WESTBURY-ON-SEVERN RFC -  DRUGS POLICY - V1 07/11/23

This policy sets out the requirements and expectations of the Club in relation to the use, possession etc. of drugs by club members and anyone attending the club premises.

General Statement

The Rugby Football Union (RFU) and Member clubs, recognise that the use of Illicit

Drugs presents a threat to the health of both individuals and the Game itself.

WoS Rugby Football Club (The Club) operates a very strict zero tolerance policy

with respect to the misuse and supply of Drugs on club premises.

The club does not believe there is any inherent problem with drug use/abuse among the membership but wants the position to be clear to all members and visitors.

 

Aims

The Club has developed this policy with the two equally important principal

objectives of:

(a) protecting the health and welfare of Players and other members; and (b) protecting

and promoting the image and reputation of the Club and rugby as a game These

principal objectives shall be affected by

(c) providing an effective and measured deterrent to the misuse of drugs by players

and others at the Club.

(d) providing a positive example for young players and others in the community.

(c) educating Players about the dangers of misuse of drugs, and

  1. d) providing, or giving guidance on, drug counselling, treatment and rehabilitation

services to members who are found to be using Illicit Drugs or may otherwise be

susceptible to such use.

 

Responsibilities

  1. The club can only involve itself in dealing with matters involving club

members that arise on club premises and/or at club events - e.g. away matches

and tours.

  1. All Club members have a responsibility to bring to attention of management

any activities or suspected activities, related to the misuse of drugs

  1. Responsibility for dealing with incidents reported to management will lie with

the club Disciplinary Sub-Committee.

 

  1. Incidents which in any way involve anyone aged under 18 will also be notified

to the Club Safeguarding Officer.

  1. For the benefit of doubt, a person is responsible for anything that they take

into their own body, including inhaled, taken by mouth, absorbed, or injected.

The “he told me to do it” defence is not acceptable.

 

Definitions

The Club – Westbury on Severn Rugby Football Club

Club Premises – includes the buildings and environs at Westbury-on Severn Parish Hall, changing rooms, playing fields and surrounding curtilage; as well as any other

premises occupied or visited by members of the Club engaged in Club activities.

Drugs – any performance enhancing or classified drugs

Classified and controlled drugs – as defined by the Misuse of Drugs Act 1971

Supply - Passing drugs even with no money changing hand or to a friend is legally

regarded as supplying.

 

Details of Policy

  1. a) This policy should be read in conjunction with the following existing Club policies:
  2. The Club Disciplinary Policy
  3. The Club Safeguarding Policy
  4. b) The Club will not tolerate:
  5. Possession or storing of controlled drugs on Club premises
  6. Supply of controlled drugs on Club premises
  7. Presence at any Club premises or events whilst under the influence of

controlled drugs

 

Any breaches of the policy will normally be dealt with by way of the procedures and

sanctions below. However, the Club also recognises its responsibilities to help

members and so attention is drawn to the following lines of support for those who

may be affected by drug issues:

 

  • FRANK: https://www.talktofrank.com/
  • NARCOTICS ANONYMOUS: https://ukna.org/
  • DRUG ADDICTION-GETTING HELP: https://www.nhs.uk/livewell/healthy-body/drug- addiction-getting-help/
  • RFU ILLICIT DRUG INFO:

https://www.englandrugby.com/governance/anti-doping-and-illicit-drugs/illicitdrugs-programme

 

 

Procedures and Sanctions

Anyone found possessing, using, or supplying / selling performance enhancing or

recreational drugs on club premises or at club events will be dealt with by the club

Disciplinary Sub-Committee.

The matter will/may be referred to the police by the Disciplinary Sub-Committee in order

that criminal matters can be considered.

The criminal justice system will consider the individual circumstances of each case,

applying threshold and gravity testing to the evidence before considering cautions or

charges. The Club disciplinary outcome will take into account the degree of

criminality proven when determining the club sanction.

 

  1. The default outcome will normally be for the member to be barred

from the club and club events for life. This would be particularly the

case if the member was a responsible adult, and a police conviction or

caution has been received.

  1. At the other end of the scale, if the member was an under 18 player and

if it was a first occurrence and if they had only received a police

caution or less formal outcome then a measure of leniency and

education would be more appropriate. An outcome would be a ban

from playing matches for a period of time and a mandatory

requirement to participate in a ‘Help with drugs’ programme (eg local

authority managed)

  1. It is the task of the Disciplinary Sub-Committee to determine an

appropriate outcome for offences lying between these two ends of the

scale.

  1. If the person involved is a non-member attending a club function / club

event, then they will be subject to a life ban from attending the club or

any club functions and the matter will be referred to the Police.