Is Matthew Wright a drug cheat?

[Danoz Direct]

[h=1]Cowboys player Matthew Wright slams Cronulla Sharks on return from drug ban[/h]

• PETER BADEL CHIEF RUGBY LEAGUE WRITER
• THE COURIER-MAIL
• NOVEMBER 23, 2014 9:00PM

Cowboy Matthew Wright says he hopes he won’t be treated as a pariah as he prepares for a return to the NRL after his three-month ban. Picture: Wesley Monts


MATTHEW Wright hopes the NRL fraternity does not label him a “drug cheat” as the Cowboys utility back prepares for an emotional comeback to rugby league on Monday.
In his first interview since being hit with a doping ban by ASADA, Wright lashed Cronulla hierarchy and vowed to repay the Cowboys for sticking by him during the toughest period of his career.Wright’s retrospective suspension ended Sunday night, clearing the path for him to return to Cowboys training after spending the past three months as an NRL pariah.The 23-year-old was one of 10 past and current Sharks players to accept doping bans but none paid a heftier price than Wright. He was the only suspended player robbed of playing in the NRL finals and he then copped a second kick in the guts _ precluded from representing Samoa in the Four Nations.Wright was banned from showing up to Cowboys headquarters and forced to train alone in a Townsville gym. Now, he feels free, aiming to rebuild a reputation he hopes has not been tainted by Cronulla’s two-year ASADA affair.

Matthew Wright in action for the Cowboys. Picture: Zak Simmonds


“Thankfully it’s passed now and I can move on with my career,” Wright told The Courier-Mail.“I can’t wait to get to training and I’m grateful to the Cowboys for backing me up, hopefully I can repay them with a premiership.“To have my career up in the air for a few months, it’s been pretty devastating, but I know this ... I’m no drug cheat.“When the news (of the breach notices) first came out, I was shocked. I didn’t know what to do. I didn’t know what would happen to me and all I could do was break down.“I thought about fighting ASADA. It was 50-50. In the end, I felt I had no choice but to take the ban, even though I didn’t want to.“When I said OK, I’ll take it, I had tears bawling out of my eyes ... it was the hardest decision I’ve made in my life.”

Matthew Wright is still angry at Sharks officials over what happened at the club in 2011.


Wright remains furious at Sharks hierarchy. The Auckland-born utility back had just turned 20 when he was called to a meeting of Cronulla’s playing group to discuss a proposed supplements program in 2011.“I feel badly let down by the Sharks,” he said.“I was told I had nothing to worry about, so I had 100 per cent faith in the training program.“I was a young bloke, an Islander, and it’s in my nature to trust someone. I can’t say no to people in my culture.“We were told to take supplements by the Sharks trainer. We then all had a discussion about it as a playing group. The senior players led the way and we discussed whether we should do it or not.“We didn’t want to say no so we agreed to it, it was like one-in, all-in. We placed our trust in the club.

Matthew Wright says he can’t wait to get back to training. Picture: Zak Simmonds


“I was devastated to hear I was copping sanctions when I trusted important people at the Sharks.“I could have lost my career ... I felt like they (Cronulla) turned their backs on all of us when things happened.”Wright claims he didn’t benefit from the supplements he ingested.“It was just a lolly-type tablet,” he said. “They said put it in your mouth and it dissolves.“I don’t know what it did to be honest, it didn’t do anything for me.“I didn’t feel fitter and I don’t feel I recovered quicker.”Wright admits he faces a battle fighting his way back into the Cowboys starting side after his ban opened the door for hulking recruit Tautau Moga.“There’s a lot of competition for spots so I have some work to do,” he said.“It’s been hard, I’ve had to train somewhere else on my own but I’ve put on a kilo, I’m 95kg now, and I’m feeling stronger than I was last season.“It will be good to see the boys again ... hopefully I won’t be too far behind them at training.”
http://www.couriermail.com.au/news/...rn-from-drug-ban/story-e6freon6-1227132306711

 

[vertigo]

You don't play for the Sharks anymore mate, that already makes you a winner.

 

[Nashy]

He's a drug cheat, and thus, his sporting career should be halted for at least a couple of years.

Didn't know what you were taking? Not my problem.

 

[Mr Fourex]

Unfortunately ...you're right.

However the real culprits are the Sharks club themselves. They are the ones who should be facing total expulsion.

 

[Alec]

His bigger problem is that he's just not very good.

 

[Morkel]

Senior players led the way... and they decided to say yes. One in, all in. Theoretically, by making sure every player was involved, anyone who potentially knew it was wrong knew they'd be no whistleblowing from the players, since they'd themselves be implicated.

