ADVERTISEMENT
RugbyDump
REGISTER
LOGIN
ADVERTISEMENT
RugbyDump
Wednesday Mar 10, 2021

Four year ban for RFU player who attempted to take Human Growth Hormone

An amateur rugby player registered with the RFU in England has been banned from all sport for four years after he was found to have violated anti-doping rules. A package containing Human Growth Hormone was seized en route to his home, leading to the investigation. 

ADVERTISEMENT

On 12 July 2018, UK Border Force seized a package en route to Mr Rainbow’s home address which contained items used in the process of injecting Human Growth Hormone.

Human Growth Hormone is a prohibited substance in accordance with the World Anti-Doping Agency (“WADA”) Prohibited List 2018.

Mr Rainbow admitted to the UK Anti-Doping (UKAD) on 16 January 2020, that he attempted to purchase a prohibited substance to enable himself to continue playing rugby.

The package that was seized contained 11x flat cardboard box packaging labelled “Glotropin-8IU recombinant Human Growth Hormone for Injection”, 11x sheets of decals/stickers labelled as Human Growth Hormone for Injection and 20 glass vials of clear liquid substance labelled “global anabolic.org”.

Rainbow explained that he had given a friend £200 to buy the package for him.

The RFU stated that despite never receiving the package, he could be charged with possession.

ADVERTISEMENT

“The act of purchasing a prohibited substance alone constitutes possession, even where, for example, the product does not arrive, is received by someone else, or is sent to a third-party address.”

He was charged by the Rugby Football Union (RFU) with two violations – Possession (by purchase) and Use or Attempted Use. The case was referred to the independent National Anti-Doping Panel (NADP) by the RFU for determination. Mr Rainbow did not contest the charges.

RFU Anti-Doping and Illicit Drugs Programme Manager Stephen Watkins said: “All rugby players are subject to the anti-doping rules which are in place to protect players and the integrity of our sport.”

Ralph Rainbow has been banned from 30 September 2020 until 29 September 2024 (taking into account his provisional suspension).

ADVERTISEMENT

Related Articles

  • 43 WEEKS AGO

    Ellis Genge puts on his boxing gloves ready...

  • 43 WEEKS AGO

    Crazy scenes as player deliberately kicks...

  • 43 WEEKS AGO

    RFU make decision on transgender players...



ADVERTISEMENT

Great Tries

  • 1 DAY AGO

    Jack Crowley drops the ball on dime for brilliant Munster try in URC Final

  • 2 DAYS AGO

    WATCH: World class offload from James O’Connor Leads To Long Range Reds Try

  • 1 WEEK AGO

    Leinster up and running with two incredible tries inside the first five minutes

  • 3 WEEKS AGO

    Chiefs Score The “Best Team Try” In Super Rugby History

  • 4 WEEKS AGO

    La Rochelle centre Seuteni produces other worldly offload in dominant victory

View All

Big Hits & Dirty Play

  • 5 DAYS AGO

    Watch: Cheslin Kolbe Dominates Sebastian Cancelliere with back-to-back big tackles

  • 1 WEEK AGO

    Ben Curry's World Cup hopes dashed as he becomes the latest victim of the crocodile roll

  • 2 WEEKS AGO

    Australian rugby player banned for 5 years after assaulting referee

  • 2 WEEKS AGO

    Anthony Watson comes within seconds of a Tuilagi haymaker

  • 3 WEEKS AGO

    South African Panel Debate Apparent ‘Clean Cut’ Red Card In Interesting Debate

View All

See It To Believe It

  • 7 WEEKS AGO

    Silly Skill From Toulouse Fullback Highlights French Confidence

  • 14 WEEKS AGO

    Ardie Savea Moment Of Magic In Super Rugby Aotearoa

  • 15 WEEKS AGO

    'Armchair athletes' berate Arundell's seriously impressive bench press

  • 15 WEEKS AGO

    Worcester Warriors - The End

  • 17 WEEKS AGO

    Sevens magic as 'headed' try brings stadium to its feet

View All

Funnies

  • 1 WEEK AGO

    WATCH: La Rochelle Players Gate Crash O’Gara Interview

  • 1 WEEK AGO

    WATCH: Stade Rochelais Coaches With All-Time Coaches Box Celebration

  • 2 WEEKS AGO

    Stephen Jones’s deleted rugby 7s article leads to hilarious wikipedia update

  • 2 WEEKS AGO

    Watch: DHL Stormers Celebrate Munster Victory In Style

  • 3 WEEKS AGO

    Referee brands players 'clowns' in hilarious grassroots clip

View All

Amateur

  • 20 WEEKS AGO

    You Won’t See Many Better Than This Silky-Smooth Try From Llandovery RFC

  • 20 WEEKS AGO

    Incredible Scenes As Caldy RFC Hand Ealing First Championship Defeat Of The Season

  • 43 WEEKS AGO

    Dubious Score Decides Result Of Rugby's Biggest Schools Fixture

  • 43 WEEKS AGO

    Incredible Scenes At School Boys Rugby Match

  • 43 WEEKS AGO

    The Next Dominant Backrow?

View All

Player Features

  • 1 DAY AGO

    John Afoa breaks record on return to Super Rugby

  • 3 DAYS AGO

    Harry Potter to ‘disapparate’ to Australia

  • 4 DAYS AGO

    Steve Hansen makes statement following Folau selection

  • 1 WEEK AGO

    O'Gara gives honest response on Ireland job in passionate interview

  • 2 WEEKS AGO

    Australian rugby player banned for 5 years after assaulting referee

View All