Segeyaro’s lawyer slams NRL over delay of hearing

ALLEGED drug cheat James Segeyaro’s lawyer has accused Australia’s National Rugby League of neglecting its duty and warned that they need to show more support and empathy for players.
The Papua New Guinea rake has been provisionally suspended since late last year after testing positive to di-hydroxy LGD-4033, a substance banned by the NRL and the World Anti-Doping Authority.
The 29-year-old has been anxiously awaiting the opportunity to explain himself before an anti-doping tribunal, only to discover last week that the process has been further delayed because the NRL has asked Sports Integrity Australia – the umbrella body that has taken over the powers of the Australian Sports Anti-Doping Agency (Asada) – for a recommendation on any potential ban.
Segeyaro’s lawyer Tim Fuller insists the NRL has caused more unnecessary delays by ignoring their own anti-doping policy – the governing body received a notice from Asada early last month confirming that a breach had occurred, but have now gone back for more advice.
“I got an email yesterday from (the NRL) saying that they had effectively referred back to Asada in relation to sanctioning,” Fuller said last week.
“That is not how it works.
“The protocol is that Asada provides notice to the panel that they believe a rule violation has been committed.
“The NRL is then to apply a sanction in the notice to the player. The player then, of course, has the right to appeal and have a hearing conducted.” – The Australian