Greaves banned for drug offence

From the Telegraph & Argus, first published Thursday 10th Mar 2005.

Bradford and Bingley's Phil Greaves has been banned for the rest of the season.

The 27-year-old centre, who works at Wagon Lane as clubhouse and facilities manager, has tested positive for the stimulant ephedrine.

The suspension for the former Northampton, West Hartlepool, Rotherham and Otley player runs from yesterday (the original suspension date pending a hearing) until May 31.

Greaves, who started at the Bees as a junior and whose brother Ben is full back for the first-team, tested positive at the home National League Three match against Macclesfield on December 11.

Bradford and Bingley RFC issued a statement last night, which read: "Following an RFU disciplinary hearing held on March 8, 2005, Phil Greaves has been banned from playing for 12 weeks (until May 31, 2005) after testing positive for the banned stimulant ephedrine.

"No appeal is to be made against this decision. The club is fully supportive of the RFU's stance on

anti-doping."

At the same hearing, Pierre Durant (London Irish) was banned for six weeks after testing positive for marijuana.

The 28-year-old prop failed a test against Leeds Tykes at Headingley on Friday, January 28 and is suspended from last Thursday until April 13.

Meanwhile, Michael Poland of the Army RU, has received a caution after testing positive for salbutamol following the British Army Germany versus Belgium match on January 15.

The RFU undertakes about 340 tests a year within a system that is operated and co-ordinated by UK Sport.

Cleckheaton centre James Mortimore was recently suspended for two years (until December 15, 2006) after testing positive for cocaine.

He was the first player to be suspended for failing a drugs test since May, 2003, when an individual was banned for six weeks for taking ephedrine.

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