Drugs in rugby

Are enhancing drugs really worth the risk?

Sunday 26th Sept of last year was a day in which rugby league football suffered its biggest blow to date. It was also the day two young girls and a wife lost the most important man in their lives. Former Great Britain star hooker Terry Newton was found in his home after taking his own life. He had hung himself in his Wigan home, and was found by police at 2pm.

Newton was one of the most recognised hookers in the modern game, having played in every season of Super League’s 15 year history. He was as well known for his large and friendly personality off the pitch as he was for his aggressive playing style. As well as having played for some of Super League biggest clubs such as Leeds, Wigan and Bradford, Newton was also capped 15 times for Great Britain.

However, in February of this year Newton was the first athlete in the World to test positive for Human Growth Hormone. He was served a two-year ban from playing after he produced a positive blood sample during pre-season training with newly signed for club Wakefield.

After the ban he began running a pub in Wigan with his father-in-law, but in June he gave an interview on BBC Radio 5 live stating he hoped he might return to the game. Terry admitted his mistake and apologised to the public before stating he hoped that the ban might be reduced allowing him to continue his playing career.

Newton’s death is not only the biggest loss rugby league has suffered, but it also poses several questions about drugs in the sport, and the general care for players. Newton was not only banned for two years, but he was sacked by his club as a result of his positive drugs test.

Newton, who was born and raised in one of Wigan’s roughest estates, was dealing with own loss during the time of the ban. In 2008 Newton lost his sister to pneumonia after years of battling with heroin addiction. Terry held his sister Leanne’s hand as she died, and the loss led to the player into depression for which he was treated with medication.

After the failed drugs test Newton admitted to The News Of The World that he had fallen out of love with Rugby before he decided to take HGH. He was also concerned that younger players were gaining an advantage over him by using the drug. As more and more players around him were taking the enhancing drug, and not being caught, Terry decided he could not afford to let the chance of enhancing his game go by, and he bought his first supply from an unnamed player in a service station on the M62.

After he gave his positive test in November last year, Newton told the New Of The World in his May 2010 interview that he had no concern he would be caught, nor had he reason to. Since 2007 he had been aware of more and more players using the drug, and none had yet been caught.

It was in July 2009 that Newton said he began using HGH. He had three months off after being released by Bradford Bulls. Newton was due to join Wakefield In November, and used the drug to recover from a broken jaw as well as for gaining fitness. HGH is not only used by athletes because of its muscle building and fat eliminating properties, but also for its enhanced healing qualities. Terry admitted he fell into the trap of using the drug for its bonuses without fear of the consequences.

For several years there have been rumors surrounding the use of HGH in rugby league. Up until Newton was found with the drug in his system last year there was a question as to whether the drug could even be tested for. Terry’s positive result was seen by many as breakthrough for the RFL, as it finally provided the potential to eliminate the use of HGH from the sport. The regulating body for rugby league promised to clamp down hard on players caught using the drug, and Terry was the first player to suffer the two-year ban punishment.

It has now ben a year and a half since Terry’s ban, and almost a year since his death. However, as of yet there have still been no more cases of players being caught using the drug. Have the promises have been fulfilled? There was a perfect opportunity following the positive result to put an end to HGH abuse in rugby league.

While there is certainly an argument that since Newton’s ban players may be less willing to risk taking the drug, it is difficult to believe that this one incident allowed for a complete clean up. There are still question as to how long HGH stays in the body, and as to how long it will provide a positive blood test. Some people still even question whether it really can be seen in any kind of testing.

The truth is that HGH can only been seen in blood tests, and blood tests are expensive. HGH is also said to only show up in a blood test for and for limited time and it is difficult to detect as it is produced naturally in the body anyway. The question is could more have been done after such a devastating event. Terry Newton accepted his punishment, he even offered to use the unfortunate outcome of his decision in order to influence youngsters not to make the same mistake, and for this he deserved justice to be paid.

Not only do the testers have responsibilities in such circumstances, but so do the clubs. It is not enough to name and shame drug users, but it needs to be investigated why and the circumstances they did so under.

As well as a successful career, Terry had several big difficulties to overcome in his life. For what he gave the game during his career, he deserved to be understood or at least listened to. Terry Newton’s death has rocked the world of Rugby League forever. We can only hope that through Terry Newton’s tragic story, young players realise that enhancing drugs should play no part in the sport of rugby.