Ruck & Maul

All doped out

The doping scandal took a new twist a few days ago when the fact finding committee met. The three accused were quite open and brought along the details of the banned substance that they had been taking. What is shocking is the fact that this menace seems to have started at school level. What a shame!

I am advised that at school level the physical trainers are behind this stupid and senseless act. It is then obvious that the coaching staff members are in the know as well. As of now two prominent trainers appear to be in the spotlight. If they are found to be guilty, they must be banned for life from the sport.

Imagine the impunity with which these trainers and coaching staff have knowingly administered these dangerous drugs to school kids. The parents send their kids for sports to excel and be sportsman not to be dubbed as doping cheats. The fact that this has been rampant for many years is shocking.

Dozens of those in the administration of the sport have either been blissfully unaware of what happens right under their noses or have silently endorsed such life threatening drugs. The worst form of action is inaction. Masters in charge of sports/prefect of games please wake up. Let’s play the game hard but it must be fair and square.

One of the accused has admitted that these were administered at school level. If this allegation is found to be correct, the title of champs must be stripped from them at once.  All the schools that have had players resorting to such unfair and dangerous tactics all in the name of sports must be banned from the league forthwith.

I am also advised that in the random doping tests that are being conducted; the same is not applicable to players who do not finish a game due to injury. I find that quite ridiculous as my mind goes back to some star players who either feign an injury or are actually injured/substituted. Let’s get the testing right so that we include the entire spectrum of players and thereby help to keep the sport clean.

During the recent Asian 5 Nations championship in the game against the Japanese these supplements were shown to the Japanese trainer and his immediate reaction was that these substances were banned. The use of banned substances must stop... It is ironic that the local authorities continue to permit the import of the same.

To the sport’s governing body – we are watching patiently, please expedite your action.

Rugby youth asiad

The schools rugby takes a break till 02 July while the sides are picked for the Youth Asiad to be held in Hong Kong. The players involved in the practice games have had their urine samples taken, in a bid to stamp out and eradicate this menace.

The cost I believe is approximately USD 200 per test and the same needs to be sent to Malaysia. All those who have had their samples taken are waiting anxiously and the next 48 hours will tell us the truth.  I sincerely hope that these tests come up as negative, if not, we may need to send a second string side for the championships.

The game between Kandy and Colombo schoolboy sides was concluded on Thursday amidst a lot of fanfare and panache. The end of the game saw a number of names being short listed and added to the pool.

The week ahead

In addition to all these unsavoury incidents we were greeted with the news that the selection committee headed by Michael Jayasekera had resigned. It appears that SL is on a wave of resignations and sports bodies being run by interim committees. There does not seem to be any sense to the word ‘interim’ as these interim committee members seem to cling onto power for ever.

Once again weak opposition is the culprit. The selection committee void was soon filled with the appointment of a new look committee headed by the  Chandrishaan Perera, the dashing wing three quarter of yesteryear. He and his team were seen busy on Thursday at Longdon place slotting in new names / crossing out others and debating on the merits of some.

On the club rugby scene, this weekend will see CR and FC out in action against Navy. All eyes will be on CR for an improved performance after their shock defeat last week at the hands of Police. CH and FC will take on Police and it will be fascinating to see whether Police can maintain their strong performance for the second week in a row.

The vastly improved Havies will be against the Air Force and the final game will be Kandy against Army at Nittawela. Kandy will be without the services of their appointed skipper amidst the doping scandal as will CR and FC who will miss the services of a flanker.

Let us all keep our fingers and toes crossed and also anything else that needs to be kept crossed and one sincerely hope that we have more cheerful news to dwell upon next week.

(The writer can be reached via email [email protected].)