Calzaghe - still a Golden Boy?

http://www.walesonline.co.uk/news/wales-news/2010/03/29/calzaghe-says-sorry-after-publication-of-cocaine-stories-91466-26129706/

The above link refers to the news story that sees Joe Calzaghe, a world renowned boxing champion, publicly apologise for his occasional use of cocaine.

The former super middleweight and light-heavyweight world champion said in yesterday’s statement:

 “I very much regret my occasional use of cocaine in what have sometimes been the long days since my retirement from the ring....I am fully aware of the bad example it sets to other people and particularly to youngsters and I apologise to my family, friends and fans....It is not a major problem in my life but it is something which I am actively addressing."

Last night publicist and PR guru Max Clifford said Calzaghe’s “golden boy” image would be hit hard by the revelations.

“I think this will upset a lot of people,” he said....It’s the first real blemish on his career and has tarnished him....The golden boy of British boxing is not as golden as we thought he was. It just diminishes his career."

Do you think that recent stories about Calzaghe ruin his untarnished boxing record or is this story just another inidication of the reality of recreational drug use in the UK?

Drugs and Rugby

http://www.telegraph.co.uk/sport/rugbyunion/club/5431474/Rugby-must-address-drugs-problems.html

The article above refers to the steadily increasing number of random drug tests conducted in British rugby that are coming back positive – and not just steroids or performance enhancing drugs, but the same drugs you would expect to find in a club or bar anywhere in the UK. Long has it been considered that sports like rugby only include one drug, alcohol, however, this is changing. As the article suggests, why would rugby players be exempt from using recreational drugs?

Alcohol ban in sports?

Tottenham Manager Harry Redknapp has stated that he would like to implement an alcohol ban in his football team.  This statement was made following the arrest one of his key players outside a nightclub after an alleged assault (reportedly involving alcohol), however it should not detract from the main emphasis of the article:

"Footballers should not drink. You shouldn't put diesel in a Ferrari. I know it's hard but they are earning big money, they are role models to kids."

Effectively, 1) health should come before drinking and 2) what sort of role models are sports personalities when alcohol fuelled scandal is always in the headlines?

What do you think - are alcohol bans in sport needed and if so where is the line between Harry Redknapp's opinion and the fact that after every Formula 1 race the winners shower each other with champagne?

http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport1/hi/football/teams/t/tottenham_hotspur/8045213.stm