Cousins vs Charles.

[diligaf]

Spare a thought for Justin Charles who used a steroids to repair a muscle tear back in '97. The suspension all but ended his AFL Career. At least he had the decency to face the football media and general public.
How could West Coast apply a suspension to Cousins without the AFL intervening and enforcing a long term penalty as applied to Charles 10 years ago?

 

[PHX]

Charles was performance enhancing and cheating.

Cousins was/is being a twat with "recreational" drugs.

Two separate issues.

 

[nut]

Both are highly ilegal. One ruins lives, families etc.....

The other gives you a small willy.
Apparently?

 

[footy4eva]

Charles was performance enhancing and cheating.

Cousins was/is being a twat with "recreational" drugs.

Two separate issues.

using cocaine and speed is performance enhancing

 

[santa claws]

without a shadow of doubt there should be a proviso for steroids to be used under strict supervision to help overcome the type of injury charles had. as far as i can see he exhausted every other avenue and turned to steroids as a desperate last resort to heal a chronic injury.
ben cousins is a drug addict more than likely always will be. he brings the game into disrepute just being part of a footy club and takes drugs for all the wrong reasons. if the afl had any balls they would deregister him. has any player ever bought the game into more disrepute.

 

[PHX]

using cocaine and speed is performance enhancing

None-the-less they are still two separate issues due to the way the drugs were used.

 

[Runandhyde]

Charles wasn't addicted, and in need of help.
Cous needs time alone to make sure he doesnt **** up the rest of his life. He will face up when he feels comfertable. Give it time, the quality of the rest of his life is riding on his recovery.

 

[Fishfinger]

It does seem there is an inconsistency with the treatment of the 2 players. The big difference is Justin Charles returned a positive test whereas Ben Cousins has not.

Even though Cousins is a user, can the AFL enforce a penalty without a positive test under the current drug policy? I don't know, but I doubt it or surely they would have or will.

Charles was performance enhancing and cheating.

Cousins was/is being a twat with "recreational" drugs.

Two separate issues.

I see where you're coming from but can't agree. If it's performance enhancing and banned the reason for taking it is surely irrelevant.

 

[Bentleigh]

Charles was performance enhancing and cheating.

Cousins was/is being a twat with "recreational" drugs.

Two separate issues.

Mutu go the ass from Chealsea for using "recreational" drugs.

Both ilegal.

Cousins should get the same ban as Charles, if the AFL had knackers.

Cocaine is performace inhancing.

 

[LVAK]

Still not sure why people are saying that cocaine is performance enhancing.

Momentarily enhance your ego perhaps but I would dare anyone to do some lines then play a game of footy, only if they want to put enormous pressure on their heart.

I think they are different issues with different approaches needed

 

[PHX]

Mutu go the ass from Chealsea for using "recreational" drugs.

Both ilegal.

Cousins should get the same ban as Charles, if the AFL had knackers.

Cocaine is performace inhancing.

Where did I say it wasnt illegal?

Charles was on STEROIDS. Cousins was/is on DRUGS.

They're two diffferent issues.

But that said it is a joke the AFL hasnt taken a tougher stance to Cousins, maybe if they get a positive test they will adress all the **** he's caused over in WA. Sorry, 3 positive tests.

We dont even know if this guy has tested positive once and he's ****ed himself up while the other three who were named seem to be unaffected and never got into **** like Cousin's constantly has.

WA culture?

 

[PHX]

Still not sure why people are saying that cocaine is performance enhancing.

Momentarily enhance your ego perhaps but I would dare anyone to do some lines then play a game of footy, only if they want to put enormous pressure on their heart.

I think they are different issues with different approaches needed

Yeah its a bit of both ways. . .

What are the effects of cocaine on performance?

