Sean Penkywicz handed two-year doping ban

Former Leigh and Wales hooker Sean Penkywicz has been banned for two years after testing positive for a growth hormone releasing peptide, UK Anti-Doping (UKAD) has announced.

The 33-year-old had strongly denied taking the substance but accepted his fate last month and had his contract terminated by the Centurions.

Penkywicz, who was also suspended for two years in 2005 after testing positive for stanozolol, submitted a sample following an out-of-competition test on December 5, 2014.

This sample was tested by the Drug Control Centre at King's College, London and was found to contain no prohibited substances.

UKAD then instructed the laboratory on January 27 to re-examine the same sample specifically for Growth Hormone Releasing Factors and it was found to contain Hormone Releasing Peptide-6 (GHRP-6).

Growth Hormone Releasing Factors are classified under section S2 of the World Anti-Doping Agency's (WADA) Prohibited List and this is the second finding of its kind in the UK for GHRP-6, which is used by bodybuilders.

Penkywicz has therefore been banned from all sport from April 9, 2015 to April 8, 2017.

UKAD's chief executive Nicole Sapstead said: "Under the World Anti-Doping Code, all samples taken from elite athletes can be stored for up to 10 years, which enables us to go back at any time and retest that same sample.

"The retrospective analysis of samples, together with the Athletes Biological Passport and intelligence led testing, are all vital tools in UKAD's mission to protect clean sport and catch those who believe they can cheat and win.

"UKAD's message is clear. Doping in sport will not be tolerated. We will use every tool we can to protect clean athletes and support them to compete, and win, clean."

Penkywicz played for Wales in World Cup qualifiers against Scotland and Lebanon in 2007 and won his last cap against England a year later.

He was in the Leigh team that won the Championship Grand Final at Headingley last October but has not played this season because of a knee injury.