Featherstone’s Pick banned for two years

The second-row scored two tries in 13 games last season and played in the West Yorkshire club’s Championship Grand Final defeat to Leigh Centurions.

Pick, 21, has tested positive for metabolites of the anabolic steroid oxymetholone following an out-of-competition test on November 19 last year.

The Pontefract-born player, who has not featured for Featherstone so far this season, was suspended on Monday by a National Anti-Doping Panel until December 10, 2016.

Chief executive Pat Cluskey said: “Featherstone Rovers are fully committed to the sport’s anti-doping policy and players are educated by the club and governing body as to the penalties they could incur should a positive test be recorded.

“Hopefully (Monday’s) announcement will further demonstrate the measures currently in place are working and will act as a deterrent to players thinking about taking this option in the future.”

Pick, who joined from Huddersfield Giants in September 2013, is also undergoing an internal disciplinary process.

South Wales Scorpions’ Ashley Bateman has tested positive for the anabolic steroid oxandrolone and its metabolite – epioxandrolone – and, like Pick, is banned until December next year.