Eddie Hemmings terms Gleeson’s involvement in drug scandal as tragic day for rugby league
Noted Rugby League commentator Eddie Hemmings has termed Hull FC’s Martin Gleeson’s involvement in the latest drug scandal as a very “tragic day” for the sport.
The doping scandal is an embarrassment in the world of rugby league because here not only the player committed the offence but he had two very high profile off-field accomplices, the former chief executive of Hull James Rule and conditioner Ben Cooper, who
are equally to be blamed for crossing the line set by UK Anti-Doping Agency (UKAD).
While expressing his views about Gleeson’s three-year suspension from UKAD, Hemmings said, “It is not a great day for the sport of rugby league and it is not very good for the lad himself. He is 31 years of age, a brilliant player in his time but obviously
by the sound of things, a troubled star as well. He played his last game on the 5th of June and a lot of questions were left unanswered about his unexplained absence but then answered by Rule saying he had a stress related illness claimed. The Anti-doping
agency were like a dog with a bone and would not leave this one alone.”
He went on and quoted that keeping in view how adversely this incident can affect the world of rugby league is tragic in multiple ways.
The saddest part is that there has been an off-field involvement from Hulls’ side which makes the whole picture uglier. Hemmings claims that he completely understands why Rule has responded to the whole situation likewise. He added that it was not at all
shocking for him to conceive why the Hulls’ CEO acted that way because anyone in his shoes would have had handled it similarly.
Hemmings further explained and said that Rule tried to cover up for mess created by his side and tried to do what was in the best interest of his players and his clubs.
With this incident, the whole game of rugby league has been defamed. This notion has been endorsed by both Hemmings and the Rugby Football League Chief Executive Nigel Wood alike.
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