Monday 30 April 2018 15:02, UK
Former Castleford full-back Zak Hardaker has been suspended for 14 months for a failed drugs test, the Rugby Football League has announced.
The 26-year-old will not appeal against the punishment, which has been handed out by UK Anti-Doping and was backdated to September 2017, when he tested positive for cocaine.
That means Hardaker, who is currently without a club, will be free to play again in November.
Castleford announced in February that Hardaker had been sacked, while still having four years left on his contract.
The Tigers initially suspended Hardaker last October after dropping the England international for the Super League Grand Final against Leeds, the club he left for Castleford in a loan deal in 2016.
He joined the club on a permanent contract for a fee of £150,000 in June with Daryl Powell's side cruising to League Leaders' Shield success.
But in September he failed a drugs test after a Super 8s game against the Rhinos.
