Penkywicz facing ban after failed drugs test

Caption competition
Caption competition
View past winners of our Sports caption competition
News in pictures
News in pictures
On Facebook
Sport blogs

Financial strife fails to dim smiles at high-flying Rayo Vallecano

This is a club that, despite all it's off-the-field financial problems, is currently flourishing in ...

Hertha Berlin and the Skibbe saga – a depressing tale

Perhaps, in a few decades time, some German writer will transform Michael Skibbe's excruciatingly br...

Top 14: Day of reckoning looms for Racing Metro

By the middle of Wednesday afternoon we should have the first indication of what lies ahead for Raci...

Huddersfield's Sean Penkywicz has become the second Super League player this season to be revealed as testing positive for the banned steroid, stanozolol.

Huddersfield's Sean Penkywicz has become the second Super League player this season to be revealed as testing positive for the banned steroid, stanozolol.

The 23-year-old hooker or half-back will face the Rugby League's advisory panel on doping control next Wednesday. If his case follows the same pattern as that of Bradford's Ryan Hudson, he could be banned for two years.

Penkywicz, signed from Halifax two years ago, was an ever-present for the Giants last season and appeared in the first four rounds of the competition this year.

Huddersfield have confirmed, however, that he has been told to keep away from training since then. "Sean will be staying away from the club until the outcome of the hearing is known," said the Giants' general manager, Richard Thewlis.

An extra embarrassment for Huddersfield is that one of their directors is Keith Hellawell, once the government's "drugs tsar".

Penkywicz tested positive at a training session in December, becoming the ninth player to return a positive sample in the last four months - a number which the League's executive chairman, Richard Lewis, has described as too high.

It includes Phil Berry, who has yet to make his Super League debut for Warrington and has been suspended by his club since testing positive for nandrolone. His case will also be heard next Wednesday.

The Leeds prop, Danny Ward, has been called to today's disciplinary committee meeting to answer a charge of an alleged high tackle during the match against the London Broncos on Saturday.

Australia have included three uncapped players in their squad to face New Zealand on 22 April. They are the Melbourne full-back, Billy Slater, and the Penrith pair, Luke Priddis and Luke Lewis.

There is no place for Andrew Johns, who is still easing his way back after injury and has been unable to reclaim his spot at scrum-half.

The Kiwis will be without another Penrith player, Tony Puletua, who has been ruled out for the season with a torn pectoral muscle.

The former Kiwi Test scrum-half, Stacey Jones, is being linked with a move to Perpignan for their Super League debut next season.

Independent Comment
blog comments powered by Disqus
Career Services

Day In a Page

Apple admits it has a human rights problem

Apple admits it has a human rights problem

After years of complaints and workers' suicides in China the technology giant faces up to the human cost of its gadgets
Peter Moore: 'I feel guilty I'm the only one alive'

Peter Moore interview

'I feel guilty I'm the only one alive'
Sellafield faces nuclear option as overspending threatens plant's future

Sellafield faces nuclear option

Overspending threatens plant's future
Israel blames Iran for embassy bomb attacks

Israel blames Iran for embassy bomb attacks

Tehran rejects Netanyahu's 'lies' after diplomats in India and Georgia targeted
Former manager enjoying Apoel crack at the big time

Tommy Cassidy interview

Former manager enjoying Apoel crack at the big time
James Lawton: Patience may not be a virtue this time, Roman – Andre Villas-Boas looks all at sea

James Lawton: AVB looks all at sea

Abramovich's visits to training reinforce the idea of a coach feeling pressure from above and below
The 10 Best sledges

The 10 Best sledges

Not all of them require snow...
Procrastination: Not now – I'm busy

Procrastination: Not now – I'm busy

Confronting the real reasons for puttting things off can help us beat it
Fun in the sunset years

Fun in the sunset years

A new movie follows retirees moving to India for low-cost care and a culture of respect for the elderly. For many Britons, it's already a reality
Picture preview: Lucian Freud drawings

Lucian Freud drawings

Picture preview
Silent revolution at the Baftas as the French take top awards

Silent revolution at the Baftas

The Artist wins in seven categories, with Meryl Streep the other big success story
Whitney Houston: The diva who had – and lost – it all

The diva who had – and lost – it all

Nick Hasted charts the highs and lows of Whitney Houston's life
How Picasso won over (some of) the British

How Picasso won over (some of) the British

Winston Churchill and Evelyn Waugh hated his work, but Picasso provided inspiration for a whole generation of UK artists
Topshop: A Decade Of Design

Topshop: A Decade Of Design

When London Fashion Week starts on Friday, Topshop will celebrate 10 years backing its brightest young stars
John Prescott: 'My wife thought I'd just retire, but I'm not a slippers man'

'My wife thought I'd just retire, but I'm not a slippers man'

At 73, John Prescott isn't mellowing. In fact he's taking a shot at becoming a police commissioner