Fa'aoso: 'There's a massive drug problem in NRL' [1]
Tuesday, August 15, 2017 - 21:57. Updated on Thursday, August 24, 2017 - 19:40.
Retired Rugby League Player and Former Mate Ma’a Tonga prop, Richie Fa'aoso, has called for the National Rugby League (NRL) to address a “massive drug problem” in the sport. Fa’aoso, now 33, played in the NRL for 11 years, and retired in 2015.
Speaking from a drug rehabilitation centre, Fa’aoso told Australia’s Saturday Telegraph that a “drug culture” existed.
“It is probably in every sport but there is a big drug culture in (the NRL),”
“I can only be honest and tell the truth now. There is a massive drug problem in the NRL and if you think (there isn’t) you are kidding yourself…And it is only going to get worse if you don’t sort it out.”
Fa’aoso added that he only started using illicit drugs when he was playing in the NRL. He said that he was 21-years-old when he first used illicit drugs and battled with a drug addiction throughout his entire career.
“I didn’t pick up the drugs until I was 21…When I hit that, that was through playing football.”
“Guys that I looked up to were doing it so I kind of just jumped in. But I didn’t know that I was an addict as well and an alcoholic…When I touched it I couldn’t stop. They all went home but I kept going. I took ice.”
“Whatever I could get my hands on, I smashed. Mostly pills and coke. If I could get my hands on anything I would.”
Fa’aoso revealed that towards the end of his career, he began taking ice and as a result, suffered from depression and became violent. It was during this time that Fa’aoso was arrested for domestic violence.
“When I hit that ice, that was the one that really sent me cuckoo…that is when I went through my darkest time.”
“I didn’t care whether I woke up the next day or not. My marriage was struggling. I was letting down my kids, my wife, friends, family.”
“I was just going down this deep, dark hole.”