Attard handed two-yeardoping ban in UK

Malta half-back Roderick Attard has been suspended for two years after he was found guilty of breaching Rugby Football League anti-doping regulations, Press Association has reported.

Attard, who was registered with Gateshead Thunder when he tested positive for steroids, was handed the ban by the UK National Anti-Doping Panel after providing a sample containing ‘metabolites of nandrolone’.

“The National Anti-Doping Panel have found him guilty of an anti-doping rule violation and imposed a two-year period of ineligibility,” a statement said.

“Attard’s suspension commences from March 2, 2010 which is the day his provisional suspension commenced.”

A Gateshead statement said: “The panel heard and accepted evidence that both sports medicine and rugby league facilities are not as advanced in Malta as they are in the UK.

“The panel also accepted that there is limited anti-doping education in Malta and that the player had taken the substance to recover from shoulder surgery.

“Rod Attard’s recovery was slow and it was affecting his ability to carry out his full time employment. The substance was taken before he was invited to Thunder’s trials in November 2009.

“However, the anti-doping rules are very strict and the mere presence of the substance in the players system is sufficient to constitute a doping violation.”

Gateshead chairman Rod Findlay had words of sympathy for Attard.

“Gateshead Thunder do not condone doping and the club offer extensive anti-doping education to all players,” Findlay was quoted as saying. “Unfortunately, Roderick was tested only two days into his stay with the club and before he received any education.

“He did not realise that he could have applied for a Therapeutic Use Exemption which would have avoided the charge and unfortunately there is no room in the rules for a retrospective application.”

“I do not believe for a moment that Roderick took steroids to gain a sporting advantage and his only game for the club was a friendly against Castleford Tigers,” Findlay added

“The rules are drafted to catch deliberate cheats and unfortunately they sometimes also catch players such as Roderick who have a good explanation for their actions.

“Roderick was only with the club for a short time but he was a popular character and we wish him all the best back home in Malta.”

Attard, who made just one appearance for Gateshead, is a dual rugby international player who last season featured for Kavallieri in the Malta Rugby Football Union National League.

It is understood that the two-year doping ban imposed by the UK body is likely to prohibit Attard from competing in any form of rugby for the next two years.

MRFU president Martin Galea stressed the Union’s stance against doping but insisted that the local governing body will seek advice from the international bodies, FIRA and IRB, before taking a decision on the application of Attard’s ban.

“I can’t say much about Roderick Attard’s suspension as I’ve just been informed about it,” Galea said.

“The MRFU is firmly against doping in all sports. Having said that, since this is the first doping case involving a Maltese player, we will seek guidance from the European governing body FIRA and the International Rugby Board.”