The former head of the Australian Sports Anti-Doping Authority Richard Ings has urged any Cronulla National Rugby League players who may have used a banned substance to come forward while they have the chance to avoid a maximum two-year ban.
Reports suggest up to 14 Sharks players were implicated in ASADA's anti-doping investigation which stems from the Australian Crime Commission's year-long probe into sports doping and potential crime links.
Sharks players were told on Tuesday they had had 48 hours to accept a six-month ban if they'd used a banned drug, unknowingly or otherwise or face the maximum two-year suspension if later found guilty of doing so by ASADA's investigation.
ASADA's investigations centre on players contracted since 2011, but the situation is further clouded with reports the substances in question were not on the World Anti-Doping Authority banned list at the time but were added subsequently.
