The general director of the Pau Section Pierre Lahore reacted for Rugbyrama to the announcement of Reece Hewat’s positive test for a banned substance. The latter was suspended as a precautionary measure.
The third line Australia of Paul, Reece Hewat, was tested positive for a prohibited substance (benzoylecgonine, main metabolism of cocaine). It was the player himself who informed the club management, hence the press release from the Pau Section published this Wednesday at the end of the day. We contacted Pierre Lahore, general manager who shared his feelings with us. Reece Hewat was checked at the end of November. He has been playing in Pau since 2021. Victim of a sprain of the internal lateral ligament of a knee at the beginning of September, Hewat returned to competition on November 23 in Montpellier.
What is your first reaction after the announcement of this positive case in your workforce?
We expressed my reaction in a press release. This is a very big disappointment. A human disappointment for the individual, for his teammates, for those who live with him on a daily basis. Even if we are very lucid about certain parameters, in particular about the evolution of the society in which we live, we consider that despite all the difficulties and individual fragilities, we must avoid this type of situation.
You announced that you would lay him off…
Yes, today, we will not go beyond that. Because you will easily understand that we must also respect the procedure of the responsible authority which is the AFLD. The latter will exercise its right to impose a sanction. We, as an employer, have put in place a disciplinary procedure which is the “precautionary dismissal”. He is suspended from his professional activities with the club. Once the AFLD has delivered its verdict, the club will refine its sanction system.
Sanction which can go as far as dismissal?
Today, there is a disciplinary clause that can be exercised. But we let the AFLD procedure complete before settling things.
Was it the player who warned you himself?
Oui.
That’s why he wasn’t in Newport, we suppose…
Obviously…
We understand that it was not within the framework of club activities that the player consumed this substance…
Yes, he did it in his private sphere.
Is this the first time that you have been involved in a case like this?
Yes. This is not a trivial situation, which is not taken lightly at all, because it is still one of us who finds himself on the wrong side of the fence. So, obviously, this situation affects everyone. There was no question of burying our heads in the sand. This is why we took on this situation. And we take it into account, I think, very firmly. And we will let the AFLD work peacefully. And the player also engaged in a process ofsupport for manage this fragility. And when the AFLD has delivered its verdict, the HR regulatory framework will apply.
Do you have already spoken has preventive title to players of this problem ?
As you know, prevention is already mandatory. It also exists at the level of Provale, the players’ union. Each club has its initiatives. They affect all forms of addiction. There is also everything related to the issue of players’ mental health. Because they are not superheroes, they are still men. And today, there is a whole prevention framework which concerns the weaknesses which can arise to avoid slipping into excesses. Because there are people in the clubs, in the union structures who must be able to be there to support these weaknesses.
Do you know if the staff spoke to the workforce in general about it?
The subject was discussed collectively…
And didn’t the player make excuses? Did he recognize everything?
The player told us the story with great transparency. We recorded it. We exercised our responsibility as an employer. Now, we let the AFLD do its job and the club will re-exercise its responsibility.
Personally, we imagine that it’s something hard… It can’t be easy to manage.
Emotions don’t matter much at times like this.
