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Last Updated: Tuesday, 27 July, 2004, 11:21 GMT 12:21 UK
Harris slams drugs rules
Drugs failure Andy Moran scored vital late goals for Rhyl (SportPix)
The chairman of TNS, Mike Harris, wants Welsh Premier rules changed for players who fail drugs tests.

Andy Moran, Rhyl's top scorer, failed a second test for nandrolone last April but his hearing, in which he was banned for seven months, did not take place until 12 July.

In that time Moran scored vital goals for Rhyl as they pipped TNS to League and Cup titles.

"The League board needs to look at the ramifications of this," Harris said.

Rhyl beat TNS in the League run-in thanks to a late score from Moran, who notched a massive 47 goals last season.

"He (Moran) scored the only goal of the game with only a minute or so left on the clock," Harris added.

"In the five games left after that I think he scored four more goals, where two of those were clocked in the last few minutes of the game.

"If you also look at the Welsh Cup semi-final against Cwmbran, where he scored the two goals in extra time.

"This particular drug is linked with performance-enhancement and extra stamina, so it does have quite a large bearing on the outcome of the League and Cup."

The Football Association of Wales says the delays in Moran receiving his ban were due to the legal process and has confirmed that Rhyl will not be stripped of their titles.

The FAW went to the Court of Arbitration in sport to try to get Russia thrown out of Euro 2004 when midfielder Egor Titov failed a drugs test against Wales.

FAW secretary general David Collins says it is the ruling by the Court of Arbitration in Sport, which went against Wales, that underlines a team cannot be punished for an individual failing a drugs test.

But Harris believes individual clubs should take a moral stance if they are aware one of their players has failed a drugs test.

"I know what would have happened to mitigate any damages being levelled at our club," Harris said.

"Instantly the club had become aware of the situation I believe we would have looked not to play the player until the full facts had been established."

Harris does not believe that Rhyl should be stripped of their titles, but suggested that any prize money they won should be returned and given to charity.




SEE ALSO
Nandrolone explained
10 Mar 04  |  Health


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