CONTRITE SLIPPER TO START OVER AFTER PAIN
WITH pain etched on his face, James Slipper opened up on his mental health battle, the terminal cancer diagnosis given to his mother, and the spiral that led to his cocaine use.
Slipper was banned for two months and fined $27,500 for recording two positive tests in May. The 29-year-old veteran of 86 Tests has already been given indications by Queensland coach Brad Thorn that he will not be selected again, despite being contracted for 2020.
The prop is seeing a psychologist, has now moved back in with his parents, and says he has not touched cocaine since his second positive test this year.
“Have I used? God no. I’ve been waking up at 4am every morning, going through my own routine, just putting little steps in place like that,” he said. “The last month has been really, really good for me.
“The support I was given, people like (cricket great Darren) Lehmann – he just sent me a message.
“Everyone goes through a rough period, it happened to me and it’s probably for the better, with all the pain I’m going through, who knows?
“I want to be a positive outcome ... I don’t know what that looks like, for me it’s continually working on myself.”
Slipper will return to rugby when he starts for the Australian Super Selection side against a Wallabies squad in a trial match in Sydney tomorrow night,.