Whether snorted, smoked or injected into a vein, cocaine exerts most of its effects directly in the brain and to a lesser extent on the sympathetic nervous system. "Cocaine gains access to the brain fastest when it is smoked," says Wadler. "It produces a sudden, extreme euphoria, even more intense than that experienced with intravenous cocaine, that lasts only five to 10 minutes. Eighty to 90 percent of users, however, snort cocaine, which produces a euphoria that peaks more slowly, taking five to 15 minutes." The few studies that exist suggest that little to no performance gains are incurred from cocaine and its amphetamine-like properties. Cocaine is notable for distorting the user's perception of reality; for example, an athlete may perceive increased performance and decreased fatigue in the face of actual decreased performance in both strength and endurance activities. An increase in heat production combined with a decrease in heat loss associated with cocaine abuse impairs the body's ability to regulate its temperature during physical activity.
What are the adverse physical health effects of cocaine?

"Competitive athletics increases the potential of cocaine's powerful adverse cardiovascular stimulating effects," according to Wadler, "namely, life-threatening abnormal heart rhythms and heart attacks, particularly in cigarette smokers."

http://www.espn.go.com/special/s/drugsandsports/coca.html

 

[LVAK]

Yeah its a bit of both ways. . .

What are the effects of cocaine on performance?

Whether snorted, smoked or injected into a vein, cocaine exerts most of its effects directly in the brain and to a lesser extent on the sympathetic nervous system. "Cocaine gains access to the brain fastest when it is smoked," says Wadler. "It produces a sudden, extreme euphoria, even more intense than that experienced with intravenous cocaine, that lasts only five to 10 minutes. Eighty to 90 percent of users, however, snort cocaine, which produces a euphoria that peaks more slowly, taking five to 15 minutes." The few studies that exist suggest that little to no performance gains are incurred from cocaine and its amphetamine-like properties. Cocaine is notable for distorting the user's perception of reality; for example, an athlete may perceive increased performance and decreased fatigue in the face of actual decreased performance in both strength and endurance activities. An increase in heat production combined with a decrease in heat loss associated with cocaine abuse impairs the body's ability to regulate its temperature during physical activity.
What are the adverse physical health effects of cocaine?

"Competitive athletics increases the potential of cocaine's powerful adverse cardiovascular stimulating effects," according to Wadler, "namely, life-threatening abnormal heart rhythms and heart attacks, particularly in cigarette smokers."

http://www.espn.go.com/special/s/drugsandsports/coca.html

I don't think it's a bit both ways. I would say that it's along way toward non-enhancing , mostly detrimental. I think the answer to that Q&A is basically saying that.

The proof of the pudding is in why players takes performance enhancing or 'recreational ' drugs. They are for vastly different reasons.

 

[oxx]

Charles was performance enhancing and cheating.

Cousins was/is being a twat with "recreational" drugs.

Two separate issues.

you ever tried to chase someone who was speeding off their dial.....

 

[oxx]

The argument is this,

Cousins played AFL at some point over the last year and a half while illegal substances ere in his system.

Difference is legally their is no documented evidence,just a half arsed confession.

He showed his true colors leaving his wife in the car when he saw the brethaliser.

I still doubt the level of his "addiction" and see his public attempt at "comin clean" as more insurance against being harshley dealt with by the powers that be (legal and professional)

The guy could dry out in a week up the bush.

The only weakness he has is his inability to say no.

 

[PHX]

you ever tried to chase someone who was speeding off their dial.....

Cant say I have and doubt I ever will.

 

[roostertalk]

The argument is this,

Cousins played AFL at some point over the last year and a half while illegal substances ere in his system.

Difference is legally their is no documented evidence,just a half arsed confession.

He showed his true colors leaving his wife in the car when he saw the brethaliser.

I still doubt the level of his "addiction" and see his public attempt at "comin clean" as more insurance against being harshley dealt with by the powers that be (legal and professional)

The guy could dry out in a week up the bush.

The only weakness he has is his inability to say no.

oxx can use his brain, fairly rational post for you.