Wests Tigers captain Robbie Farah says he feels sorry for Jon Mannah’s family after published leaked extracts from a report questioned whether his cancer relapse could be linked to peptide use at NRL club Cronulla.
Mannah died from Hodgkin’s lymphoma earlier this year, aged 23. He had recovered from a first bout of the lymphoma in 2009 to play the first five NRL matches of 2011.
News Ltd newspapers on Friday published an extract from an independent report commissioned by Cronulla into alleged use of peptides at the club in 2011.
“Based on the chronology it appears Mannah was administered with substances including CJC-1295 and GHRP-6 during the period from March to May in 2011,” News Ltd quoted the extract as saying.
“A brief review of available published medical literature suggests an identified causal link between the use of substances such as CJC-1295 and GHRP-6 and the acceleration of the condition of the disease Hodgkin’s lymphoma.”
“Without knowing anything further about Mannah’s exact medical history and without seeking expert opinion from an appropriately qualified oncologist it is difficult to take this issue further.”
Farah took to Twitter to slam publication of the extract.
“Absolutely disgusted.. @dailytelegraph should hang their heads in shame. What a low and disrespectful piece of “journalism” in 2days paper!” Farah wrote.
He was more restrained but still critical when he fronted a Wests Tigers media conference at Campbelltown Sports Stadium shortly afterwards.
“I think it’s terrible for the family and for them having to go through that again,” Farah told reporters.
“I’m sure they’re still having to deal with everything that’s happened and losing Jon earlier in the year. So I just feel for the family.”
The Sharks’ world was turned upside after they were caught up in the investigation into the use of prohibited substances by the Australian Sports Anti-Doping Authority (ASADA) in February.
The Sharks were implicated due to their connection with controversial sports scientist Stephen Dank, who worked briefly with the club in 2011.
New Sharks CEO Bruno Cullen has told News Ltd the club had handed the report, compiled by ex-ASADA deputy chair Tricia Kavanagh, over to ASADA and the NRL.
But he would give no further details.
News Ltd contacted the Mannah family, who were “unaware and did not wish to comment.”
There has been no direct evidence that Mannah was given any supplements at Cronulla.
Dank has yet to comment on the report and it’s not known whether the peptides mentioned were part of his program at the club. He has stated he never gave banned drugs to players.
Leading sports physician Dr Peter Larkins has said it would be “absolutely indefensible” if Mannah, as a player with a cancer history, had been given a product that increased cell growth.