Lockwood banned for two years

Featherstone Rovers forward James Lockwood has been given a two-year ban for breaching the RFL’s anti-doping regulations.

The former Dewsbury player was hit with the suspension by UK Anti-Doping (UKAD), after a sample taken in an out-of-competition test last November returned a positive test for growth hormone releasing factors.

A UKAD statement explained that the specific case was the first of its kind in the UK.

It read: “The Drug Control Centre at King’s College, London, identified the presence of Growth Hormone Releasing Peptide-2 (pralmorelin) and its metabolite in Mr Lockwood’s A sample.

“These are classified under section S2 of the WADA 2014 Prohibited List. This is the first finding of its kind in the UK.

“The athlete is banned from all competition from 3 March 2015 to 2 March 2017.”

Lockwood joined Fev in 2012, and played in last season’s Championship Grand Final at Headingley.