ASADA aftershock hits Queensland

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TWO of Queensland's three NRL clubs had their foundations rocked after being caught in the aftershock of the Cronulla ASADA investigation.

North Queensland and Gold Coast were caught up in the drama with both clubs having former Sharks players on their books.

Matthew Wright (Cowboys), Luke Douglas and Albert Kelly (both Titans) were among the 17 current or former Cronulla players issued show cause notices by the Australian Sports Anti-Doping Authority for involvement in the Sharks' 2011 supplements program.

The Cowboys — where Wright has flourished since he linked with the club this season — last night issued a statement confirming the outside back was one of the players targeted in Wednesday's action.

CRONULLA FANS FINALLY GET SOME CLOSURE

SHARKS 17: THE PLAYERS IN THE FIRING LINE

Cowboys' Matthew Wright is one of three former Cronulla players now playing for Queensland clubs. Source: News Corp Australia

"The North Queensland Cowboys understand that NRL squad member Matthew Wright has received a "show cause" from ASADA following investigations into the Cronulla club in 2011,'' the statement read.

"There has been no information provided directly to the Cowboys from ASADA at this stage.

"A Cowboy since the start of this season, Matthew was not part of the meetings in Sydney but will see his solicitor, who is managing the process on their behalf, to receive advice and more information on the matter.

"The Cowboys will not be making any further comment on any matter relating to the ASADA investigation until further notice."

ASADA OFFERS DEALS FOR ADMISSIONS

ASADA STATEMENT ON CRONULLA

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Wright played 62 games for Cronulla from 2009 to 2013, before signing with the Cowboys in early February. He played 19 games for the Sharks in 2011.

The former off-contract player was preparing for full-time work before being offered a lifeline by North Queensland.

He has since played 17 games for the club this season and scored nine tries, including a hat-trick against the Wests Tigers almost a fortnight ago.

Wright has been named to play against South Sydney in Saturday's crunch match at ANZ Stadium, which is likely to make or break North Queensland's top four hopes.

Gold Coast's Albert Kelly was another to be part of the ASADA investigation. Source: News Corp Australia

The Gold Coast Titans by comparison put up the shutters on Wednesday night, refusing to issue a statement surrounding their players and failing to return calls.

After a few weeks of turmoil, which culminated in club foundation stones Michael Searle and John Cartwright quitting the club, this was another piece of bad news the club could have done without.

Kelly only made his return for Tweed Heads in the Intrust Super Cup last weekend after a year that has fluctuated between moments of on-field brilliance and frustration at a string of injuries.

Douglas by comparison has been typically dependable in the Titans' front row.

But Wednesday's events have placed him in a difficult spot, jeopardising his record streak of 214 consecutive appearances since debuting in 2006.

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ASADA stain hard for players to remove

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IT'S an effective ban of just 10 weeks, but the potential cost is a lifetime of slurs.

That was stomach-churning dilemma served up to 17 past and present Cronulla players on Wednesday night, just hours after they received ASADA 'show cause' notices in relation to the club's 2011 supplement program.

SHARKS ASADA CASE: TIMELINE

The Daily Telegraph on Wednesday learned that every player in the firing line has been offered a one-year suspension, back-dated to November 1, 2013.

But in exchange for sitting out just over two months, the players must admit that the club gave them banned peptides CJC-1295 and GHRP-6 in 2011.

In short, the players are being asked to admit to being part of a group of drug cheats.

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The alternative is to continue to assert their innocence by fighting the 'show cause' notices in either the Administrative Appeals Tribunal (AAT) or Federal Court and risk a mandatory two-year ban for the use of those two growth stimulants.

17 PLAYERS HIT WITH DOPING NOTICES

A statement released by the Sharks indicated the five players still contracted to the club – skipper Paul Gallen, Wade Graham, Nathan Gardner, Anthony Tupou and John Morris – had been given just two days to make this decision.

Wade Graham, Nathan Gardner and Anthony Tupou with their lawyer Richard Redman. Source: News Corp Australia

"Players have been offered a proposal regarding a possible suspension, which they need to consider before the weekend, with the players to consult with their legal representatives over the next two days in relation to their individual circumstances," the statement read.

