The South Sydney Rabbitohs have completed their investigation into players Dylan Walker and Aaron Gray after the pair overdosed on prescription drugs.

In a statement released on their website, the Rabbitohs said:

“The Club undertook a thorough process which involved interviews with key persons including the two players concerned, the receipt of verbal and written submissions from both players, a review of the Club’s medical log and an audit of the Club’s protocols relating to the treatment and recovery of players from surgery and major injury.

“The Board of the South Sydney Football Club was presented with the report of the investigations prepared by CEO, John Lee, in consultation with the NRL Integrity Unit. It resolved to issue show cause notices to both players, asking each of them to answer allegations that they had not met their obligations under the terms of their NRL playing contracts, the NRL Code of Conduct and the South Sydney Football Club Code of Conduct.

“Both players appeared before the Board and presented separate submissions accompanied by their respective representatives.”

Souths found:
o there was no evidence that either player had illicit substances or alcohol in his system;
o both players had nonetheless sourced additional pain-killing medication from their own GPs on the day of the incident, clearly beyond that which was prescribed by their specialists following their respective surgeries;
o by their actions and their consequent hospitalisation, the players had brought the Club and the NRL into serious disrepute.

The sanctions:
o attend educational sessions to better understand how to correctly use medicines;
o undertake a minimum of 20 hours of community service (in addition to normal Club obligations) including speaking to groups about their experiences and learnings;
o make themselves available for ongoing regular testing for drugs including prescription drugs; and
o each be penalised 5% of their 2015 contract value, with a further 5% to be suspended pending successful completion of points 1 and 2 and their co-operation with point 3 above.

Souths CEO John Lee:

“We consulted some of the top sporting bodies and organisations in Australia, including the Australian Institute of Sport, to ensure that our policy is contemporary, practical and focuses on the wellbeing of our players.

“We will work closely with all of our players to ensure an incident like this doesn’t happen again. It was harrowing for the players’ families, friends and Club mates; and it impacted the reputation of our Club which does so much good work, alongside Souths Cares, in our communities.”