star players request Sudafed tablets before matches.
In a stunning development, The Daily Telegraph has learned players at Manly,
Cronulla and Wests Tigers have used the behind-the-counter drug during the
past two seasons.
Manly doctor Paul Bloomfield confirmed some senior Sea Eagles players had
requested Sudafed tablets this season, but admitted the practice concerned
him.
"I find it's really only the older players that ask for it. They might come
and ask for it before a big game," Bloomfield said.
Sudafed is used to treat the common cold but the ingredient pseudoephedrine
is also a stimulant.
"If they can't get [Sudafed] from me then they're going to go and buy a
bucket load of it. I'd rather be able to supervise them," Dr Boomfield
added.
Advertisement:
"In the old days they used to take 10 or 15 of the things, which was very
risky."
Once a banned substance but widely available from pharmacies, Sudafed's
active ingredient pseudoephedrine hydrochloride was removed from the World
Anti-Doping Association prohibited list in January 2004.
Other NRL club doctors have expressed grave concerns about the use of
Sudafed, issuing a strong recommendation for players to avoid or stop taking
the tablets.
Cronulla doctor Peter Malouf confirmed some Sharks players had previously
requested the tablets, but said he was against keeping them in the club
dressing rooms before games.
"Last season we had a couple of players who came from other clubs who wanted
some but we didn't have any and they had to get them from the chemist,"
Malouf said.
"We've got a couple of players who have taken Sudafed in the past but we
don't hand it out.
"I tried to discourage the players from taking it because there's no obvious
evidence that it helps."
NRL chief executive David Gallop conceded the image of players using Sudafed
before matches sent the wrong message to mainstream society and especially
children.
"Like caffeine it's not a practice that we support and it clearly sets a bad
example," Gallop said.
"We will be making some inquiries with our clubs about it. We have not been
advised of any increase in its use.
"ASDA has advised us that its effect is psychological as much as anything
else. That's why it's no longer on the banned list."
The Daily Telegraph