Sandor Earl has been suspended by the NRL for four years under the league’s anti-doping policy.
The 26-year-old former Canberra, Penrith and Sydney Roosters winger’s ban, announced on Wednesday, is backdated from his provisional suspension date of August 29, 2013 and he will be eligible to return in August 2017.
Earl was ruled to have committed trafficking and possession offences and has 21 days to appeal the ruling to the Court of Arbitration for Sport.
“The NRL is committed to eliminating performance-enhancing drugs,” said NRL head of integrity Nick Weeks in a statement.
“We want our game to provide a fair and safe environment for players and that means taking all reasonable steps to eradicate performance-enhancing drugs from rugby league.”