Wakefield star Newton faces two-year ban over drugs test

Newton – one of only five players to have featured in every Super League season – could have played his final match following a positive test for a prohibited substance.

He was provisionally suspended with immediate effect by the UK Anti-Doping agency yesterday afternoon and the RFL quickly followed suit after details emerged of the test performed at pre-season training in November, just weeks after the player had joined Wakefield from Bradford Bulls.

Newton, pictured, faces a two-year ban if the case is proven and, given the strain already suffered on his body in a career spanning more than 300 games, may struggle to return to top-flight rugby if he does receive the customary suspension.

The 31-year-old becomes the second high-profile Super League star to fail a drugs test in less than 12 months.

Newton's former Wigan and Great Britain team-mate Gareth Hock was suspended for two years last August after earlier being tested positive for cocaine.

The news is a sizeable blow for surprise Super League leaders Wakefield who had enjoyed a perfect start to the new season with three victories.

Newton played his part in their glorious defeat of champions Leeds on Sunday – a first over their West Yorkshire rivals at Belle Vue since 1992 – but was soon brought crashing back to earth yesterday when informed of the UKAD's results.

A statement by his club said: "Wakefield Trinity Wildcats have confirmed that Terry Newton has been provisionally suspended by the UK Anti-Doping Agency after testing positive for a prohibited substance on 24th November 2009.

"Neither Wakefield Trinity Wildcats nor Terry Newton will be making any further comment on the issue until further notice."

Ex-Leeds star Newton, who won 15 Great Britain caps from 1998 to 2007, only told the Yorkshire Post earlier this month how he still had a huge "hunger" for the game and, after losing in four Grand Finals, was finally hoping to end his duck after being revitalised with Wakefield.

He played against Wildcats debut at Harlequins but missed the following match with a bicep injury before returning to help defeat Leeds.

Newton, who will face a hearing later this year unless he pleads guilty, had signed a two-year deal.

Other Super League players to have incurred two-year bans for failing drug tests include current Castleford captain Ryan Hudson, shortly after joining Bradford in 2004, and ex-Huddersfield Giants hooker Sean Penkywicz who were both suspended for taking the steroid Stanozolol.