These are the facts…
An independent report was commissioned by the Cronulla Sharks into the alleged use of supplements and peptides in 2011.
One of the many conclusions that this report came to was that there was the possibility that there may be a connection between the use of certain peptides and the acceleration of the condition of disease Hodgkin’s lymphoma.
This independent report was given to the Daily Telegraph.
The Daily Telegraph approached the Mannah family with this information, of which they were unaware, and chose to make no comment.
The Daily Telegraph made the decision to publish this information.
Those are the facts…
The backlash against the Daily Telegraph has been incredible. The likes of which I don’t think I have ever seen before.
Many of the people attacking the Daily Telegraph are criticizing them for being insensitive towards the Mannah family.
Jon Mannah passed away earlier this year after a long battle with cancer. Throughout that battle, and after his passing, the Mannah family were amazing. They showed so much strength and grace through what was without doubt the toughest period of their lives.
Throughout their mourning process the Mannah family embraced the Rugby League community and allowed fans of Jon Mannah to grieve with them. You had to admire the Mannah’s for how strong they have been during this time and how strong they continue to be as they celebrate the life that Jon had.
The possibility that an alleged supplement program may have contributed to any short or long term health effects on any players is without doubt newsworthy. In fact we have already read about the possible link between the alleged use of supplements and health issues at the Sharks earlier this year. In March the Daily Telegraph ran a story about Sharks fullback Issac Gordon who suffered with severe bruising from his groin down to his ankle.
For an independent report to continue to link the alleged use of supplements and peptides to the health issues of other players I believe is newsworthy and worth reporting.
Keep in mind, I have only read the story online. I have not see how they have covered this story in print. I have been told by people that the way this story is presented in the newspaper itself is over the top and crass, however that does not take away from the story itself. It must be said though that the way a story is presented, the headline, the photos you use and even the stories around your main article do all come together as an overall presentation. How people react to the way this new was presented is up to them. Me personally, I’ve long since stopped reading into sensational headlines or taking in presentation. I link to read the facts and not let all that other stuff cloud my opinion on a matter.
Its difficult. Its horrible to read. There is no nice ending to this story.
If further research finds that there is no link between what is alleged to have happened at the Sharks and Jon Mannah’s cancer returning, that isn’t going to bring Jon back.
If however a link is confirmed, then this would be one of the most disgraceful things that has ever happened in Rugby League.
Did the Daily Telegraph have a responsibility to wait until more information was available and a link was confirmed either way? There is an argument you can make for that. I think the fact any link needs to be looked into is in itself newsworthy though.
I’ve said a number of times, with this entire drugs in sport matter, there is not happy ending to this story. There will be no clean conclusions that we get at the end of all of this. There will be no good guys, just bad guys. Even if we get to the end of this entire saga and no one is charge with any offense, either legally or under the ASADA rules, I don’t think that is going to be a good ending for the game.
All of this is dirty. All of it is uncomfortable to read. All of it is also necessary.
There has been a black cloud covering a part of the game that no one knew about. That cloud has recently been lifted and we have found out some terrible things that have allegedly been going on.
You don’t find these things out by covering them up. You don’t find these things out by holding back information that is relevant to the story.
I am the first to step in and criticize Rugby League journalists when I think they have crossed a line. In this case, I think they had a legitimate story handed to them and they have a responsibility to report that information.
Journalists are not running in a popularity content. They know when they are about to write something that is going to cause an unpopular reaction. I have no doubt when they read this independent report they too felt sickened by what they read. Their job is to report these sort of things though, even if they are upsetting to read.
How YOU react to the Daily Telegraph story is completely up to you. I’m not going to tell you how to think or feel.
For, I read this Daily Telegraph article, I felt sicked by the information that it contained and I hoped that a final conclusion could be made on this information as soon as possible.
The Mannah family can not be allowed to be questioning whether there was a link between Jon’s passing and the alleged use to supplements and pepdites. This should take priority over everything else. A family is mourning, and while this new information is sure to be hurtful to them, there is a responsibility to come to a quick conclusion to let the Mannah family know either way.
I normally like to end my articles by coming to some sort of conclusion. In this case, there is none to be made. This is just a horrible situation and your heart goes out to the Mannah family. At the end of the day, they have lost one of their own. At the end of the day, none of this stuff can bring Jon back.
Daily Telegraph: Peptides Give To Cronulla Sharks Players May Have Hastened Former Player Jon Mannah’s Death
