Rugby league-Barba’s positive cocaine test another blow for NRL
By Ian Ransom
MELBOURNE, Nov 8 (Reuters) – Troubled fullback Ben Barba has been released by Australia’s National Rugby League champions Cronulla Sharks after testing positive for cocaine and has headed overseas to check into a rehab facility.
The 27-year-old, who won the 2012 Dally M medal as the league’s most valuable player, was tested days after playing in the Sharks’ Grand Final win over Melbourne Storm which gave the Sydney side its first NRL title.
“This is an incredibly difficult situation for Ben, his family and our club and all involved with it,” Sharks CEO Lyall Gorman said in a statement.
“While Ben will be a major loss to our football club, the far greater priority is for him to focus on his long term future away from football and we will continue to support Ben throughout that process in any way we can.”
Should Barba seek to resume his NRL career, he will need to serve out a mandatory 12-week suspension, having breached the competition’s illicit drug policy twice.
Barba returned a positive test for a non-performance enhancing drug last year, the NRL said.
Barba said in a statement that he hoped to return to the game.
“I know and accept I need to take some time away from the game to deal with some personal issues,” he said.
“As footballers we often find it hard to speak up about having problems, but this decision has lifted so much pressure off myself that I cannot start to explain just how much better I feel by taking this action.”
Barba has previously spent time in rehab for gambling and alcohol problems and was stood down by his former club Canterbury for a number of matches in 2013.
His latest misstep comes six weeks after declaring himself in a “good head space” and expressing remorse that his off-field issues had taken a toll on his family.
“We’re flying at the moment and every day I’m so thankful,” Barba said in an interview with Fairfax media in September.
“I’ve learnt from my mistakes and my family is happy. That’s allowed me to enjoy my footy again.”
Barba’s departure is another blow for the NRL, which dominates the headlines in the rugby league strongholds of Sydney and Brisbane, but has been beset by scandals throughout the year.
In September, police launched a major investigation into match-fixing allegations involving a number of championship games last year.
The announcement of the probe came months after the NRL slapped Sydney side Parramatta Eels with a A$1 million fine and deregistered five senior club officials for systemic salary cap cheating. (Editing by Amlan Chakraborty)