RFL allow him to re-commence training with Wigan 2 months before his ban ends. Makes a bit of a mockery of the 2 year ban in my eyes. As soon as the ban ends Wigan will have an up to speed (icon_smile.gif) player ready for some game time.

Isn't a ban just against playing?

Thought they could do whatever they wanted other than that. If they are paying him I'd have him training.

Take a driving ban, you can't go practicing 2 months before the ban ends! It's a 2yr ban from involvement in the game, or should be.

They don't ban you from playing Gran Turismo or sitting on your driveway pressing the pedals though.

Not entirely true - I believe that if the keys are in the ignition, you are 'in charge' of the vehicle.

Either way, I agree with the OP - either he's banned or he's not; if he is banned, then he shouldn't start training until that ban is served.

he's got a really small mouth

I'll avoid being pedantic over the first line.

As for the topic and my tuppenceworth, it is the RFL who have the jurisdiction over the ban, they can do what they like. There is nothing stopping him training down the gym or wherever on his own, so he may as well be allowed to train properly with the team and be ready to play when his ban fully ends. Part of the rehabilitation process. Personally I'd like to think this reflects the authorities coming round to the view that an automatic two year for non-enhancing drug use isn't appropriate, but that is reopening an old can of worms.

I personally had no problem with the length of the ban, it needs to be that strict to stop others particularly youngsters following the path he took.

My opinion on him being allowed to train is that it is a sensible option, if the ban is to be fair and consistent under the terms of WADA, an athlete playing an individual sport could walk back into the action straight after his ban, so to be consistent either increase the length of individual sports players bans or allow team sports players to get a chance to prepare back for comp.

It is a sensible option and one which I applaud.

We have all seen the tragedy that can befall individuals who fall from grace and have little hope of return. Hock seems to have handled himself with great integrity during his ban, and personally for me I think it could be the best thing to happen to a career that despite a few eye catching displays never looked like reaching its potential.

What even if you are on private land, I think not, and the earlier post mentioned he was parked on his drive

so 2 years only means 2 years when it's a sport controlled by a decent governing body..unlike what we have controlling rugby league !!! ffs newton was crucified!!!

Not the best choice of words.

We'll never know with respect to Newton but he was guilty of using performance enhancing drugs rather than recreational. He may have been allowed to train before his ban ended if he were still alive and was still wanting to play the game.