Group 11 secretary Bob Walsh has backed the NRL's punishment of the Cronulla Sharks but said young players at football clubs should be able to trust those employed by each team.
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Earlier this week NRL chief executive David Smith hit the Sharks with a $1 million fine, $400,000 suspended, and stood down coach Shane Flanagan for 12 months over the club's part in the recent supplement scandal.
"I think it's fitting, I don't think the full investigation from ASADA has been completed yet but the NRL have done their investigation and feel that's fitting," he said.
Cronulla indicated it would support Flanagan while former Sharks head of strength and conditioning Trent Elkin, now at Parramatta, was also given a two-year ban and Walsh said it was clear there were people at the club who needed to take responsibility.
"It's obvious someone has done something wrong and I think Steven Dank is in it up to his ears and Elkin must be involved too," he said.
Walsh went on to say he felt for the players involved as they had put their trust in people involved with the club and hoped for it to all come to a conclusion soon as the black cloud of doping continues to hang over the sport.
"Young blokes are playing there and the club employs people to look after them and when you're young there you'd trust anyone from the club," he said.
"It has been the same for 12 months now and I think the players have excelled with this hanging over them.
"It has to be sorted sooner rather than later, ideally you'd like ASADA to come out with their decision before a ball is kicked next season."
With the threat of player suspension still a possibility with ASADA's investigation ongoing Walsh said players shouldn't be suspended if they were unaware of what supplements they were being given.
"You don't know until we find out what the players know, if they knowingly did it then suspensions will be fair enough but if it was all just advice from someone official then I don't think so," he said.
With the World Cup now complete and the 2014 season rapidly approaching Walsh said it was vital for the popularity of the sport and the welfare of fans and players for everything to be finalised as soon as possible.
"It's going to be 2013 all over again if it keeps going, how long do they want us to suffer?" he said.
