The NRL has defended its illicit drugs testing program after disgraced player Tim Simona declared he frequently used cocaine during his career.
The former Wests Tigers centre was deregistered by the NRL on Friday and handed an indefinite ban for betting games, including on opponents, and ripping off charities after auctioning off autographed jerseys.
He handed the game a further back eye at the weekend, telling News Corp he became a regular cocaine user after first trying it on a Wests Tigers' Mad Monday boat cruise three years ago.
He said his use spiralled out of control and he spent as much as $1500 on drugs some weekends.
He also said he never feared returning a positive test to cocaine.
"Actually I'd been tested quite a few times, and obviously I knew when to take it. In the rep round when we had the weekend off I would take it or if there was a long turn around between games.
"I would take it on a Friday so by Monday I think it would be out of my system."
The NRL declined to answer questions about Simona's drug use claims and whether they emerged and were investigated during the integrity unit's probe.
However the governing body defended the frequency at which players were tested.
"We conduct random and targeted testing throughout the season and the number of tests has increased since 2015," a spokesman said.
"We conducted more than 2000 tests through 2016.
"Any player using illicit drugs is not only putting their health at risk but is also putting their career at risk."
NRL clubs are sent reminders every year before Mad Monday end-of-season celebrations about recreational drug use.
In 2015 20 players reportedly tested positive after Mad Mondays.
Cronulla last year released star fullback Ben Barba after he returned a second positive test to cocaine following the Shark's grand final win.
Under the NRL's illicit drugs policy players who return one positive test are ordered into a treatment program and extensive testing with a second strike resulting in a 12-match ban.
Players who record a further positive test are brought before the NRL chief executive who decides whether they should be sacked.
Simona earned $325,000 a year at Wests Tigers but now has nothing to show for it.
He said he also had a gambling problem, sometimes losing $4000 or $5000 in a weekend, after initially betting mostly on poker machines.
His spiralling losses led to him asking his then girlfriend Jaya Taki to set up a betting account in her name and he placed 65 bets on NRL matches totalling $905 - several involving the Tigers or their opponents.
However, he denied any type of match-fixing, insisting his teammates knew that he never gave less than 100 per cent whenever he played.
Simona also confessed to auctioning off at least 12 jerseys and keeping some of the money.
I'm so ashamed of what I've done," Simona said.
"It shows how low you'll go to get money. One jersey turned into five jerseys which turned into like eight, nine jerseys.
"There are no excuses. All I can do is give them the money when I get back on my feet."
Share
