WAKEFIELD TRINITY PROP Adam Walker has been suspended for 20 months after testing positive for cocaine.
UK Anti-Doping (UKAD) announced the sanction today after Walker was charged with violating article 2.1 of the anti-doping rules, namely “presence of a prohibited substance or its metabolites or markers in an athlete’s sample”.
Walker tested positive for benzoylecgonine, a metabolite of cocaine, following an in-competition test in July 2017, following a match between Wakefield and Widnes Vikings.
The ban is backdated to the time of the test, meaning Walker will miss the remainder of this season and the first month of the next as he will be permitted to return to action in March 2019.
“Cocaine is banned in-competition and athletes are solely responsible for what is in their system, regardless of whether there is an intention to cheat or not,” said UKAD chief executive Nicole Sapstead.
“Sportspeople must be aware that using cocaine, even out-of-competition, will put them at risk of breaking the anti-doping rules and receiving a long ban.”
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