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Canberra prop David Shillington has revealed representatives from the Australian Sport Anti-Doping Agency (ASADA) told the Raiders they have little to worry about from the investigation into drugs in sport.
ASADA officials met with the NRL club's players and staff on Thursday to brief them about the progress of the probe after the Raiders were one of six teams named in an Australian Crime Commission report.
The Queensland and Australian front-rower admitted the investigation had shocked everyone connected with the club.
"Every now and then you hear rumours of players doing this or that but you simply pass them off as rumours because there's no evidence," Shillington said.
"The players are in shock. We didn't expect an investigation of this size to go across Australian sport. There is a huge cloud over everything."
The Raiders play their second trial match of the preseason against NSW Cup sides Mounties and Wyong in Mt Pritchard on Saturday.
Shillington said the briefing had dispelled a lot of fears and helped the players to focus on preparing for the new season.
"The meeting with ASADA was a good thing more than a distraction," he said.
"The players had a few questions about the size of the operation and hopefully it put a few minds at ease.
"The indication we got yesterday is that it's all very low level and the Raiders don't have too much to worry about. That's encouraging for the club, players, fans and sponsors.
"We have a trial this week and thank God it's not round one and we're not playing for points, because with of all the distractions it would be a real challenge to lift for this week."
Although he admits it has been difficult to see the club's name being dragged through the mud, the 29-year-old appreciates the size of the investigation and why it has to take place.
"Unfortunately it's going to take months for it all to be cleared and the information processed," he said.
"It's not good to have the name of the Raiders bandied around when it comes to this sort of allegation, but hopefully it's for the greater good of Australian sport."
Raiders coach David Furner was reluctant to discuss his thoughts on the probe, but did say the manner of the announcement of the probe by the ACC last Friday was unhelpful.
"The way it was broken is the reason we have so much hysteria at the moment," Furner said.
"A lot of people have voiced their opinions and I support them.
"I am not happy, but everything has been said. I've asked our staff and our coaches to now focus on football.
"Right from the start I have said until something comes out it's out of our control. That's where we've left it."
AAP
Topics: nrl, rugby-league, sport, canberra-2600, act, australia
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