I didn't dispute that. You stated that the thread title is wrong, yet all these reputable websites state almost exactly the same. These are not amateurs on a forum, they are professional websites with legal advisors.

Why is that difficult for you to understand?

Let's start a new thread for LWF...


MOD Idol

Yeah, I'm just pretty sure that had anybody known about this Smith wouldn't have selected him, as he probably won't be around for a couple of years.

I think any club should stand by their player if that player has been 'wronged'. However, I hope that IF guilty then wigan let things take their course and don't bring the "men in suits" into procedings to defend the indefensable!

hope hes ok to play semi all them knock ons he makes will help us win

As far as i an see it's a presumption, there is no facts to state Hock as been taking cocaine, the drug he has tested positive for is used in muscle pain relief medications, the test can also be wrong if he has liver abnormality's or an infection which he may of may not know about.

You may not have noticed but the Wigan, Leeds, Bradford and Salford boards started with the title "Hock tested positive for cocaine" those have been changed to simply "Gareth Hock" wonder why that is.

Maybe, I'm not overly interested in a debate about this. This started because you stated the title was incorrect. I pointed out that perhaps you should let all the reputable websites and news agencies know that they have got it wrong too. If they have got it wrong, no doubt they will change within the hour anyway.

I haven't really gone into my beliefs on this thread.

Even though Hock hs been caught - I'm not holding my hopes up for a lengthy ban.

Punishments for the Wigan Warriors are generally far less than for other clubs.

Salary Cap, then Cocaine, What Next?

I suggest this thread should be removed. It's just too risky.

I think your being too kind on Mr hock......

I mean a number of players will show the banned substance Salbutamol in their samples...but they are registered Asthmatic so its ok to take it......
as its for a recognised medical condition.

Im not sure if you have "muscle aches" it allows you to take a banned susbtance.

because every man and his dog has probably started a new thread thinking they have an exclusive without checking for any existing.

We had it on here the other week with the semi final threads and everyone was moaning about merging.

To be fair, there's not much actually being said. It is stated on almost every news and sport site that he has tested positive, as long as we stick to that and no more, I'm not sure that it could end up any dodgier than any other thread here. They all go downhill anyway!!!

I have debated it to be honest, but as this topic is all over the news and other forums at the min, it will keep popping up - especially with some of our forum members obsessions with Wigan.

All MODS (Not just on the Wire board) are having to be very cautious with what we allow and what we don't.

Stick to what has been confirmed and we'll be fine

Well Said - Can you imagine the Wigan Forum removing it if it was a Warrington Player?

Genuine question.

Who makes things like Benzoylecgonine a banned substance in our sport



If your able to buy a pain relief medication over the counter that has Benzoylecgonine in it then it is'nt a problem surely, if a rugby player had muscle aches and asked the chemist for a medication and they give out Estrom, the chances are the person will not check what there taking because were supposed to be able to trust the chemist profession, it's later reveled than Estrom contains Benzoylecgonine which in rugby league is a banned substance, doesn't seem right to me.

do people Like Hock......i.e not University graduates and not the most intellectual of people look at Andrew Johns, who by his own admission played a large part of his NRL career taking drugs and got a way scott free..... and think I'll have some of that......?

because i just dont understand it....

I cant see how a normal bloke would be so stupid to take drugs, when one of the tasks of your job is to provide urine samples for drugs testing from time to time....

On the Wigan website it states that UK Sport and the RFL confirmed the positiv test, so I assume it is something to do with them, and then isn;t it also WADA?

When you are a pro sportsperson, you know that there ar loads of things you can't take and you can't just go to the chemist like any other person.

Quote ="Latchford Wolvesfan"I'm not defending him but He hasn't been tested positive for Cocaine, he has tested positive for Benzoylecgonine which is found in cocaine. However upon doing a little research on the substance i came across this: "Small amounts may be traced back to certain OTC (over the counter) medications, after having been metabolised in the liver". "Benzoylecgonine is used as the main pharmaceutical ingredient in the prescription drug Esterom, a topical solution used for the relief of muscle pain". So depending on how much substance has been found in the test then this could pose as a legitimate excuse. en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Benzoylecgonine'" i think you'll find that the ammounts that were found were in excess of the "small" amount found in OTC medicines, the doping agencies have cut off levels, all men contain testosterone the doping testers are aware of this and only ban / cite athletes with higher levels than the agreed cut off point. same with cocaine ephadrine etc. ephadrine as an example can be found in cold remedies however if some one tests above the set level it's because they have been taking it from a different preperation and for different reasons, hence they get banned.

Quote ="Latchford Wolvesfan"I'm not defending him but He hasn't been tested positive for Cocaine, he has tested positive for Benzoylecgonine which is found in cocaine. However upon doing a little research on the substance i came across this: "Small amounts may be traced back to certain OTC (over the counter) medications, after having been metabolised in the liver". "Benzoylecgonine is used as the main pharmaceutical ingredient in the prescription drug Esterom, a topical solution used for the relief of muscle pain". So depending on how much substance has been found in the test then this could pose as a legitimate excuse. en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Benzoylecgonine'" i think you'll find that the ammounts that were found were in excess of the "small" amount found in OTC medicines, the doping agencies have cut off levels, all men contain testosterone the doping testers are aware of this and only ban / cite athletes with higher levels than the agreed cut off point. same with cocaine ephadrine etc. ephadrine as an example can be found in cold remedies however if some one tests above the set level it's because they have been taking it from a different preperation and for different reasons, hence they get banned.

i think they get a big list of what over the counter medicines they can and can't take to avoid this happening

:3b9erqk5

I dont know why Gareth Hock would "buy" over the counter medication surely everything he needs to aid recovery, to boost his stamina and strength :3b9erqk5Legally

cant you edit your avatar to Hocks face whenever you post after 9pm. Dont want the kiddies having nightmares

Presumably the same stuff arises in naughty things. You'd have to hope that lawyers, doctors and chemists have thought of the same points you have Latchy.

As 71 says, they'll do all the checks, look at all the circumstances and if he is not guilty he'll face no punishment. If he isn't, he'll get a 2 year ban I expect. Which is very sad when you think about it.

The RFL, UK Sport and wigan wouldn't go public with this if they had a major doubt regarding the source of the Benzoylecgonine being anything other than Cocaine.

I'm sure that someone would have spoken to Hock, and if he said "But I've been taking [ix[/i on perscription from my GP" and [ix[/i could result in trace elements of Benzoylecgonine, then the news would have been kept from the media pending further investigation.

Obviously Gareth Hock is innocent until the second sample is tested and procedures take their course, but I don't think the news would have been released now if there was any chance of the RFL etc looking like idiots (and probably being sued by Hock) in a few weeks time.

stick allegedly on the end of the topic