Is Cousins a drug cheat?

[cruiser]

http://www.theaustralian.news.com.au/story/0,20867,21465307-5012432,00.html

It's one thing for Cousins to be using recreational drugs that aren't performance enhancing or to use them during the off season, but quite something else to be using any type of amphetamine before a game. If he has been, then he is nothing but a cheat. Having had personal experience with methamphetamine, I'm quite aware of its effects and am in a position to state that it does increase staying power considerably, it gives the user a perception of greater strength and energy, and also numbs any consequent pain. If he took it before last years GF it raises serious doubts about the legitimacy of West Coast's premiership, which is unfortunate for the rest of the team who were 'clean' during the game.

I should add that mephamphetamine is a nasty, addictive drug with numerous unpleasant and/or serious side effects. It is causing huge harm to some people who use it.

[swan_song]

2006 GF: Toast on Ice, or Swans on Valium?

The way Wet Toast almost threw last year's GF away in the second half begs the question...were they juiced up before the match and ran out of ice an hour or so later...or were the Swannies on valium for the first half?
According to Fox Sports, it seems that when a Weagle hits the coke and/or ice, they get hyper for a while then slacken off...

"From July 29 last year to the end of the home-and-away season, Champion Data statisticians recorded a dramatic spike in Cousins's on-field performance. From having averaged 23 possessions per game, Cousins began winning more of the ball than any player in the competition. From compiling just three Brownlow votes up to round 16, Cousins polled 10 votes in the final six rounds. The common refrain from footballers and former players - most recently Adelaide's stand-in captain Brett Burton - is that no player would try to take the field high on drugs. The assumption is that whatever Cousins took, he took strictly after matches for recreational purposes.

"While the illicit nature of cocaine and ice prevents systematic research on their effect on elite sport performance, the pharmacological picture is revealing.

"Andrew McLachlan, a professor of pharmacy at the University in Sydney who specialises in drug testing, said that cocaine had the potential to deliver improved oxygen supply, enhanced mental awareness and a feeling of invincibility.

"The potential effects of amphetamines are similar, with ice having the additional benefit of improving anaerobic performance. The effects of amphetamines last longer, providing benefits - and associated risks - for up to three hours..."

The above from Chip le Grand

http://www.foxsports.com.au/story/0,8659,21465310-23211,00.html

[j s]

As I said in another thread - should all goals kicked by Cousins in September be annulled and the scores adjusted? He kicked two goals in the GF.

Can't see the AFL doing it though.

[reigning premier]

Starting to draw some very, very, very @@@@ing long bows here people....

Yes, he's got a habit but that's about all that anyone knows. The speculation is now just getting out of hand.

Talk about Monday Quarterbacks....

[liz]

Starting to draw some very, very, very @@@@ing long bows here people....

Yes, he's got a habit but that's about all that anyone knows. The speculation is now just getting out of hand.

Talk about Monday Quarterbacks....

Agree. He's never failed a drug test for performance enhancing drugs. If he had, we'd all know about it. He therefore deserves the same presumption of innocence as anyone else.

And as to last year's GF, the Swans dosed in the first half, gifted the Eagles two goals and missed four sitters. They lost 'fair and square', frustrating though it is, and it's time to look forward to them recapturing the crown in 2007.

[hammo]

Agree. He's never failed a drug test for performance enhancing drugs. If he had, we'd all know about it. He therefore deserves the same presumption of innocence as anyone else.

The suggestion from the medics is that cocain, speed and ice could be considered performance enhancing drugs under some circumstances, although under the doping policy would be classified as 'recreational'.

However I agree that we'll never know and 2006 has been and gone.