SANDOR Earl's legal counsel is set to meet representatives of the NRL and Australian Sports Anti-Doping Authority in coming days as he attempts to nail down exactly what the suspended Canberra winger needs to do to take advantage of the substantial assistance provisions in the anti-doping code.
Tim Unsworth yesterday confirmed he would hold talks with the NRL and ASADA as he and Earl look to have a prospective four-year suspension reduced to 12 months.
The Raiders star, the first player from either of the country's major footballing codes to be suspended as a result of the ongoing ASADA investigation, is facing a four-year ban for using and trafficking banned substances, including the peptide CJC-1295.
Earl hopes to have that suspension reduced to one year by providing substantial assistance to ASADA - athletes can get a 75 per cent reduction in their ban if they meet the provisions of the clause.
That could allow him to potentially return to the NRL at the end of next season.
Earl's end-of-season move to French rugby union second-division club Section Paloise, based in the town of Pau, has been put on hold as a result of his provisional suspension.
"We're talking to the NRL and ASADA and I anticipate meeting them soon to plan the way forward," Unsworth said yesterday.
Under the relevant clause in the WADA code, an athlete will be deemed to have provided substantial assistance when they give information that leads to the discovering or establishing of an anti-doping rule violation by another person. Alternatively, the information could result in a criminal or disciplinary body discovering or establishing a criminal offence or the breach of professional rules by another person.
Unsworth has made it clear that Earl has no information that would lead to an adverse finding against any other NRL players.
He has provided ASADA with information on sports scientist Stephen Dank.
However, Dank has consistently denied any wrongdoing. While Earl prepares to bring his case to a conclusion, the ASADA investigation is far from finished where the NRL is concerned.
The Australian was yesterday told that the interview process was still ongoing, although it was unclear whether that was with players or outside parties associated with the NRL side of the investigation.
The NRL had hoped to have interviews with players completed by August 28 and it was anticipated the inquiry could reach a conclusion in mid-October.
That would mean the end date arriving after the NRL finals, creating the prospect that Cronulla could win the premiership and then be the subject of adverse findings. The Sharks are the only NRL club under investigation for systematic doping. There is also the prospect that infraction notices could drop with the World Cup in full swing. The tournament kicks off in late October.
More than 100 NRL players are expected to take part in the World Cup for a variety of countries, and a number of those are believed to be players interviewed by ASADA. Should players be forced out of the World Cup, it would create huge headaches for the countries affected as tournament rules make it difficult to replace players.
Source: http://www.theaustralian.com.au/sport/nrl/sandor-earl-angles-for-reduction-in-ban/story-fnca0von-1226710881755
Topic: Earl angles for reduction in ban
