The NRL has handed Josh Addo-Carr a breach notice over his positive drugs test.
Addo-Carr, 29, tested positive to cocaine during a roadside drug test the week before Canterbury’s finals match against Manly.
The winger has long maintained his innocence, but stood himself down from the crucial game, accepted a police fine and driving suspension while he also failed a second drugs test, leading to questions relating to ‘contradictions’ in the saga.
In a statement issued on Tuesday, the NRL confirmed that the breach notice had been given to Addo-Carr.
‘The National Rugby League (NRL) today issued Canterbury-Bankstown Bulldogs player Josh Addo-Carr with a breach notice alleging a breach of the NRL Code of Conduct,’ the NRL said.
‘Addo-Carr was issued with a penalty notice by NSW Police earlier this month for the offence of ‘Presence of prescribed illicit drug in person’s oral fluid, blood or urine’ while driving a motor vehicle.
‘The breach notice alleges that Addo-Carr has engaged in conduct which is against the law and has brought the game and his club into disrepute.’
Addo-Carr has five days to respond to the breach notice.
The winger faced a two-hour grilling from footy bosses last week where he was asked to explain the details relating to the incident.
Canterbury are awaiting the outcome of the NRL’s investigation before deciding what action to take against Addo-Carr. General manager Phil Gould declared the player’s version of events ‘changed slightly from day to day depending on what had been revealed’.
‘At the end of the day what we have is a positive drug test, there were drugs in his system,’ Gould said on the Six Tackles with Gus podcast.
‘I believe he’s still protesting his innocence in that. But at (sometime) he’s going to have to explain to himself and explain to people that matter exactly how that’s happened and why it’s happened.
‘And then why we’ve gone through what we’ve gone through over the last week or so.’
