![]() Kirk, who had spells with Scunthorpe United, Macclesfield Town and several non-League teams, ended up living on the streets, taking up to 30 tablets a day. In 2019, Tyrone Kirk went public about his dependency leading him into a destructive path of crime and homelessness. What this tells us is that there are contrasting views, even among former tramadol users, about the scale of risk and the likelihood, or not, of players falling foul of the WADA rule change.īut it is easy to understand why the PFA is operating a better-safe-than-sorry policy when it has already been contacted by players who have their own concerns. ![]() ![]() I don’t think tramadol will be found in too many players’ systems, whereas codeine, diclofenac and naproxen - things that rot your stomach - are rife.” “Banning tramadol is a positive step, but will it make a huge difference in the world of football? I highly doubt it. It knocks you off your feet.”Ĭresswell spiralled into addiction issues involving sleeping pills and alcohol and was admitted into the Sporting Chance clinic, the rehabilitation centre set up by former England defender Tony Adams, before managing to turn his life around. If you’re playing football… I’m not being funny, but you can’t. I wouldn’t attempt to get behind the wheel of a car on tramadol. Would I attempt to train on tramadol? No. Ryan Cresswell, a Sheffield United academy graduate who went on to play for Bury, Rotherham United, Southend United and Northampton Town, started taking painkillers after suffering a knee injury. “From our understanding, the risk is a two to four-year ban.” “Ultimately, if you fail a test, you risk a significant ban,” says Wright. The clubs are, too, which is no surprise because the punishments are likely to be severe. “We wanted to force a recognition among players that this is coming down the line and if they need support, now is the time to start doing it rather than it becoming, with the deadline looming, an anti-doping issue,” says Wright.ĭo the relevant authorities agree with Kirkland that it is “inevitable” there will be footballers banned for having it in their system?Īll that can be said for certain is that the Football Association, the Premier League, the English Football League and the Women’s Super League are acutely aware of the risks. This is why the PFA, as the players’ union, has taken the unusual step of emailing its members, including 5,000 current footballers, to highlight the risks and make it clear there is a deadline approaching, beyond which there will be serious consequences. Footballers buying supplies off the internet as “pain pills” without knowing the dangers or that it will soon be banned.Players who have become dependent talk about it wrecking their lives.There is a strong possibility that some, or many, users are taking it in secret, without their clubs’ knowledge.WADA has delayed the ban to take into account the addictiveness of tramadol and give users more time to wean themselves off it.The Athletic has spent weeks looking at the scale of tramadol use within the sport and, though the secrecy around its use makes it difficult to establish all the facts, there are several key issues our investigation has highlighted: It’s going to be extremely tough for a lot of players because there will be many who rely on it.” But you’re not going to eradicate it and somebody will fail a test, it’s inevitable. “I’m glad this ban is happening because it’s a dangerous, dangerous drug. ![]() “Somebody is going to get caught,” says Kirkland. That, however, is causing concerns among the football authorities when there is considerable evidence that an indeterminable number of players are either using it, or reliant upon it, as a perfectly legal part of their routine. ![]() Explained - Pogba doping test: Rules, how tests work, A and B samples and punishments ![]()
0 Comments
Leave a Reply. |
AuthorWrite something about yourself. No need to be fancy, just an overview. ArchivesCategories |