Kennedy banned for breaching NRL anti-doping policy

Former Sydney Roosters forward Martin Kennedy has been suspended for two years and nine months for breaching the NRL anti-doping policy.

A statement from the NRL revealed that the 26 year-old was found guilty on four accounts of:

1. Attempted use of Selective Androgen Receptor Modulators (SARMS S22)

2. Attempted use of Growth Hormone

3. Attempted use of Chorionic Gonadotrophin

4. Attempted use of Insulin

Australian Sports Anti-doping Authority (ASADA) CEO Ben McDevitt has admitted his disappointment at Kennedy’s actions and has vowed to continue to thrive for ‘clean’ sports.

“It is incredibly disappointing that Mr Kennedy chose to resort to performance-enhancing drugs in the off-season instead of hard work and determination,” McDevitt told the Sydney Morning Herald.

“Athletes make many sacrifices in training to reach the pinnacle of their chosen sport. ASADA will continue to protect those athletes who make the right decisions and honest sacrifices when it comes to their training and performance.”

Kennedy has been banned from the sport of rugby league until December 19, 2017 with the judge convinced the NRL player had purchased the drugs in the hope of increasing his size ahead of the 2013 season.

Despite the maximum sentence for an offence such as this to be two years, Kennedy was handed an extra nine months onto his suspension as he tried to delete the evidence from his phone. 

NRL Head of Integrity Nick Weeks has also commented on the matter, and has expressed his determination to make rugby league a drug-free sport.

“The NRL remains committed to eliminating performance-enhancing drugs in our game,” Weeks told the Sydney Morning Herald.

“Drug-free sport is essential in ensuring a fair competition and a safe working environment for our players, and we will continue to take the necessary steps to acheive this. Today’s decision of the Anti-Doping Tribunal demonstrates and furthers this effort.”