In relation to various malicious allegations on social media and rugby league message boards Leigh Centurions make the following statement.

We can confirm that six of our players were tested by UKAD on the week commencing 23rd March 2015 and the following week the whole of our squad was tested which we have been informed by the RFL is not an unusual occurrence.

All of our players fully complied with UKAD’s doping control officers in providing adequate samples as required. As of today we have not received any results from those testing processes which were carried out from UKAD or the RFL.

Leigh Centurions Head of Rugby Derek Beaumont said: “It is always disturbing when people make malicious and unfounded allegations about organisations or individuals, particularly when they do it from behind an alias in order to protect their identity.

“People should be reminded that malicious and defamatory statements made from an alias can be investigated by the police in order that the person responsible can be brought to task, which is an option I am currently exploring.

“Naturally when such rumours are started it has the desired effect of fans speculating and drawing their own unfounded and incorrect conclusions. Indeed, many of my players are receiving text messages from other clubs stating they have it on good authority from RFL officials that our players are banned. This has also been brought to my attention and reported on social media.”

Mr Beaumont added: “It is completely preposterous for anyone to say that the RFL are making such malicious statements from their staff and this information has been passed to them for them to investigate.

“We promote a clean environment at the Club and fully support the involvement of UKAD and their testing programme within the sport. We do not believe we have any problems at the Club and draw comfort from the fact that we have had no results.

“We have been informed by the RFL that positive tests are normally reported within fourteen days and negative tests can take four to six weeks to report. To this end we continue to go about our business normally, preparing to face our next opponents.

“People drawing speculation from those not selected at the weekend will realise their errors when they are selected. My coaching team do not select players to squash unfounded rumours on social media.

“We currently have three serious injuries at the Club and we do not go into specific detail on these in the public domain so as not to provide our opponents with advanced information.

“However, under the circumstances Matt Sarsfield is likely to be available for selection in the Reserves next Thursday. Fuifui Moimoi is likely to be available for selection against Dewsbury and Sean Penkywicz needs an operation on his knee which will rule him out for at least six to eight weeks.”

Mr Beaumont concluded: “I hope this statement allows us to continue to do what we do best which is play an entertaining brand of Rugby League for our loyal and supportive fans.”

Brilliant response from the club.

Starbug here , just to point out we are currently in 2015 , 2014 was last year

A great response from the club, however i personally find it a disgrace that some of our fans poured petrol on a bit of smoke from a Fev banter page that has around 30 active posters. We have a 30 man squad not everyone plays every week and the minute they dont doesnt mean anything other than Paul didnt select them that week.

Bring on win no.22.

Well said Derek

Unlucky (the prat of a new member) who joined RLFANS just to **** stir !

Social media in general must be a great tool for sports clubs and businesses alike. On the other hand, surely it is a right pain in the backside too.

If a few blokes walk around calling you a thief, they tell more blokes you are a thief. Unless its checked you will be a thief by default.

It needed addressing and it has been addressed - now take the luvvers making the allegations to court

Terrific response

well said Derek they need to be shut up

I told them they were idiots

If Derek is right in what he says, and positive tests are reported within 2 weeks, non of the players are positive.

Relief.... if we read between the lines

Great response from the club.

It's a shame a response had to be made at all but I think it was the right thing to do on this occasion.

Agreed, why anyone thought this obvious bit of poor quality trolling had even the slightest possibility of being true is beyond me. Still, glad it's been put to bed.

The REAL piece of ACTUAL NEWS is Penky out for so long, that's a big loss. We could possibly regret having let Mick Govin go now despite him not getting a game last year. Still, Foster will no doubt get his chance now, he sounds a good player, lets see what he can do.