Now that past and present Cronulla players have been issued with show cause orders the onus is on them to essentially disprove ASADA’s provisional findings.

It is a “hand on heart” finding by ASADA indicating that they believe the players have committed a doping rule violation. The show cause notice asks the players to reply to their initial finding.

So, where to now for the players ...

• If they have been issued a normal show cause notice they will have no less than 10 days to make a representation to ASADA as to why an infraction should not be issued against them.
• After that the players will front an Anti-Doping Rules Violation panel where legal, medical and scientific experts formed under the ASADA panel act as a grand jury. They analyse all the information and decide if there is a case for the players to answer or  if the case can be proved.
• If they decide the case is strong enough then ASADA will enter the person’s name on the register of findings and direct the NRL to issue an infraction notice which is a notice of a ban against the player.
• There is no set time frame for a final decision. The only time constraints ASADA operate by is that a case has to be brought against a player or coach within eight years of an alleged offence.

The 17 past and present Sharks players issued with show-cause orders:

Paul Aiton (Leeds Rhinos) 
Colin Best (retired)
Josh Cordoba (London Broncos)
Luke Douglas (Gold Coast Titans)
Stuart Flanagan (Appin Dogs) 
Paul Gallen (Cronulla Sharks)
Nathan Gardner (Cronulla Sharks)
Wade Graham (Cronulla Sharks)
Albert Kelly (Gold Coast Titans)
John Morris (retired)
Ben Pomeroy (Catalans)
Tim Smith (Wakefield Wildcats)
Kade Snowden (Newcastle Knights)
Anthony Tupou (Cronulla Sharks)
John Williams (retired) 
Broderick Wright (retired) 
Matthew Wright (North Queensland Cowboys)