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Michael Lipman (near left)
In hot water: Michael Lipman (near left) was one of three former Bath players banned this week for missing two drugs tests

Bath call on senior stars to keep players in check

Chris Jones
5 Aug 2009


Bath have launched a "mentoring" system designed to avoid the drug scandals that have rocked the rugby club.

On Monday Alex Crockett, Michael Lipman and Andrew Higgins were banned for nine months for missing two drugs tests and their punishment followed England prop Matt Stevens's two-year suspension for using cocaine and Justin Harrison's eight-month penalty for three drugs offences.

All five players are no longer with the Premiership club.

Bath's reputation has taken a battering and the club have responded with a clear-the-air meeting and the instigation of a "value" system in which five senior players - including England star Danny Grewcock - will take a hands-on role with the squad to ensure everyone stays in check.

David Barnes, the Bath prop and Professional Rugby Players' Association chairman, set the tone for today's press conference by stating: "There is no drugs culture now at Bath."

He was backed by Grewcock who said: "From the players' point of view we want to prevent any issues.

"We play together, train together and we look after each other on the field. We need to make sure we do the same off it.

"The guys still want to go out and celebrate wins and if things are going slightly awry we will pull each other into line.

"If it got to the stage [where rumours or accusations were made] we will have failed as a player group.

"I think in the past as a player group we did fail. That is why we have addressed it now and made sure the whole player group understands what to expect.

"We are very lucky people, working for a fantastic company. Playing for Bath is a great job and with it comes a lot of obligations on our part to fulfil on the field and off it - and perhaps we have been a bit slack.

"Now we have addressed it and no one in the player group has questioned what is acceptable or unacceptable. Everyone at Bath understands what is right."

England prop David Flatman denied there was a drugs culture at the club last season and insists the squad can shed the "party club" image.

"I don't believe there was a drug culture last year but there was more we could have done earlier to address the apparent slide of our reputation," he said. "We are the ones who feel responsible.

"It is trying to make sure, the whole time, we are the best blokes we can be. The message from all of us and for all of us is behave yourself on and off the field and we will take care of it ourselves.

"If your club's name, the club you represent and fight for, is effectively dragged through the mud I think it is selfish and irresponsible not to feel offended and affected by it.

"The brand will live after us but we are part of it now so it is very important to take it personally.

"There are ways the five of us and the rest of the lads could have done more to stop our club acquiring a reputation we didn't want.

"I am disappointed and feel we could have done more. We could have been more up front with certain things last year as a bunch of lads but we intend to work on it.

"We are confident that it will never get to the accusatory stage again. We are aware our reputation was becoming one we didn't want, as a bit of a party club."

The other mentors will be lock Stuart Hooper and wing Joe Maddock.

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