Cronulla skipper Paul Gallen has pleaded for more support to the dozens of NRL players preparing for interviews with ASADA investigators, warning people's livelihoods and well-being are at stake.
A total of 30 players and support staff, including 10 Cronulla players, were on Monday issued with directives by the NRL to schedule interviews with the Australian Sports Anti-Doping Authority as part of ASADA's investigation into possible use of banned substances in the sport.
The players and officials have been given 48 hours to set up the interviews, which will begin on August 1.
Gallen is expected to be among those interviewed, although the NSW captain said on Tuesday he was yet to be notified by ASADA.
"I haven't heard anything but I gather that we'll probably hear in the next couple of days," Gallen told Sky Sports Radio on Tuesday.
Gallen, whose club is at the centre of the investigation over their 2011 supplement program, said the long-running saga had deeply affected both himself and his teammates.
He added he did not want a repeat of the botched interview process that was called off in April, after the first player interviewed, Sharks back-rower Wade Graham, declined to answer investigators' questions on legal advice.
"To see the way it affected people last time and the lack of help we got from organisations, let's hope it doesn't affect people's lives too much (this time)," Gallen said.
"It did affect us all early on. We've got a lot of young guys at the club and unfortunately we've got a lot of guys who are off contract - this is their livelihood and their lives are at stake, basically.
"Let's hope we get a bit of support this time around."
The NRL said on Monday it would have representatives at the ASADA interviews with players this time to monitor them and see if there was the required level of cooperation.
If there wasn't, players could face sanctions under the league anti-doping policy.
Gallen also questioned a claim that he and at least seven other Sharks players had been in negotiations in March for a deal in response to an ASADA offer which would involve them accepting "no significant fault" six month suspensions on the basis that they were directed to use certain supplements now believed to be banned peptides.
The Daily Telegraph reported on Tuesday it had obtained documents showing negotiations with the club's previous board that would see the players waive any future rights against the club in return for the club guaranteeing not to sack any players, a percentage of the salary cap increase for 2014 and one-year contract extensions for off-contract players.
"I never went to broker any deal with ASADA, I never had any interview with ASADA. I never spoke to ASADA at all," said Gallen.
"I haven't had any contact with them and I don't know how they get information like that.
"I think the media knows more than what we do, which is, I suppose, to show how ASADA's run."
Gallen added that he had been told from "day one" that if he agreed to be truthful and honest, he would only face a six-month ban and no payments would be lost.
"But we don't know where the truth and honesty will come from because we don't know what we've done wrong," he said.
"That certainly was before the season started, before round one, that's what we were told and, as was reported back then, that we'd keep our contracts and take six months."
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