Gabby

That's fine. I haven't made an allegation about any specific player about any specific drug. I have written about that various inconsistencies in dealing with the issue in Australia citing specific examples. My question from the start is how should the club handle this if the allegation is upheld?

The reason I bring this up is because there have been some very inconsistent responses to this issue in the various football codes in Australia For example - Rugby Union Wendel Sailor tests positive for Cocaine and is banned for 2 years (situation, the Australian Rugby Union spent $1 million per season on this ex - rugby league player and were looking for an out on his contract) AFL High profile West Coast Eagles player Ben Cousins (while never testing positive) has an alleged well documented illict drug issue which has resulted in the police becoming involved on more than one occassion. Result - the club suspended the player and sent him off for rehab. NRL (Rugby League) Mitchell Sargent - did not test positive but found by Police with Cocaine. He was sacked by his club (first offence) and subsequently signed by a new club within 2 weeks. (No suspension - no penalty he just wears a different coloured jersey and was singed by a club at the bottom of the ladder looking for instant results) My question is hypothetically, if a player was to be found by police to be in possession of illegal drugs, what should the club response be???

I am talking generally here without making reference to any specific player. My question is if a player was to be found to be in possession of an illegal drug, what action should ICT take? Answers on a postcard

If a player is alegedly taking recreational drugs during the season does this not have a potential to have a negative impact on their ability to perform. if a player was accused on taking performance enhancing drugs would the coverage be different??? In this case the alleged drug, while recreational, could be reducing the players ability to peform, why is this treated differently???

Why is a topic that relates to player behaviour locked? Players are role models whether they like it or not so why has discussion been suppressed relating to a player being found with an alleged illegal substance? If the player was accused of assault or drink driving would the discussion be suppressed? The reason I write this is because there is a serious discussion being undertaken in Australia about elite sportspersons and illegal drugs. In the AFL (Australian Rules) I very high profile player (player of the season a few years ago) has been allowed to get away with blatant drug problems for years because he continued to play good football. It was only when his drug problem esculated and his off field behaviour became impossible to ignore that he was finally suspended indefinatley by his club. The point is that they ignored his problem while he delivered on the field knowing full well of his problem. I am not for one moment suggesting that the alleged ICT player has the same problem. All I am saying is that if the problem is ignored then it may get much worse before it gets better. I don't understand how suppressing debate on this issue actually helps. I think people ought to be outraged. Because the story is now in the public arena ICT's reputation ispotentially tarnished. Surely this is an opprotunity for officials at ICT to be a community leader and recognise the problem and assist the player. Drugs are a community problem and if we recognise that professional footballers can also be attracted to drugs I believe it is ICT's duty to be measured and proactive in its response. I understand they cannot act until the substance has been identified but if the alleged substance turns out to be an illegal drug then ICT needs to be a community leader. Most professional football clubs (across all codes Soccer, Rugby League and Rugby Union) have strong anti drug polices (and regularly test for performance enhancing and recreational drugs) except for the AFL and they have paid the price for a very high profile drug problem. It is very easy to ignore a potentially dangerous issue. (Or.........IHE has been handing out Stamps inappropriately) Gabby

Congrats!!!!!!!

1

My most prized ICT possession is from the fans. I had travelled from Australia and I had a ticket for the New Years game V County (2002 I think) and I was really looking forward to it. The game was postposed due to frost but I still went to the Innes and had a fantastic day! I had such a great day there and everyone made me feel so welcome! I was given a bear with a red and blue hat and scarf with a Innes Bar key ring and it remains my most precious possession. I treasure and think back to how well I am treated by all Caley Thistle fans even though I only get to Inverness every 2 years. Every time I visit Inverness I know I can just turn up at the Innes (as I did last October) and get a warm welcome!

Hey IHE What was the name of the first bar we went to? It reminded me of the bar in Star Wars

Hey Mrs PB I haven't had much time to spend on the site - have started my own business and it is eating into my Caley Thistle enjoyment time. Mrs Gabby and I are putting away the pennies for an Aug/Sept 2008 visit so I would like to catch up for another pub crawl then. Cheers Gabby PS As long as this time IHE promises not to show me his tattoo!

Get IHE to take you on a pub crawl. He took me on one last time I was in Inverness. I can't remember the name of the first bar but it looked like that bar in Star Wars. I do remember the Citadel and Pheonix, there was another and then the market Bar. I wish I could remember the name on that first pub - only so I know to avoid it in the future. Thanks again IHE and Mr & Mrs Paulie B :003:

Wasn't di Steffano the once responsible for bringing in Ravanelli in on stupid wages?

TB was rubbish at Sydney FC - he took a good passing team and turned them into a team of long ballers. While I'm not a Sydney FC fan I used to enjoy the way they played. It must have been frustrating for his midfielders to constantly watch the ball being hoofed over their heads - I know it was frustrating to watch. Syndey now have a new Manager, thankfully, and in their Asian Champions League matches have returned to their favoured possession/passing game with great success. Rant over

Elgin have 1 back

At another game the referee was just inept. The Caxton Street end of Suncorp Stadium started chanting I'm blind I'm deaf I wan't to be a Ref

The best I heard was at a Rugby League game - less than 30 seconds into the game and the ref blows a free kick after an opposition player fouled one of our players. From behind me came the roar "He's been doing it all day ref"

:015: :015: :015: Have you been looking through my window????

You can listen to our game by selecting the Killie game...go figure :017:

Now I can't get any of the games. Very disappointing to be drinking at 1am to stay awake to a game that you can't listen to

The link for the Killie game that is playing our game is no longer working, dammit

I heard it as well I have a good feeling about a win today

In very small lettering on the bottom of the toilet door was written: You are now 5hitting on a 45 degree angle. I also saw grafitti wher someone had written Free Nelson Mandella and under it someone else had written in every packet of Kellogs Corn Flakes you buy.

Looks like I will be arriving at Inverness at lunchtime on 30/9. So I will call in to the Innes before heading down to the game. Keep your eye out for a 6' 5" red head with an Aussie accent.

These rankings are rubbish How can Australia now be behind Scotland after we made the 2nd round of the World Cup and have only lost 1 game since???? I mean - no disrespect - but you have beaten the Faroe Islands and Lithunania- hardly football super powers. The rankings are heavily skewed to favour European nations Rant over - see everyone in 2 week