schwab2clarkson
Banned
Ben Cousins Sacked and Deregistered
West Coast Eagles sack Cousins
October 17, 2007 04:00pm
DEVELOPING STORY: THE West Coast Eagles have sacked Ben Cousins following the arrest of their former captain yesterday on drugs charges.
The Eagles board voted to dump Cousins after he was arrested yesterday and charged with possession of an illegal drug and failing to take a blood test.
The 29-year-old will answer the charges tomorrow in Perth Magistrates Court.
By sacking Cousins, West Coast have probably ended the prospect of any further punishment from the AFL.
The Eagles had been threatened with the loss of draft picks or premiership points if any player was found to be involved in drugs again.
Cousins is almost certain to be de-registered by the AFL, ruling out the prospect of him being drafted by any other club.
West Coast chief executive Trevor Nisbett said there was no chance of Cousins playing for the Eagles again.
"This was probably one of the most painful (decisions) in the history of the club," Nisbett said.
"It's tragic it's got to this stage but it was felt it had to be made.And we're sure we've made the right decision for Ben's health."
Nisbett said the decision to terminate Cousins' contract was due to an accumulation of incidents, not just the events of yesterday.
"We felt this was the right decision to assist Ben to focus solely ... on his health," he said.
Nisbett spoke to Cousins' father and doctor today, but had been unable to contact the player personally.
Nisbett said Eagles coach John Worsfold understood and supported the decision to sack Cousins.
West Coast chairman-elect Mark Barnaba said it had been "a very sad day".
"Ben has been a great champion for our club," he said.
"Our reaction is sadness, empathy and concern.
"This is a young man who truly has an illness and needs help."
FORMER West Coast Eagles AFL star Chris Mainwaring had taken a cocktail of drugs, including cocaine, before his sudden death, it was reported tonight.
An autopsy and toxicology tests were carried out to determine whether drugs were involved in his death.
The Nine Network in Perth, which said it had obtained the toxicology report, said Mainwaring had cocaine, ecstasy, cannabis, anti-depressants and the acne drug, Roaccutane, as well alcohol in his system when he died.
The sports presenter for the Seven Network in Perth collapsed and died in Perth early on October 1, aged 41, shortly after refusing help from police and ambulance officers.
The two-time premiership player had reportedly been on a weekend binge, involving cannabis and ecstasy.
Police and ambulance officers went to Mainwaring's home in the beach suburb of Cottesloe about 11.30pm (WST) after a complaint he was yelling in the street.
He appeared calm and refused help from the ambulance officers who left him in the care of a neighbour.
But ambulance officers found him collapsed when called back to his home about an hour later.
Disgraced West Coast player Ben Cousins visited his friend twice on the day he died - once on Sunday morning and again that night, leaving about 10pm (WST).
Cousins reportedly passed a voluntary drug test shortly after hearing of his friend's death.
The Nine Network reported tonight that West Coast said Cousins did not take a drug test at the club.
"West Coast Eagles now say Cousins did not present at the football club and have no knowledge of, or involvement in, that drug test," the Network said.
WA Police spokeswoman Ros Weatherall said the release of the toxicology report was not the force's responsibility.
"It has nothing to do with us. It is up the the state coroner's office," she told AAP.
The report could also be released by Mainwaring's family, she said.
Mainwaring's father, Hub, could not be contacted tonight.
http://www.heraldsun.com.au
What are your thoughts on this?
West Coast Eagles sack Cousins
October 17, 2007 04:00pm
DEVELOPING STORY: THE West Coast Eagles have sacked Ben Cousins following the arrest of their former captain yesterday on drugs charges.
The Eagles board voted to dump Cousins after he was arrested yesterday and charged with possession of an illegal drug and failing to take a blood test.
The 29-year-old will answer the charges tomorrow in Perth Magistrates Court.
By sacking Cousins, West Coast have probably ended the prospect of any further punishment from the AFL.
The Eagles had been threatened with the loss of draft picks or premiership points if any player was found to be involved in drugs again.
Cousins is almost certain to be de-registered by the AFL, ruling out the prospect of him being drafted by any other club.
West Coast chief executive Trevor Nisbett said there was no chance of Cousins playing for the Eagles again.
"This was probably one of the most painful (decisions) in the history of the club," Nisbett said.
"It's tragic it's got to this stage but it was felt it had to be made.And we're sure we've made the right decision for Ben's health."
Nisbett said the decision to terminate Cousins' contract was due to an accumulation of incidents, not just the events of yesterday.
"We felt this was the right decision to assist Ben to focus solely ... on his health," he said.
Nisbett spoke to Cousins' father and doctor today, but had been unable to contact the player personally.
Nisbett said Eagles coach John Worsfold understood and supported the decision to sack Cousins.
West Coast chairman-elect Mark Barnaba said it had been "a very sad day".
"Ben has been a great champion for our club," he said.
"Our reaction is sadness, empathy and concern.
"This is a young man who truly has an illness and needs help."
FORMER West Coast Eagles AFL star Chris Mainwaring had taken a cocktail of drugs, including cocaine, before his sudden death, it was reported tonight.
An autopsy and toxicology tests were carried out to determine whether drugs were involved in his death.
The Nine Network in Perth, which said it had obtained the toxicology report, said Mainwaring had cocaine, ecstasy, cannabis, anti-depressants and the acne drug, Roaccutane, as well alcohol in his system when he died.
The sports presenter for the Seven Network in Perth collapsed and died in Perth early on October 1, aged 41, shortly after refusing help from police and ambulance officers.
The two-time premiership player had reportedly been on a weekend binge, involving cannabis and ecstasy.
Police and ambulance officers went to Mainwaring's home in the beach suburb of Cottesloe about 11.30pm (WST) after a complaint he was yelling in the street.
He appeared calm and refused help from the ambulance officers who left him in the care of a neighbour.
But ambulance officers found him collapsed when called back to his home about an hour later.
Disgraced West Coast player Ben Cousins visited his friend twice on the day he died - once on Sunday morning and again that night, leaving about 10pm (WST).
Cousins reportedly passed a voluntary drug test shortly after hearing of his friend's death.
The Nine Network reported tonight that West Coast said Cousins did not take a drug test at the club.
"West Coast Eagles now say Cousins did not present at the football club and have no knowledge of, or involvement in, that drug test," the Network said.
WA Police spokeswoman Ros Weatherall said the release of the toxicology report was not the force's responsibility.
"It has nothing to do with us. It is up the the state coroner's office," she told AAP.
The report could also be released by Mainwaring's family, she said.
Mainwaring's father, Hub, could not be contacted tonight.
http://www.heraldsun.com.au
What are your thoughts on this?
|@ Lift your game son. We don't need dumb one word answers. You mightn't care, but when things like this happen it is serious.