ASADA STATEMENT ON SHARKS

Remaining members of the 2011 squad who received 'show cause' notices include: Kade Snowden (Knights), Jeremy Smith (Knights), Luke Douglas (Titans), Albert Kelly (Titans), Mathew Wright (Cowboys), Broderick Wright (retired), Colin Best (retired), Paul Aiton (Leeds), Stuart Flanagan (Appin), John Williams (retired), Josh Cordoba (London) and Ben Pomeroy (Catalans Dragons).

Wade Graham, Anthony Tupou and Nathan Gardner leave their lawyer Richard Redman's office. Source: News Corp Australia

After receiving the notices from their own lawyers at various locations throughout the Sydney CBD; Gallen, Graham, Gardner, Tupou, Morris, Smith and Snowden all met for an hour inside an office tower on Bligh St shortly after lunch.

Gallen drove Graham, Tupou and Morris from the underground car park in a black ute about 3pm without offering a comment.

BUZZ: SHARKS FANS CAN FINALLY GET SOME CLOSURE

However, selected players remained in the city for further meetings with their lawyers last night.

While all players have the same opportunities to achieve a reduced and back-dated sentence, their relative responses could produce different outcomes.

It's understood the players have until Friday to indicate whether they intend to co-operate, and ASADA will then determine the length of their recommended suspension on the candour of their reply.

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Under the World Anti-Doping (WADA) guidelines, bans can be reduced to 12 months for players who can demonstrate "no significant fault or negligence".

In this case, the Sharks players could claim they were misled into believing the substances were not prohibited under the WADA code.

The proposal to back-date the suspensions stems from ASADA's "undue delay" in finalising the investigation.

GALLEN: I'LL BE LABELLED A CHEAT BY ACCEPTING BAN

ASADA OFFERS SHARKS DEALS FOR ADMISSION

Essentially, ASADA has acknowledged the players have already suffered because of the probe's extraordinary length and draining public nature.

The back-dating on November 1, 2013, is recognition that this was the date the investigation officially completed.

Paul Gallen visits his lawyers after ASADA slapped bans on several players. Source: Supplied

Co-incidentally, it's also the date new NRL contracts are registered, meaning none of the 17 players would be prejudiced by ongoing bans should they seek a new deal.

NRL sources have denied any collusion with ASADA to back-date the suspensions to this date.

Under the best case scenario, Gallen might even still be selected as part of Australia's squad for the end-of-year Four Nations tournament, given he would just miss one game prior to the Kangaroos clash against England on November 2.

He would also be forced to skip a planned boxing bout in early October, but still has enough time to stage two fights before the new season starts next March.

Wednesday's events have also placed Douglas in a difficult spot, jeopardising his record streak of 214 consecutive appearances since debuting in 2006.

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ASADA wants codes to ban Dank for life

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ASADA has recommended the NRL and AFL ban sports scientist Stephen Dank for life over the controversial supplements programs he devised at Cronulla and Essendon.

As 17 past and present Sharks players received 'show cause' notices on Wednesday, The Daily Telegraph learned ASADA has written to both codes to recommend Dank has no further involvement with Australia's two most-watched sports.

SHARKS ASADA CASE: TIMELINE

ASADA wants Stephen Dank banned from the AFL and NRL. Source: News Corp Australia

17 PLAYERS HIT WITH DOPING NOTICES

The central figure of ASADA's long-running probe, Dank was also the first to receive a 'show cause' notice in March.

The biochemist vowed to only respond in a court of law, and launched a challenge to the Administrative Appeals Tribunal (AAT).

However, The Daily Telegraph can reveal Dank's AAT matter was withdrawn last month.

Stephen Dank leaves his house. Source: News Limited

ASADA STATEMENT ON SHARKS

An AAT spokesman confirmed on Wednesday night it had been ceased on July 2.

Dank also had the option of appealing to the Federal Court, as Essendon has done on behalf of its players earlier this month.