Still can't believe no one has even suggested investigating Manly.

 

[Huge]

Don't care...it's history now. Did the crime, done the time. Mind you ,it wasn't very long ! Everyone deserves a second chance.

 

[Ari Gold]

It's unfortunate but yes, technically I consider him a drug cheat. However, I don't hold him to the same level of culpability compared to the Senior players or the Sharks organisation as a whole.

 

[mitch222]

He is a drug cheat. What person doesn't question what someone gives for them to take. I find it extremely hard to believe that not one player stood up and questioned the stuff they were taking especially if it wasn't common with other clubs. Flanagan shouldn't have been able to return to coaching either. It was his responsibility at a whole to know every little detail of the clubs programs. Do people honestly believe coaches like Bellamy, Hasler and Bennett don't know all the ins and outs to their players programs?

 

[Nashy]

Don't care...it's history now. Did the crime, done the time. Mind you ,it wasn't very long ! Everyone deserves a second chance.

You're right, they do. After they have sat out for 2 years.

 

[Foordy]

short answer ... yes, but I do sort of understand why a 20 year old would take what club officials gave him, trusting they would only do things within the rules. unfortunately for him, that doesn't absolve him from his personaly responsibilities, and he needs to pay for his actions, and he (and the others) just simply haven't done that.

while he was paying for it, he should have just launched the mother of all lawsuits against the Sharks

 

[Renegade]

lol 3 month ban what a pansy. shutup and play dickhead.

 

[Super Freak]

There is one part of that article I found a little odd.

“We were told to take supplements by the Sharks trainer. We then all had a discussion about it as a playing group. The senior players led the way and we discussed whether we should do it or not.“We didn’t want to say no so we agreed to it, it was like one-in, all-in. We placed our trust in the club.

That to me says that they had their doubts about whether it was legal or not. Why would you have that discussion if there is no doubt in your mind that it's legal?

They should have been banned longer.

 

[subsbligh]

Haven't we played this one out already?

In the red corner: cheaters are cheats and cheating is cheatingly cheating no excuse you're dead to me for knowing peptides exist.

In the blue corner: club's failing a duty of care to players, trusted advisors not doing their job properly, following suit of trusted leaders (the Australian vice captain no less) Paul Gallen, quasi scientists holding themselves as medical practitioners, blurred lines in the rules.

You're either in one camp or the other.

 

[Nashy]

<----- Red Coat.

 

[Je$ter]

The club failed the players in the biggest way - the club should be punished more.

In saying that, players assume the risk when they take anything - in some sports too much caffeine will return a positive result. The players got off light - 3 months isn't a big deal. Although young players shouldn't hold as much responsibility as the senior group - as a young guy trying to get your shot you aren't going to go against the grain - blokes like Gallen and Morris should have stood up and questioned the authorities.

 

[subsbligh]

The club failed the players in the biggest way - the club should be punished more.

In saying that, players assume the risk when they take anything - in some sports too much caffeine will return a positive result. The players got off light - 3 months isn't a big deal. Although young players shouldn't hold as much responsibility as the senior group - as a young guy trying to get your shot you aren't going to go against the grain - blokes like Gallen and Morris should have stood up and questioned the authorities.

Exactly. Matthew Wright, 20, (from a Polynesian culture, where deference to authority and elders has more credence than in Anglo world) going against the grain and telling the Australian Vice Captain, and his Club Captain, and his sole source of income, and someone holding himself out as a doctor/scientist, and (allegedly) the club doctor, and putting his entire future career (which he has probably foresaken all other avenues of higher education, or trades or skills) and his reputation and saying:

"I'm not taking that, and you are all cheats if you do".

Yep, defintiely hang him forever for that decision.

 

[Huge]

It's my experience that when a person is young, everything is crystal clear and black and white. Total certainty that everything they believe is incontrovertible. I was young once and I felt that way. The saying that you cannot put an old head on young shoulders is based in truth. I was no different and do not think I was somehow exempt.

Some still consider the Melbourne Storm cheats because they cheated years ago. I do not. I consider them simply as the Melbourne Storm a team which did wrong in the past but now conduct themselves properly. I feel the same about the players and more widely, the community. There are however some crimes which I reserve for a lifetime hatred and from which there is no return. Taking a few peptides for recovery purposes is not amongst them, not even paying overs, under the table for players that were developed is either.

The old saying, do unto others as you would have done unto YOU applies ! There are a few good quotes in the oldest fairy tale told !