Why Martin, Why????

[bill.inger]

All the RL Fans forums are jumping with the revelation of Martin Gleeson being banned for 18 months for a positive drug test taken last June. There is a suggestion that a member of the Hull coaching staff prescribed these drugs, supposedly to assist weight loss. Shades of Terry Newton eh?

[josie andrews]

Three banned in Hull FC drug scandal


SUPER League will be rocked by the banning of former Hull FC chief executive James Rule and international star Martin Gleeson in the New Year, the Mail can reveal.

It comes after a sixth-month investigation, led by UK Anti-Doping (UKAD), the body which carries out drugs testing in all major sports in the country.

The Mail can reveal Gleeson – who only played six games for the Black and Whites – failed a drugs test following a Super League game last June.

It is understood he has now been handed an 18 month playing ban, with a further 18 months suspended.

Rule, who was club chief executive at the time, is understood to have been banned for two years from personal contact with players and any involvement in their preparation, due to his handling of the matter.

Ben Cooper, the club's conditioner at the time, will serve a 12-month ban for his part in the saga.

It is thought the drug in question was designed to help Gleeson lose weight after he signed for FC in April.

All three men have since left the club following the takeover of Adam Pearson in July.

Gleeson had his contract terminated in September, whilst Rule handed in his notice in October, ending five years as chief executive.

Neither the sport's governing body the RFL nor UKAD have been willing to comment on the matter when questioned by the Mail in recent weeks.

However, an announcement confirming all bans is expected to be made early in the new year by UKAD.

All three men were made aware of their punishments shortly before Christmas.

Gleeson, who had become a hit with fans after a series of strong performances, played his final game for FC in the derby loss to Hull KR at Craven Park on June 5.

He missed their next match, at home to Harlequins, with coach Richard Agar blaming 'illness'.

Rumours immediately begin to circulate that he may have failed a drugs test, but in the following days, Rule personally contacted the Mail to say Gleeson was having 'serious personal issues'.

Later that month, after Gleeson had missed another match at Bradford, and in the face of further speculation, FC issued a statement stressing Gleeson had not been sacked.

It stated he had actually been granted leave on Friday, June 10, due to 'a stress-related illness'.

The club asked that the media to 'respect his right to privacy at this difficult time.'

The Mail first started asking questions over the matter in September, when FC finally confirmed they had terminated Gleeson's contract.

We recently sent questions regarding the matter directly to RFL chief executive Nigel Wood, who asked a spokesman to reply on his behalf.

He said no comment could be made, although he did accept there had been many rumours about Gleeson which the RFL were aware of.

He said: "We are aware of countless rumours relating to rugby league players past and present – as you would expect. As a policy we do not comment on any rumours or speculation because to do so would be wholly irresponsible,"

The RFL spokesman then directed the Mail to UKAD for further questions, but senior communications officer Turia Tellwright also refused to comment.

She said: "In accordance with the World Anti-Doping Code, UK Anti-Doping would not discuss any potential or ongoing anti-doping rule violation and therefore is unable to confirm or deny any open cases,"

The Mail has tried to contact Gleeson, Rule and Cooper before publication of today's story. Rule and Gleeson were not available and Cooper declined to comment.

New Hull FC owner Adam Pearson, who took control more than a month after the failed drugs test, said he did not wish to comment on the matter as none of three remain at the club under his ownership.

http://www.thisishullandeastriding.co.u ... story.html

[Kittwazzer]

Turia Tellwright. Rofl!

[butt monkey]

A slightly different perspective of the same story:

Former Hull FC centre Martin Gleeson, chief executive James Rule and coach Ben Cooper have all been banned for anti-doping rule breaches.
Former Great Britain international Gleeson failed a drugs test in May and Rule and Cooper were "complicit in the lies" that followed the test.
Gleeson, 31, who left the club in September, has been banned for three years, with half of that suspended.
Rule is banned for two years and Cooper for two years, with one suspended.
At the time of Gleeson's test, Rule said that the player was on leave with a stress related illness.


A statement from UK Anti-Doping read: "James Rule and Ben Cooper were charged with conspiring with Martin Gleeson to cover up the circumstances which led to Mr Gleeson testing positive for a banned stimulant.

http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport1/mobile/rug ... tm?SThisFB

So Gleeson sacked for failing a drug test and Rule and Cooper gone for trying to hide it

[butt monkey]

I would like it explained however, why has Gleeson had his sentence halved whilst Hock had to serve his full term? (and Hock wasn't even using performance enhancing substances)

[bill.inger]

Turia Tellwright. Rofl!

You couldn't make that one up as a usermame but it's real, Ive Googled it and it is, it's real.

[cumbria_warrior]

I agree that Martin has done wrong nad should be punnished, but I hope that there are people out there looking out for him and guiding him, as it will be so easy to go down the wrong route at the minute as basically that has called time on his career. A crying shame, and looks to be why a potential for why left us

[ancientnloyal]

Lost cause feed him to the prisons - best place for him I guess

[cumbria_warrior]

Lost cause feed him to the prisons - best place for him I guess

A bit harsh,

[Garry Riley]

Former Hull FC centre Martin Gleeson, chief executive James Rule and coach Ben Cooper have all been banned for anti-doping rule breaches.

Former Great Britain international Gleeson failed a drugs test in May and Rule and Cooper were "complicit in the lies" that followed the test.

Gleeson, 31, who left the club in September, has been banned for three years, with half of that suspended.

Rule is banned for two years and Cooper for two years, with one suspended.

Gleeson played his last game for the club against Harlequins on 12 June, nearly one month after testing positive for the banned stimulant methylhexaneamine following a game at Salford - in which he scored two tries - on 13 May.

He was subsequently absent from the team and his omission, it was claimed, was due to a stress-related illness.

Gleeson had his contract terminated in September.

A statement from UK Anti-Doping read: "James Rule and Ben Cooper were charged with conspiring with Martin Gleeson to cover up the circumstances which led to Mr Gleeson testing positive for a banned stimulant.

"Mr Gleeson was charged by UK Anti-Doping in June 2011 with committing an anti-doping rule violation after he tested positive for the banned stimulant methylhexaneamine on 13 May 2011.

"He was banned for two years by the National Anti-Doping Panel (following a hearing on 9 June 2011), and later admitted lying to the National Anti-Doping Panel about the circumstances that led to him testing positive.

"Mr Cooper and Mr Rule were charged with being complicit in these lies, in violation of Rule 2.5 of the RFL's Anti-Doping Rules.

"Mr Gleeson agreed to a three-year ban being imposed by the National Anti-Doping Panel, with half that ban suspended in recognition of his providing assistance to UK Anti-Doping."

UK Anti-Doping chief executive Andy Parkinson said: "This case marks two firsts for the anti-doping community. It is the first time that tampering with the doping control process in this manner has resulted in a violation, and the first time that members of an athlete's entourage have been convicted of anti-doping rule violations in the UK."

RFL chief executive Nigel Wood added: "Such behaviour is unacceptable and this case has brought the sport of rugby league into disrepute. We must applaud UK Anti-Doping for the hours of work they have put in to conduct a detailed and extensive investigation."

Gleeson's ban expires on 12 November 2012, while conditioning coach Cooper can return on 8 June 2012 and Rule's ban lasts for another year.