The Australian Rugby Union have banned Sunshine Coast Stingrays player and coach, Francis Burke, for four years for the possession and attempted trafficking of growth hormone releasing peptide-6.
The ban has been upheld by the Australian Sports Anti-Doping Authority (ASADA), who were originally alerted to a suspect package by customs in Sydney on November 28 2010.
Following an extensive investigation by ASADA, the matter was referred to the ARU as a potential violation of its anti-doping code.
The ban imposed on Mr Bourke by the ARU was backdated to the date of his provisional suspension.
Therefore, he is ineligible to participate as an athlete or support person until 25 January 2016 in any sports that have adopted a World Anti-Doping Agency compliant anti-doping policy.
by Buford Balony
