Rugby Football Union (RFU) v Leigh Dearden

To optimise for archiving, the original image and related documents associated with this article have been removed.

A decision in the case of the Rugby Football Union (RFU) v Leigh Dearden has been published by the National Anti-Doping Panel (NADP). 

On 23 March 2019 Leigh Dearden, a player registered with Lincoln RFC and the RFU, provided a urine sample.  The urine sample returned Adverse Analytical Findings for Drostanolone and a metabolite, 2 metabolites of Oxymetholone, and cocaine metabolite benzoylecgonine.  Mr Dearden was subsequently charged with a breach of World Rugby Regulation 21.2.1 for the Presence of Prohibited Substances or their Metabolites or Markers on 31 May 2019.

Mr Dearden did not dispute the Anti-Doping Rule Violation (ADRV) and the NADP Tribunal, consisting of Christopher Quinlan QC, Blondel Thompson and Professor Dorian Haskard imposed a period of ineligibility of 4 years, running from 31 May 2019 until midnight on 30 May 2023.

A copy of the full decision can be accessed via the related links tab on the right-hand side.

The National Anti-Doping Panel (NADP) is the United Kingdom’s independent tribunal responsible for adjudicating anti-doping disputes in sport. It is operated by Sport Resolutions and is entirely independent of UK Anti-Doping who is responsible for investigating, charging and prosecuting cases before the NADP.

You may also like

View All

RUSADA reports record 47 whereabouts violations in July, highest monthly total of 2025

The Russian Anti-Doping Agency reported 47 new cases of ‘availability for testing’ rule violations in July

Read More

Career uncertainty forces Australian netballers to change their sport

Australian netballers are increasingly turning to the women’s Australian Football League for more viable careers

Read More

First woman to umpire regular-season MLB game

Jen Pawol will become the first woman to umpire in a regular-season Major League Baseball game

Read More