Dispatches

[Norbs]

On what legal basis would that happen?

On the basis that the player tested positive and they didn't reveal the test results. If the player has subsequently been caught out and faces a lengthly ban then he's pretty useless to his new club. Surely his value will be severely undermined and there must be some sort of legal bearing, no?

[PTP]

i've just read somewhere else that clubs internal drugs test aren't recognised/official so therefore are not 'legal' drug tests.

So if it was an internal test there may be an arguement that the club didn't have to say anything.

if it was an official test, well then it's down to the discretion of the FA and not the club?

[ChesterDave]

be interesting if it's one of Manure's B team at Sunderland. Bruce it seems is teetering on the verge of being sacked as it is and anything extra such as this would topple him over the edge.

Could be that alleged future star they have... The woman bearer... Raval Morrison I think his name is? He's already got a conviction iirc. Why not add a third offence!

[BillobShaisley]

I can't see a legally binding issue at all. A moral one if there is such a thing in football transfers yes, but so what.

In terms of contract law, if part of the terms of sale included a statement about such tyhings then possibly, but it would be very hard to prove.

Compare with buying a used car, you take it for a drive have a look under the bonet, all seems fine you do the deal then next week the gearbox explodes because the previous owner couldn't use a clutch properly. What are you going to do ? Suck it up.

[BringbackBiscan]

Regardless of who the player in question is, expect them to namedrop Liverpool, Robbie Fowler, McManaman and many other big names. Can see God's celebration against Neverton being shown too. Carroll's "wild partying lifestyle" will most likely be mentioned.

All the above will done in typical British media fashion with no substance. (hehe) Then they'll name some random under 18 player that's been stupid enough to get caught.

It's definitely more common then the shock horror player on coke brigade like to think. It's just a matter of who's been daft enough to be caught on camera/by drug test/whatever.

Almunia has always looked to me like a man that's been on the charlie all week.

[Cormack74]

Never played football properly at weekends as an adult, but used to go to Taekwondo in some right ****ing states - 4 hours sleep and absoloutely trollied. Worst time was after getting my head stoves in by 3 scallies.

Excuse my ignorance, but isn't Taekwondo designed to help you avoid this sort of thing happening.

[Fivex]

Excuse my ignorance, but isn't Taekwondo designed to help you avoid this sort of thing happening.

Yeah, but you're not actually allowed to use it on the streets, and if you do your belts will get rescinded. So his hands would have been tied.

[Cormack74]

Yeah, but you're not actually allowed to use it on the streets, and if you do your belts will get rescinded. So his hands would have been tied.

A kind of self defence that doesn't let you defend yourself. I'm a bit surprised it's caught on to be honest.

[Maxiedge]

He's British

My money would be on someone who's not a household name.

[marcus50bucks]

No.

My friend works on the show and said the "big PL player" reported by the tabs is a bit of a nobody. Described as a crap striker who played for former PL clubs.

Not Mutu.

I don't think some of you have read my above post properly/at all.

The guy's big transfer was also under 10 million.

[Shaggy]

LOL, Garry O'Connor FFS. A Scot

http://www.sportingintelligence.com/2011/09/12/exclusive-former-birmingham-striker-garry-oconnor-had-cocaine-test-kept-secret-to-aid-recovery-120902/

Garry O’Connor, a Scotland striker who played for Birmingham City in the Premier League, failed a drugs test for cocaine while at the club and served a secret ban as he sought and received help for drink and drug problems, Sportingintelligence can reveal.

His identity was kept secret under the terms of the anti-doping discipline process, and because it was deemed that he should be given the best chance to battle his demons without the glare of publicity, sources say.

Birmingham are understood to have been praised for the pastoral care of their player at the time, and the relevant authorities and agencies, including the FA and Sporting Chance clinic, are believed to have agreed with how the case was handled. Sportingintelligence has not confirmed the length of ban O’Connor served but the UK Anti-Doping database contains details of a two-month ban for a metabolite of cocaine around the relevant time, with no name give for the offender.

O’Connor, 28, is expected to be named by Channel 4′s Dispatches programme on Monday night (link to Dispatches website here) as a multi-million pound player who transferred clubs without his new club knowing about his drugs past.

O’Connor has, in the past, commanded fees of millions of pounds, for example when sold by Hibs to Lokomotiv Moscow in 2006 for £1.6m, and then when sold for a reported £2.7m to Birmingham in 2007.

But since his drugs test – which sources say was in the 2009-10 Premier League season, when O’Connor missed the majority of the season with a hip problem – the player has not changed hands for any money. He spent time on loan at Barnsley and then moved to Hibs as a free agent this summer.

Sources tell Sportingintelligence that Hibernian have been contacted by Dispatches in recent days to ask if they knew O’Connor had a failed drugs test and ban on his CV. Hibs are not commenting for the moment. The player himself is not expected to speak about his situation until tomorrow at the earliest. He was arrested in May in Edinburgh on suspicion of possessing cocaine and faces legal action.

Positive drugs tests in English professional football are not uncommon, with cocaine and dope the most frequently discovered substances, as we reported in April 2010. The vast majority of cases are discovered in young teenage players, who are often banned but then assisted with education and / or rehab programmes to mend their ways. Mostly their identities are never revealed because either they don’t re-offend, or they do and are forced out of the game entirely.

Dispatches is sure to foster debate about the best way to handle players who test positive for social drugs. The FA insist privately that treatment is as significant a part of the process as punishment, especially when most players caught are teenagers making a first ‘mistake’.

O’Connor is understood to have sought help for his problems over a number of years and is continuing to receive assistance as he looks towards recovery.

[Buzzo]

LOL, Garry O'Connor FFS. A Scot

http://www.sportingintelligence.com/...covery-120902/

No way. Thats hardly news up here. I think I even know the Night Club he got caught in. There were about 5 players up here who all got done for snorting this summer.

Boring.

O'Connor famously didn't make the plane for a Scotland game a few years ago, having been on the bench when we beat France he missed the plane for the away game on the Weds. O'Connor cited family reasons. I know people who saw him in (nightclub) Mood the night before he was due to fly out.

[Roboklopp]

Excuse my ignorance, but isn't Taekwondo designed to help you avoid this sort of thing happening.

It is, but given I could barely stand up when I left the club, that wasn't gonna help.

[Arn]

So all this fuss and it is only Gary O’Connor. I'm a bit disappointed to say the least. I had hoped that it would be A Scum player and then the FA would dock them 150 points.

[BringbackBiscan]

How's that revealing anything? Was Garry O'Connor not caught sometime ago on possession charges.

Total non story as usual. Still expect plenty of name dropping tonight in typical British media fashion.