Newton banned for two years

Terry Newton, who had his contract terminated by Wakefield earlier on Monday, has been banned from all rugby for two years, United Kingdom Anti-Doping have announced.

The Wildcats cancelled Newton's contract with immediate effect and he has now been banned until November 2011.

The former Great Britain hooker tested positive for a banned substance in November and after being charged by UKAD, he admitted taking human growth hormone (hGH) in a statement via his solicitors on Friday.

UKAD announced this afternoon that Newton has been banned for two years. A statement said: "The athlete has been suspended for two years from November 24, 2009 to November 23, 2011."

The two-year punishment was expected after Newton's admission he took hGH removed the need for a B sample to be tested and for a hearing.

In anticipation of the ban, Wakefield parted company with Newton.

A statement from Wakefield read: "Following a UK Anti-Doping investigation and Terry Newton's admission that he breached the RFL's Doping Control Regulations his contract with the Wakefield Trinity Wildcats has been cancelled with immediate effect.

"Wakefield Trinity Wildcats are fully supportive of the RFL's principles of a drug-free sport and the club work hard to inform their players through the '100% ME' campaign about the dangers of drugs and consequences of taking drugs, or breaching the Anti-Doping Regulations."

The 31-year-old must now decide which way to turn and the event could mark the end of a highly-successful career at the top of the game.