FORMER Test forward Nathan Hindmarsh has slammed the backdated doping bans accepted by 12 current and former Sharks players, which have effectively seen them sidelined for just three games.

Many are frustrated at the leniency of the backdated doping bans relating to Cronulla’s supplements program during a five-week period in 2011.

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“Seems to be a bit of a farce for me,” Hindmarsh said on Monday Night with Matty Johns.

“I’ve sat in on a lot of talks from ASADA about what drugs you can and can’t take and the issues and complications and suspensions you get if you are going to take a banned substance.

“Whether they knew what they were taking is another story but they’ve taken the bans. I thought it was an automatic two-year ban.

“How can you make an offer?

“Someone has sat in our Eels training and told us if you take a banned substance it’s a two-year ban. It doesn’t matter if it was in your mums cooking or whatever — it’s a two-year ban.”

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Matt Johns questioned the weight of ASADA’s evidence, given players were offered discounted punishments.

“If you’re ASADA and you have concrete evidence — you don’t offer reductions,” he said.

Players who accepted a backdated ban have been suspended for the rest of the season, which allows them to return to action with their clubs from November.