T E S T O S T E R O N E J U N K I E

This is after three lower-league players were banned from all sport for breaking anti-doping rules.

Andrew Quarry was banned for 12 years for supplying anabolic steroids, while Brandon Walker and Connor Stapley have received four and two-year bans.

There is a real worrying issue whereby young rugby players are turning to steroids searching for an improved performance.

There’s a rising trend in the game but in particular the amateur and lower professional leagues where there’s a real dog-eat-dog mentality to try and break through the ranks to professionalism.

A former Kendal RUFC player Quarry received a suspended jail sentence for conspiracy to supply a controlled class C drug in 2013. That led rugby and anti-doping authorities to pursue the player and others.

However, removing a supplier and user from the game and sport hasn’t slowed down those using the drugs.

Henley RFC’s Stapley tested positive for methandienone and mesterolone but the RFU ruled his offence was not intentional as it was caused by taking a supplement. And there’s a growing concern that supplement that may seem legal and ‘natural’ can actually contain banned substances. We reviewed a testosterone booster which contained a banned substance and they can be easily bought.

There have been more than 60 rugby union and league players banned since UK Anti-Doping agency was set up in 2009.