Rob Van Dam has advocated marijuana in the past, including the sale of a shirt with the number “420” on the back, a police code for marijuana. Sunday night, Van Dam, real name Robert Szatowski, and Sabu, real name Terry Brunk, were pulled over by Ohio State Patrol in Hanging Rock for speeding. Van Dam was driving.
According to a story in the The Ironton Tribune newspaper, when troopers approached the vehicle, the smell of marijuana was detected coming from the car. A search, with probable cause, was taken of the car. On possession of the wrestlers were 18 grams of marijuana, five Vicodin and nine pills not immediately identifiable. Sabu was charged with possession of drug paraphernalia. The two men posted bond on the scene.
Both men are scheduled to appear in Ironton Municipal Court in Ohio on Thursday at 10 a.m.
Questions quickly arose as how this will affect each man’s role with the company. Van Dam was to have a big role in tonight’s RAW where he is to have a “Pick Your Partner” three-way tag match with John Cena and Edge. Van Dam is also set to headline July 15’s Saturday Night’s Main Event in a three-way for the WWE World Championship against John Cena and Edge.
Van Dam is the current WWE World Champion and ECW Heavyweight Champion. He is also currently listed first on the WWE.com’s Power 25 rankings.
Sabu was recently signed with the WWE to work for the ECW brand.
WWE.com addressed the problem on their web site on Monday afternoon with the following statement:
“In the wake of being faced with five violations, including drug possession, by the Ohio State Highway Patrol, WWE.com reports that Rob Van Dam and Sabu arrived at the Wachovia Center in Philadelphia at 1:30 p.m. today and immediately went into a meeting with Vice President of Talent Relations John Laurinaitis.
“Following the meeting, Mr. Laurinaitis told WWE.com that Rob Van Dam and Sabu will be eligible to compete tonight on RAW and tomorrow night at ECW on Sci Fi while an ongoing investigation is being conducted by World Wrestling Entertainment.”
On February 27 of this year, WWE introduced a new drug policy. Marijuana and Vicodin, if not legally prescribed by a physician, would both fit under violation of this new policy.
The policy states, “Any Talent who is arrested, convicted or who admits to a violation of law relating to use, possession, purchase, sale or distribution of prohibited drugs will be in material breach of contract and subject to immediate dismissal.”
Further details are expected in terms of the unidentifiable pills and other details of the arrest are expected to be revealed at the Thursday court hearing.
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