Bath feel 'let down' by Stevens « Thread Started on Jan 22, 2009, 1:23pm »
Bath say they feel "let down" by Matt Stevens after his public admission that he failed a drugs test.
England prop Stevens, 26, confessed to having problems with a "very serious substance", which he said was not performance-enhancing.
Stevens has been banned by Bath and thrown out of England's Six Nations squad. His fate could be decided by a judicial panel in a few weeks.
Bath chief executive Bob Calleja said he was "absolutely shocked".
South African-born Stevens, who has 32 England caps, tested positive after the Heineken Cup game against Glasgow last month.
He can now request his B-sample to be tested, ask for a judicial committee to rule whether there has been an anti-doping violation or accept an anti-doping violation has occurred and go before an independent judicial hearing.
Stevens, who agreed a new four-year deal with Bath last February, could face a maximum ban of two years and will definitely miss Sunday's vital Heineken Cup clash with Toulouse.
Calleja said: "I was absolutely shocked. It is devastating news, something we could have done without. We all feel let down."
He added: "This week should have been all about the anticipation of a classic winner-takes-all match at the Rec.
"Instead, the headlines have been dominated by Matt Stevens."
Stevens has not revealed what he had taken, but said he took the drug while out with friends and that his use of the substance had become a problem.
He has already been attending drug counselling sessions.
It's really about how Matt deals with this issue, because it is an addiction, it is an illness
Former Bath and England prop Gareth Chilcott told BBC Radio 5 Live that Stevens had to learn a lesson.
Chilcott said: "Other sports have proven that sportsmen can come back from a drug issue.
"But it's really about how Matt deals with this issue, because it is an addiction, it is an illness, and let's hope he gets some help. But there's no room for drugs in sport."
Stevens admitted in an emotional television interview: "I want to say I truly am very sorry. I want to change my life and hopefully one day get the faith back that people had in me."
Life is full of all sorts of experiences - this one we are handling
Bath coach Steve Meehan Former Bath and England centre Jeremy Guscott said Stevens could benefit from his admission.
"He has come out and admitted his problems and is seeking help and is getting counselling," he said.
Professional Rugby Players' Association chief executive Damian Hopley said he was shocked by the news.
"We will do everything we can to provide Matt with the support he needs at this very difficult time," he said.
Bath coach Steve Meehan said: "Life is full of all sorts of experiences. This one we are handling, and we are handling it well.
"My concerns are with the team and preparing them. My focus will be on the guys that take the field on Sunday."
Bath boss shocked by Stevens' troubles Under World Anti-Doping Agency (WADA) regulations, adopted by the International Rugby Board on 1 January, Stevens could face a suspension of up to two years.
But for a first offence, if a player can fully establish the use of such a specified substance was not intended to enhance sport performance, the sanction could range between a warning and a one-year ban.
In 2005, former United States and England A winger Jason Keyter tested positive for cocaine after a random test while playing for National League Two side Esher.
Despite insisting he was innocent, Keyter was banned for a year before the Court of Arbitration for Sport doubled his ban.
And in 2006, Australia winger Wendell Sailor was banned for two years after also testing positive for cocaine.
Stevens joined Bath in September 2002 and played in all of England's games at the 2007 Rugby World Cup in France.
Away from rugby he is best known as the runner-up in a celebrity version of The X Factor in 2006, raising £125,000 for the Nelson Mandela Children's Fund.
In England, the Rugby Football Union, has conducted 1700 in and out of competition tests on rugby players across all levels since adopting the WADA code in the 2004-5 season.
In those four-and-a-half seasons there have been 14 positive tests.
Re: Bath feel 'let down' by Stevens « Reply #1 on Jan 23, 2009, 12:08pm »
Without condoning the use of drugs I do think two years would be harsh. This is a massive error of judgement by the guy but it is not performance enhancing. He should face a ban yes but to treat it the same way as Dwaine Chambers for example would be wrong. One took a banned substance recreationally, which does not enhance performance, the other to cheat his fellow competitors and gain an unfair advantage.
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