Outcome from RFL Advisory Panel Meetings (From Warrington Guardian)

Outcome from RFL Advisory Panel Meetings

Following meetings of the Advisory Panel of the Rugby Football League (RFL), held in Leeds, the following players have been found guilty of breaching the sport's doping control regulations.

Keith Senior of Leeds Rhinos, Ryan Bailey of Leeds Rhinos and Steve Rutherford of Gateshead Thunder were all found to have provided samples containing the specified substance, ephedrine.

Due to mitigating circumstances, and in accordance with World Anti Doping Association guidelines, all three players have been severely reprimanded.

The panel accepted that the players did not take anything with the intention of enhancing their performances and were in fact suffering from illness. In addition, each player declared their use of the substance prior to testing.

Keith Senior and Ryan Bailey have both been fined £1,500 and ordered to pay £700 towards the costs of their hearings.

Steve Rutherford has been ordered to make a contribution to the costs of his hearing.

All players provided the samples in question during the final stages of the 2004 domestic and international season.

The RFL will carry out an information and education campaign targeting all full-time and part-time professional Rugby League players, to re-emphasise issues relating to the substance ephedrine.

Commenting, the RFL's Executive Chairman Richard Lewis said: "These cases do not represent a widespread problem in Rugby League but we do feel it is important to clarify issues relating to ephedrine so that all players and relevant personnel have the maximum amount of information to guide them in this important area".

Leeds Rhinos Chief Executive Gary Hetherington said: "The RFL have dealt with this matter thoroughly and professionally and there are clear lessons to be learned for all.

"The Leeds club has an excellent record of awareness of drugs and doping control issues and we will support any new education and information initiatives that the RFL seeks to introduce".