Lengthy doping bans for two English players

NEWS: The Rugby Football Union has banned two players for anti-doping rule violations.

Two Hull RFC players, Joseph Stafford and Rupert Kay, have been banned for lenthy periods.

“Stafford was charged with an ADRV of Evading Sample Collection in breach of World Rugby Regulation 21.2.3 (Evading, Refusing or Failing to Submit to Sample Collection),” an RFU statement said.

He has been banned from all sports for three and a half years, from July 16, 2019 to January 15, 2023.

“Kay was charged with an ADRV of Complicity in breach of World Rugby Regulation 21.2.9 (Assisting, encouraging, aiding, abetting, conspiring, covering up or any other type of intentional complicity involving an anti-doping rule violation, attempted anti-doping rule violation or violation of Regulation 21.10.12.1 by another person).

Kay has been banned from all sport for two years, from July 16, 2019, until July 15, 2021.

RFU Anti-Doping and Illicit Drugs Programme Manager Stephen Watkins said: “All rugby players are subject to the anti-doping rules which are in place to protect players and the integrity of our sport.”