For the past two seasons, every time it appeared in a headline I would take a quick glance, get bored and then wonder when it would be over so we could stop hearing about it.

In case you’ve been living under a rock, and you would probably be better off if you have, I am talking about the 18-month investigation into the Cronulla Sharks, or Essendon Bombers if you’re an AFL fan, and their alleged use of performance-enhancing drugs. 

For me it’s played out like a bad movie; it was long and painful and I never really understood the plot.

Who was the bad guy? Was it Stephen Dank, or maybe Shane Flanagan, was it the players, ASADA themselves, the Gillard Government, Lord Voldemort?

Everyone was pointing fingers, but no one ever stood up and took responsibility.

After all this time it has resulted in 12 members of the Sharks 2011 squad accepting backdated one-year suspensions for "unknowingly and unwittingly" using the banned peptide CJC-1295 and growth hormone GHRP-6 during a four-week period in 2011.

Paul Gallen, Kade Snowden, Matthew Wright, Albert Kelly, Luke Douglas, Wade Graham, Anthony Tupou, John Morris, Jeremy Smith, Nathan Gardner, Josh Cordoba and Broderick Wright have all accepted bans, while Paul Aiton, Ben Pomeroy, Colin Best, Stuart Flanagan and John Williams are the others facing suspension.

The players who have already accepted the suspensions will miss the remainder of the season, throwing the Sharks’ finals campaign into disarray… Oh that’s right, they’re about to win the wooden spoon aren’t they? 

Unlike when the Melbourne Storm were caught cheating, there are no premierships to take away and stripping them of competition points wouldn’t be much of a statement when they’re already coming last.

For the players still at the club, it is basically a slap on the wrist. Their season is already over, so missing a few games won’t cause them too much grief.

They will be able to resume next season, as will their suspended coach Shane Flanagan.

Ironically, the two players who will suffer the most from the bans are no longer at the club.

Matthew Wright will miss out on the chance to play in the finals with the North Queensland Cowboys, while Gold Coast Titans forward Luke Douglas saw his incredible run of 215 consecutive NRL games since his debut in 2006 brought to an end.

With the suspensions handed down, ASADA has played its part and the matter has been dealt with.

If the whole thing had been a movie, it’s like it promised to be dramatic and was always building towards a big ending, but instead delivered an anti-climax.

When the credits rolled, people would say “Really? Was that it? Then they would walk out of the cinema scratching their heads.

But for anyone who still has questions, it looks like the story is not over after all.

Josh Cordoba, Broderick Wright and Isaac Gordon have already launched legal action against the Sharks and other players are said to be considering following suit.

So, despite poor reviews, it looks like we’re going to get a sequel.

At least this time maybe someone can tell us who the bad guy is. 

EVERYONE involved seems to be willing to play the blame game, but according to Berry Magpies captain/coach Nathan Benney, the Cronulla-Sutherland Sharks should be held responsible for the ASADA drugs scandal.

Before returning to the Group 7 competition to play with his junior club last season, the Magpies coach played under 20s at the Wests Tigers and NSW Cup for the Bulldogs.

During his time playing at that level it was commonplace to be given supplements by club doctors.

Benney said the players who have taken the banned substance have put their trust in the club and therefore it is the club’s responsibility. 

“I know people will comment and question how they didn’t know what they were taking… But what they probably don’t understand is that footy players get a lot of injections, it’s not that abnormal,” Benney said.

“As a player, you probably don’t question it, you put your trust in them. If they’re a club doctor or sports scientist, it is their area of expertise, so you listen to them.”

Now it has come out that several members of the Sharks 2011 squad took performance-enhancing drugs, Benney thinks players will need to be a lot more careful in the future.

“What needs to happen now, is players probably need to start second-guessing everything,” he said.

“I used to check prescriptions with ASADA if they weren’t given to me by a club doctor. Often the club will let you know what you can and can’t take.

“I think there’s only a very small percentage of players out there that would take a banned substance knowingly, there’s too much to lose if you get caught.

“They would’ve thought it was ok and probably wouldn’t have given it a second thought. I can understand how it has happened and I’d be very surprised if they knew.”