The lucrative media career of shamed rugby league star Andrew Johns hangs in the balance after he admitted to taking drugs for more than 10 years.
Johns’ column in News Limited newspapers is being reviewed and his future commenting role with the Nine Network is expected to be decided next week when both organisations hold talks with the disgraced former player.
Johns admitted on Nine’s NRL Footy Show last night that he had regularly taken drugs since the age of 19 and had also battled with depression.
Originally Johns claimed that a person unknown to him had slipped an ecstasy tablet into his pocket without his knowledge following his arrest and subsequent police caution while on holiday in London.
However he later confessed that he had intended to take the drug and went on to admitted that he had regular taken the drug, normally in the off-season, through his career.
Greg Baxter, corporate affairs director at News Limited said: “We are going to await full details and a chance to speak with him before forming a view whether it would have any impact on his arrangements with News Limited. That position hasn’t changed.
“Obviously there is more information out there than there was yesterday afternoon, but our position still hasn’t changed. We will form our own view based on all the information as it comes in and also having a chance to talk to him. But it is fair to say that the arrangement is under review as you would expect.”
Baxter said Johns would continue to write for News Limited papers pending the decision about his future. He said discussion with johns would talk place next week.
A spokeswoman for the Nine Network also said it planned to hold crisis talks with Johns next week.
She said: “Nine will be having discussions with Andrew and his management in the next few days. Discussions will resume early next week.”
