There is no hiding place left in sport after Newton ban, drug cheats told

The ex-Great Britain international's career was left in tatters yesterday when the UK Anti-Doping (UKAD) imposed a two-year ban for his indiscretion with Newton's Super League club announcing soon after they had terminated his contract.

Suspicions about some of the world's most-famous athletes using human growth hormone (hGH) have persisted for decades but until now there has been no reliable scientific test.

However, the UKAD has seen a major breakthrough with its development of a new test which can analyse blood samples and it believes it could spark a severe crackdown on cheating athletes across the globe who previously thought they were untouchable.

"There has been a feeling that you can take growth hormone with impunity but this shows this is no longer the case," said chief executive Andy Parkinson.

"We have heard from others that growth hormone is being abused by athletes but until now investigations have been of the non-analytical type.

"Now there is a test so our message to athletes is to think twice about using it.

"In the 1990s athletes thought they could get away with using EPO and now there is a test for it, and the same is now the case with human growth hormone."

Newton had tested positive for a banned substance in November following a random blood test at training, just eight days after starting a two-year deal with Wakefield.

After being charged by UKAD last Monday, he admitted taking hGH in a statement via his solicitors on Friday apologising for his behaviour and declaring he would take any punishment deemed necessary.

That was meted out yesterday and 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 '10 per cent ME' campaign about the dangers of drugs and consequences of taking drugs, or breaching the Anti-Doping Regulations."

Ordinarily, a player's suspension would start on the day of issue meaning Newton would not be able to have any involvement in rugby until February 2012.

However, given the player's admission of his offence, removing the need for any hearing, the UKAD back-dated commencement to the date of their sample collection.

Newton is now banned until 23 November 2011 but the former Leeds, Wigan and Bradford player will be 33 then and seems unlikely he will be able to renew a professional career, certainly in Super League.

Newton played just two games for the Wildcats, unbeaten so far this season, who head to St Helens on Friday night.