Russell Spiers has been banned from all sport for three years ©Getty Images

Rugby league player Russell Spiers has been banned from all sport for a period of three years by UK Anti-Doping (UKAD) after the presence of a prohibited substance in his urine sample.

The former Wakefield Trinity, Doncaster and York City Knights player's ban will run until August 25, 2025.

On May 18, 2022, UKAD collected an out-of-competition sample from Spiers at a Midlands Hurricanes training session. 

It subsequently returned an Adverse Analytical Finding (AAF) for boldenone which is on the World Anti-Doping Agency's prohibited list as an anabolic androgenic steroid.

On August 26 of the same year, UKAD notified Spiers of the AAF and issued him with a provisional suspension from that date.

UKAD then charged the 31-year-old and he responded within 20 days to admit the anti-doping rule violations and accept the four-year period of ineligibility.

Russell Spiers previously played for Doncaster among other clubs ©Getty Images
Russell Spiers previously played for Doncaster among other clubs ©Getty Images

However, he was able to reduce the period of ineligibility to three years in accordance with ADR Article 10.8.1.

The article states that a one-year reduction can be applied for certain anti-doping rule violations based on early admission and acceptance of sanction.

"Boldenone is an anabolic steroid that can increase an athlete's muscle mass, enhancing their performance," said UKAD chief executive Jane Rumble.

"There is no place for anabolic steroids in sport, and there are serious consequences for athletes caught taking them."

Spiers plays as a prop or loose forward and retired in June 2022 after making five appearances for the Hurricanes.

Prior to that he had spent eight seasons at Doncaster, where he notched up 19 tries and 64 points in 164 appearances.