Brocklehurst given two-year drugs ban

Former Salford Back-rower Andrew Brocklehurst has been banned for two years after failing a drugs test.

Brocklehurst, 26, tested positied for a metabolite of cocaine and ephedrine after a match against Batley in June, while playing for Barrow Raiders in the Championship.

He was released from his deal at Craven Park just two days later, with the club citing “a serious breach of club discipline amounting to gross misconduct.”

An RFL statement read: “Brocklehurst did not deny or contest the charge before the panel. In the absence of any argument or evidence from him, the panel have found him guilty of an anti-doping rule violation and imposed a two-year period of ineligibility.”

His ban is backdated to July 21 2009, the day his provisional suspension commenced.