A Federal Court spokesman on Wednesday night confirmed Dank had not initiated any proceedings.

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Those developments have left ASADA free to place Dank's name on its Register of Findings.

In the past fortnight, ASADA has sent letters to both the NRL and AFL asking that Dank be issued a life ban by their respective anti-doping tribunals.

BUZZ: SHARKS FANS CAN FINALLY GET SOME CLOSURE

Neither sport has commenced a hearing against Dank, who is the common link between the Cronulla and Essendon probes.

Paul Gallen, Anthony Tupou and Wade Graham after meetings regarding the ASADA issue. Source: News Corp Australia

ASADA has alleged Sharks players were injected with banned peptides CJC-1295 and GHRP-6 under Dank's watch in 2011, and that Essendon players received another prohibited substance, Thymosin Beta-4, when the sports scientist moved to Melbourne the following season.

GALLEN: I'LL BE LABELLED A CHEAT BY ACCEPTING BAN

ASADA OFFERS SHARKS DEALS FOR ADMISSION

Dank has constantly denied ever providing banned substances to footballers.

However, his name now appears on a banned 'support staff' section of ASADA's register.

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He has also received notification that he appears on the register and that ASADA has written to both codes recommending their preferred punishment of a life ban.

It's understood the AFL will wait until the Federal Court verdict of Essendon's case is handed down, before it convenes a hearing into ASADA's recommendations on Dank.

The NRL declined to give any information on Wednesday night as to when it will deal with the sports scientist, offering "no comment" in response to The Daily Telegraph's inquiries.

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Rumour Mill Live: Barca binge on stars

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IT'S desperate times at Barcelona.

With FIFA rejecting the appeal over their transfer ban, they have nine days to not only build for this season, but also next.

FIFA UPHOLD BARCA TRANSFER BAN FOR 2015

The Rumour Mill is set to go into overdrive and money appears to be no object, with German international Marco Reus chief among the targets.

Barcelona will not then be able to recruit any new players in the next two windows, in January and next summer. The ban was originally handed down in April but because Barca appealed, the punishment was frozen during the current transfer window, which closes on September 1 and allowed them to sign striker Luis Suarez.

The Mirror is reporting Barcelona are determined to outbid both Manchester United, Liverpool and Arsenal for his services.

Juan Cuadrado and Daniel Agger could be on their way as well.

EUROPEAN TRANSFER CENTRE

Meanwhile, former Liverpool star Xabi Alonso could be joining Manchester United.

The Daily Star is reporting that United, who look like missing out on chief targets Kevin Strootman and Arturo Vidal, have turned their attention to veteran Spaniard, who called Anfield home for six seasons until 2009.

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And in news of Liverpool's seemingly endless search for a new strike partner for Daniel Sturridge, the Anfield club have reportedly offered Mario Balotelli in excess of $160,000 to make the move back to England.

Although some publications are denying the offer is on the table, reports from Italy suggest a deal could be close at hand.

Liverpool's offer is currently short of AC Milan's asking price, but all parties seem keen on the transfer going through.

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Meanwhile, Swansea City have bolstered their defence with the signing of Argentinian Federico Fernandez from Napoli and the 35-year-old is pretty happy about the move.

"It has always been my dream to play in the Premier League - it is the best in the world - and I'm grateful to Swansea for giving me this opportunity," Fernandez said.

"I asked Michu and Jordi Amat about the club. I obviously trained with Michu at Napoli, and while I was on loan at Getafe (in 2013) I played with (former Swansea loan player) Alvaro Vazquez. He is very good friends with Jordi, so I've spoken to them too.

"Michu told me it is a family club and the city is very relaxed. He said I was joining a very good club. All I've heard are good things about Swansea."

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World Cup star Thomas Mueller has revealed that Manchester United offered him an "astronomical' amount of money to make the switch to the EPL.

"Of course - I was aware I could theoretically earn more with a transfer," he said.

"The sums that were standing by from foreign clubs were already astronomical. I can only say that a change was never really an issue anyway."

Read on for plenty more from the Rumour Mill, including further talk on Manchester United and Liverpool.

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