South Sydney Rabbitohs CEO John Lee speaks to the media after Aaron Gray and Dylan Walker were released from hospital after their overdose on prescription medication earlier in the week.
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‘We’d like to apologise to all our family and friends over the last few days, ‘ Gray said.
“We want to look at how we make sure that in the short, medium and long-term there’s never a story about any Warrior’s player getting themselves into that sort of situation”. “We realise that some of our players have made mistakes or made errors, and it is important that that recognition is made”.
The incident has sparked a major debate about the dangers of prescription drugs in the game amid reports they are being widely abused.
“I can confirm that our chairman [Nick Pappas] and our coach Michael Maguire would like to be at the forefront of a new trial and that trial would be around a voluntary trial for testing for a prescribed medicines through the use of hair follicles”, Lee told a press conference at St Vincent’s Hospital.
Mr Weeks said the NRL’s testing for prescription drug use by its players exceeds that of any other sport in the country.
The pair were rushed to St Vincent’s Hospital in a critical condition on Tuesday morning after having trouble breathing.
“What struck them the most was the reaction of their families”, Lee said.
The prescription drugs had been given to the pair to relieve pain following recent surgery. “We hope everyone can take a lesson out of this”, Walker added.
SOUTHS players Dylan Walker and Aaron Gray thanked the medical staff who saved their lives as they issued a warning to others against misusing prescription medication as they left hospital yesterday.
The NRL said it had been investigating the introduction of hair follicle testing for several months and was in talks with the Rugby League Players’ Association.
Lee said the players had been rattled after almost dying.
“There are necessary pressures that are applied so that players are able to take the field”, Lee said. Those matters are still pending. “We know that because we’ve seen people with serious drug problems shopping around, they go doctor shopping”.
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“We are still collecting that information but I think we have to understand, when you have just witnessed two young men, whose physical health is on the improve, that we need to take the right time to ask the right questions”.
