Oi, mates! Gather ’round, we’ve got a bit of juicy rugby league chit-chat to dive into. Reckon some of you have got your ears to the ground and heard the rumble about Harry Aaronson. You know, the lad who earns his crust by giving the old rugby ball a run for its money? Well, he’s gone and got himself in a pickle with the UK Anti-Doping (UKAD) gang.
So, here’s the gossip – Harry got hit with a tiny one-month ban from all the athletic shenanigans because they found something a bit dodgy in his system. Yup, talking about the old marching powder, aka cocaine, and its mate benzoylecgonine.
The drama kicked off when UKAD was doing their usual nosy around after a match – we’re nattering about the Rochdale Hornets and Cornwall RLFC face-off on May 21, 2023. They had Harry do the awkward ‘whizz in a cup’ thing, and would you Adam and Eve it, the result came back mucky. Just so we’re on the same page, Harry didn’t mess up during a match or anything. Turns out, he fancied a bit of the sniff on a night out with the lads, not trying to get one over in the sport.
The folks at the World Anti-Doping Agency (WADA) reckon cocaine’s a pick-me-up and it’s only a no-go if you’re caught with it in your blood during a match. So, basically, everything was hunky-dory until Harry had a bit too much fun. Now, if you’re caught out of the blue and not trying to game the system, you can get off with a wee three-month break from sports. But check this – Harry haggled it down to a month off because he got snug with a UKAD-approved rehab scheme.
Jump to July 3, 2023, and UKAD drops a line with a ‘we’re watching you, buddy’, and big Harry owns up. He spills the beans about his flirt with the gear, just for a laugh, nowhere near the pitch. The UKAD lot bring in a brainbox to see if Harry’s tale is legit, and the expert gives it the nod.
Come September, and they’ve marked Harry with the naughty sticker. But, thanks to him doing his bit and proving he’s serious about sorting himself out, UKAD’s like ‘Take a month to sit it out and no hard feelings’. Yeah, Harry’s taken his time-out and is now back in the game, ready to roll in the mud, chuck a few mighties and go for gold.
Hamish Coffey, the top dog at UKAD, is waving a big red flag telling all the sporty types to steer clear from the dodgy stuff. Just a bit of fun can still land you benched. Harry’s little adventure is a wake-up call for anyone tempted to chance it; not bloomin’ worth it. RL Cares, the big-hearted charity in Rugby League, is there to prop up players who’ve tripped up and want to get back in stride. So, we’re clapping Harry back onto the field, hoping he keeps his head in the game.
To wrap this up, lads and lasses, even when you’re not kitted out, remember big brother’s got his eyes peeled, and while a wild night might give you a buzz, a ban’s gonna give you a proper headache. Fingers crossed, we’ll only catch Harry showing off his slick moves in-play, not causing a stir off the field. Play it cool, play it fair!