In a recent two-hour meeting with the NRL Integrity Unit, Josh Addo-Carr reportedly maintained that he did not knowingly consume cocaine prior to testing positive for the substance. This assertion comes amid growing scrutiny following a series of events that have put the Bulldogs winger at the center of a significant controversy.
According to a report from The Daily Telegraph, Addo-Carr was called to explain the presence of cocaine in his system. Accompanied by his manager, Mario Tartak, and lawyer Nick Ghabar—who is well-known in NRL judiciary circles—Addo-Carr faced the challenging task of clarifying his situation to NRL officials.
Adding to the complications, Addo-Carr has already accepted penalties from NSW Police, including a $682 fine and a three-month suspension from driving. These sanctions were accepted in a bid to shield his club and family from further legal troubles and media scrutiny.
Sources indicate that the NRL is poised to impose its own sanctions following the meeting, which may take into account that Addo-Carr has already missed one match due to the incident. Ghabar has emphasized Addo-Carr’s insistence on his innocence, stating, “He maintains that he did not take anything.”
During the meeting, Addo-Carr expressed concerns over a lack of clarity regarding his drug test results. He reportedly mentioned confusion surrounding the information he received from police, particularly regarding his testing serial number, which was not provided at the time of the first test. Instead, he received this information via mail a week later, leading to questions about the conclusiveness of the results.
As Addo-Carr navigates this tumultuous period, he faces uncertainty regarding his future with the Bulldogs, where he has one year remaining on a contract reportedly worth $500,000 per season. The club’s management, including Phil Gould, has expressed the complexity of the situation. Gould remarked on his podcast, “At the end of the day, what we have is a positive drugs test; there were drugs in his system last Friday night.” He acknowledged Addo-Carr’s ongoing protest of his innocence but underscored the necessity for the player to explain the circumstances surrounding the positive test.
This situation raises significant questions not only about Addo-Carr’s personal conduct but also about the broader implications for player welfare and the integrity of the sport. As the NRL prepares to make a decision on further sanctions, the eyes of fans, players, and officials alike are on Addo-Carr and the future of his career.
The upcoming weeks will be crucial for Addo-Carr as he works to clear his name and potentially reshape the narrative surrounding this troubling incident. With the integrity of the game at stake, the NRL’s response will also serve as a litmus test for how the league handles drug-related issues moving forward.
