29th September 2014

The NRL said today it does not propose taking any action in relation to the use of iced fluid products used by the South Sydney Rabbitohs. A spokesman said the South Sydney Rabbitohs club had provided assurances that the Club doctor had carefully assessed the products and was satisfied that they contain no prohibited substances and were not harmful to players. As a result, no further action was planned on the matter.

Here is a report on the sports science technology that has given the South Sydney Rabbitohs the power and strength edge on their premiership rivals this season. The blood-energising chips and ice fluid treatment had to be cleared by the NRL. Boxer Anthony Mundine introduced the controversial products to Souths coach Michael Maguire, whose players have been wearing the chips, hidden under wrist strapping and jerseys. According to sports medicine experts, the product can allow athletes to perform at a maximum level for longer. “I really don’t want to give away any of the info that has got us to this point,” Maguire said. “We’re always looking at the cutting edge stuff that can help make better players. We want to hang onto our own stuff and I don’t want to give away too much. Choc’s high-performance team and our guys share information. They came to us. My guys (sports science) looked deeply into it before we started. This is just another of those one-percenters that every team looks for. Maybe I’ll talk about it more after the game.”

The ice fluid is most often used, soaked onto a cloth, under the jersey. It helps keep the players’ body temperature stay lower over a longer period of time which prevents fatigue. It is also sprayed on the players’ jerseys at half-time. Maguire said, “It’s all been ticked off by the NRL. The game is very thorough in checking these things.” Sports science and supplements expert Shannon Brenton explained how the chips work. “The same as Chinese medicine has identified the meridians that form electrical pathways throughout the body, our technology allows for the continual and unhindered flow of energy throughout these meridians, without the need for needles, heat or pressure. It’s a bit like mobilised acupuncture"