14 Feb 2013

Coach slams drug probe into Australian rugby league teams

7:57 am on 14 February 2013

The handling of anti-doping investigations involving six Australian rugby league clubs has been labelled an embarrassment and a disgrace by the head coach of one of the teams.

The North Queensland Cowboys coach Neil Henry says there is not a shred of evidence of doping among his players and the way the whole thing has been handled has been a disgrace.

Henry says it's embarrassing for the NRL to come out and mention there are six teams and to be forced into a situation to defend themselves against something they don't even know about.

The Penrith coach Ivan Cleary is in Hamilton to face his old side the Warriors in a pre-season match and Cleary welcomes the investigation, even though his club's one of those under the spotlight.

The Panthers face the Warriors at Waikato Stadium on Saturday afternoon.