Reds captain unaware of banned Slipper's drug habit
Reds captain Scott Higginbotham has admitted he was unaware of teammate James Slipper’s drug-related problems.
It was announced Thursday that the Queensland and Wallabies veteran had been issued a two-month ban and $27,500 fine from Rugby Australia after testing positive to cocaine twice this year.
Higginbotham said that while he knew of the propâs mental health struggles, he had no idea about his drug habit.
âIâm sad for him; being a mate, what heâs been going through outside of football is not something you want to see,â Higginbotham told Fox Sports.
âYou think youâre a close enough mate that heâd explain to you and tell you everything.
âBut thatâs the circumstances; heâs a cagey sort of person, likes to keep things to himself, keep them on the inside and we didnât have any idea.â
Higginbotham denied a drug issue at the club. Slipper’s suspension comes just months after fellow Red and Wallaby Karmichael Hunt pleaded guilty to Xanax possession after avoiding a cocaine possession charge.
âItâs not concerning… every personâs different arenât they,â Higginbotham said.
Slipper is off contract at the end of the season. Higginbotham said would like to see him back on the field eventually.
âYou want the best thing for him; first and foremost he has to get himself right mentally, sort out these off-field issues,â he said.
âOnce heâs done that and ready, thatâs when heâll play.â
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