The NRL has rejected appeals by Cronulla, suspended Sharks coach Shane Flanagan and their former trainer Trent Elkin over penalties relating to the club’s controversial 2011 supplements program.
NRL chief executive Dave Smith and chief operating officer Jim Doyle made the announcement in Sydney on Wednesday, the eve of the 2014 season.
The decision means the preliminary $1 million fine imposed on the Sharks on December 17 will stand, as will the 12-month ban on Flanagan and the cancellation of Elkin’s registration.
All three parties opted to appeal the sanctions initially handed down on December 17, which related to Cronulla’s supplements program during the 2011 season when the Sharks squad was allegedly exposed to an 11-week regime of injection, creams and tablets.
When announcing the initial findings last year, Smith said the club, Flanagan and Elkin had failed many of the players in regards to safeguarding their health and welfare, adding that they were exposed to significant potential risk.