Phil Gould breaks his silence after Josh Addo-Carr tested positive for cocaine AGAIN – and it’s very bad news for the under-fire footy star
- Josh Addo-Carr will face the NRL Integrity Unit this week
- Gould spoke for the first time since the second test result was announced
Bulldogs general manager Phil Gould has made it clear that Josh Addo-Carr’s days at the club are numbered, with the superstar still fighting to save his career after testing positive for drugs on the side of the road.
The Bulldogs were knocked out of the final on Sunday afternoon after being defeated 24-22 by speedy Manly in the second elimination final at Accor Stadium.
The result came at the end of a tumultuous ten days for Canterbury, with star player Addo-Carr withdrawing for fear of causing a media frenzy.
The 29-year-old has told club officials he is adamant he did not use cocaine before testing positive for the drug in two samples he gave to police on August 6, and cannot explain the supposedly positive results.
Despite his claims of innocence, Addo-Carr has agreed to a three-month driving ban and a $682 fine rather than take the matter to court.
Addo-Carr will meet with the NRL Integrity Unit this week, with Gould sending a clear message he will not be staying at the Bulldogs.
“Ultimately I will make a decision on what I think Josh Addo-Carr’s future at the club should look like and I will discuss that with the people that matter,” Gould told Nine’s 100% Footy on Monday night.
“They may or may not accept my recommendation, they may have other ideas. We will do what we think is best for the club in the long term, it’s as simple as that. The players understand that – (it’s) club first, team second, individual third.”
Phil Gould says he has not spoken to Josh Addo-Carr since his second positive test became public last Friday
Josh Addo-Carr is fighting to clear his name after two positive cocaine tests – and although he insists he didn’t use the drug, he won’t fight the charges in court
Gould’s previous comments about the Latrell Mitchell white powder scandal resurfaced this week. Gould said he stands behind the comments “100 percent” – and it’s not good news for the winger.
“I don’t think our club would tolerate that kind of behaviour, I don’t think we could tolerate it at all,” Gould said of Mitchell at the time.
The Dogs boss also revealed he has not spoken to the troubled winger since his second test returned positive last Friday.
“I believe he still maintains his innocence,” Gould said.
Gould will make a decision on whether Addo-Carr (pictured with Lakaree Smith at the Dally M Awards) should remain with the Dogs and pass that recommendation on to the club
“Ultimately, it’s going to be in his system when he takes a drug test on Friday night. How did it get there? He’s going to have to figure that out and explain it to the people who matter, sooner or later.
‘It was definitely disappointing from a club perspective. It was definitely bad timing from a club perspective, it wasn’t good.’