Sandor Earl has pleaded to be allowed to revive his career next season during a five-hour hearing of the NRL’s anti-doping tribunal.
Earl, stood down from playing more than two years ago after admitting to using performance-enhancing drugs to treat a shoulder injury, is the first NRL player to appear before an anti-doping hearing over allegations arising from the 18-month ASADA investigation.
Thursday’s hearing was chaired by former High Court judge Ian Callinan, QC.
According to Fairfax Media, no decision is expected until next week.
Despite two years out of rugby league, the former Sydney Roosters, Penrith and Canberra winger faces a four-year ban if found guilty of trafficking the banned peptide CJC-1295.
The 25-year-old now lives in Thailand but hopes to resume playing next season if his suspension is reduced from four years to two.