Former Cronulla player Paul Aiton still has a two-year ban hanging over his head following the Sharks' 2011 supplements program as his former teammates return to the field after their short-term ban.
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It has been almost six months since a host of players including Paul Gallen, Wade Graham, Anthony Tupou, Luke Douglas and Jeremy Smith were given a backdated one-month ban following the Australian Sports Anti-Doping Authority's 18-month investigation into the club. But Aiton and former teammate Ben Pomeroy have been free to play uninterrupted in the English Super League having been given no indication if they face a similar fate.
Ten players were given the backdated ban, which effectively ruled them out of a handful of games in 2014. Now, the Sharks head into their first season in two years free of the drugs cloud.
Had the players not accepted ASADA's punishment, they faced a potential two-year ban, which could still be imposed on Aiton and Pomeroy.
"I spoke to a legal team back in Australia but nothing has come from it, so I'm basically just concentrating on rugby [league] as much as I can," Aiton said. "It's not a good feeling at all. Family and friends were like, 'What's this about?' and they still are – I genuinely don't know anything.
"Unfortunately, it is what it is. I can't do anything."
While the World Anti-Doping Agency did not appeal the backdated ban it launched a scathing assessment, blaming ASADA's time wasting for the leniency of the sanctions, concluding they were "not entirely satisfied with the outcome of this case". The players were offered a backdated deal because of delays in ASADA delivering show-cause notices.
Most of the 10 players missed only three competition matches after pleading guilty to breaches under the "no significant fault" defence, which allowed what might have been two-year suspensions to be reduced by 50 per cent.
ASADA confirmed to Fairfax Media on Thursday that it had "a number of ongoing matters involving Cronulla Sharks players from 2011".
The news of his former teammates' bans broke on the eve of Aiton helping Leeds lift their first Challenge Cup in 15 years with a 23-10 win over Castleford at Wembley. Pomeroy has continued to play for Catalans Dragons.
"It was certainly in the back of my mind at Wembley," Aiton said. "I first heard when I was in camp and an Aussie journalist called a couple of days before.
"But I've spoken to the lawyers and I'm leaving it at that."
Cronulla duo Graham and Nathan Gardner and North Queensland's Matt Wright will play their first competitive games, since their bans, at this weekend's Auckland Nines tournament. The tournament will also be the first time Sharks coach Shane Flanagan has led the side since his one-year ban ended.
The AFL's own ASADA drama will be resolved on Friday when James Hird's attempt to have the infraction notices against 34 past and present Essendon players quashed is decided by the Federal Court in Melbourne. Hird and the Bombers had argued the investigation was unlawful, claiming ASADA had illegally used the AFL's coercive powers to ensure Hird, Essendon staff and the players gave evidence.
