ASADA investigation taking its toll on the Cronulla Sharks

As soon as NRL chief executive Dave Smith announced that 31 players were being targeted by a new ASADA (Australian Sports Anti-Doping Authority) investigation into drugs in sport, information that the Cronulla Sharks would be a focus of this process surfaced.

After putting together one of the strongest teams the Sharks ever over the offseason, there were many expectations of greater success for the sharks this season. We are now coming up to round 7 and the Sharks have only won 2 of their 6 matches, with many pointing at the ongoing ASADA investigation as a major reason for this poor performance.

The ASADA investigation requires players to participate in a grueling and lengthy interview process, with a constant communication stream between players, their lawyers and their managers to ensure that they are protected. As reflected by many high profile figures in the NRL such as commentators, previous NRL greats and coaches, the switch in focus from sport to the investigation, both physically and mentally, makes in impossible for the Sharks players to be in the best form. As Brad Fittler put it, “They can’t have any intensity at all because what is on their mind all the time is what the lawyers have just been speaking about… they are going home with problems on their mind”.

A real controversy on this issue awakened when Sharks Coach Tim Flanagan finally admitted that the ongoing ASADA investigation was taking its toll on the teams preparation and game. He admitted after a couple of consecutive losses that he was trying to play down the investigation in order for the team and followers to concentrate on the game however now notes that preparation is being stunted “because there is too much stuff going on off the field”.

All participants and followers of the game are hoping that the investigation concludes on the earlier end of the four to six weeks initially exclaimed as the expected length of the investigation, especially considering the secrecy and lack of information to players, teams and fans from ASADA on their progress and findings. Worried sports fans are anticipating the process to drag out for extended periods and are expecting other teams to be more conclusively dragged into the investigation, thus damaging their season as well. The weight that is on the Sharks players and staff will hopefully be lifted as the focus on them wraps up, helping them to regain the best chance of turning around their season before its too late.

A lot weighing on the sharks minds...