Aussie RL hit by drugs blow

Australian rugby league has been dealt a blow after three players were found guilty of taking illegal substances.

Newtown's Matthew Eather and Penrith-St Marys Premier League representative Greg Brain were both handed two-year suspensions after testing positive for performance-enhancing drugs, while Penrith half-back Craig Trindall received a 12-week suspended sentence for taking cannabis and has been ordered to do 40 hours community service.

NRL chief executive David Gallop condemned the use of drugs in the sport and backed the Australian Sports Anti-Doping Authority's drug-testing policy, saying: "Given the amount of testing we are undertaking through ASADA, and given the in-house testing for illicit substances, it would seem a ridiculous risk to take."

He told the NRL's official website: "WADA draws some clear distinctions between performance-enhancing and non-performance-enhancing substances, but any positive drug result is enormously damaging to one's character.

"Any player guilty of taking a performance-enhancing substance faces a minimum ban of two years and life for a second offence."