NEWTON SUSPENDED

RFL statement on Terry Newton

Quote: "Terry Newton has been provisionally suspended by the RFL with immediate effect after being charged by United Kingdom Anti-Doping (UKAD) with an Anti-Doping Rule Violation.

The RFL were informed by UKAD on Monday February 16 that there had been an adverse analytical finding in a blood specimen provided by the Wakefield Trinity Wildcats player on November 24 2009.

Rugby League operates a robust in- and out-of-competition testing programme of both urine and blood and its Anti-Doping Regulations have been fully WADA Code Compliant since 2005. This means that players can be tested following a game or subjected to testing without prior notice.

Since 2005 a total of 1,922 tests have taken place at all levels of the game.

According to UK Sport figures Rugby League players were tested 508 times for prohibited substances from April 1 2008 to March 31 2009. This is the third highest of all UK major sports behind football and athletics. Approximately 628 tests were expected to have been taken from April 1 2009 to March 31 2010 and for the year 2010-2011 the RFL have requested 650 tests from UKAD.

In May the RFL nominated 17 players in its elite training squad as its ‘National Registered Testing Pool’ who under new WADA rules must agree to give notice of their location on a chosen one-hour period each day, seven days a week.

The RFL is committed to the principles of drug-free sport and works with UK Sport and UKAD to regularly educate and inform players through its ‘100% ME’ campaign about the dangers of drugs and consequences of taking drugs or breaching the Anti-Doping Regulations.

Every Super League club also has a ‘100% ME’ tutor responsible for player education both formally and informally.

All players aged over 14 who make national camp are also educated each year as part of the programme, this is an estimated 100 players a year. Parents are also educated as well as part of the programme.'"