RUGBY NEWS:MATT STEVENS, the England prop who was yesterday banned for two years after testing positive for cocaine, faces being sacked by Bath when he meets club officials in the next week.
Stevens will not appeal against the suspension which was handed out by a European Rugby Cup Ltd disciplinary panel in Glasgow, the city where Stevens failed his drugs test after a Heineken Cup match last December.
His ban, which runs until January 2011, will not only prevent him from playing for a club but also training and attending matches.
He last year signed a three-year contract with Bath worth more than €500,000, but that is set to be ripped up. The 26-year old, who is continuing a rehab programme he started last month, will also lose his England elite player contract.
Martin Johnson, the England team manager, said: “I have said all through this episode that there is no place in sport or society for illegal drug use.
“Matt chose to take a banned substance and will have to accept the consequences. He will not be involved in rugby for two years and that will be a very tough experience for a professional sportsman. He has admitted he has a problem and is seeking help. We support him in that, but players must realise they are responsible for their actions.”
Stevens was not available for comment last night. He attended the hearing and read out a statement in which he apologised for his actions. Under the World Anti-Doping Agency (Wada) regulations the panel had no option but to ban him for two years once he admitted his guilt.
“Matt accepts the punishment and hopes that he will be able to resume his rugby career in two years,” said a spokesperson for the player.
“He will continue to undergo rehab, and would again like to apologise to players and supporters for letting everyone down.
“We will be meeting Bath shortly and he intends to return to the game a better person and player.”
Last night Twickenham reiterated their hard line on those who fail drugs tests, and things will start to get tougher for leading players in England, Wales and Scotland. The International Rugby Board have chosen the countries to be guinea pigs as rugby adopts Wada’s whereabouts rule, which requires athletes to inform their national anti-doping authorities of where they will be at a chosen hour between 6am and 11pm each day for a three-month period.
Anyone who misses three doping tests in an 18-month period due to not being where they said would face a ban of up to two years. Wales, Scotland and England are reported to be unhappy that they and their elite players are being singled out, with the rule set to be applied to them from the end of the season but not any of the other major unions.
- Guardian Service
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