Penkywicz given two-year ban for steroid use

The Huddersfield hooker Sean Penkywicz has been suspended for two years for taking the banned steroid, stanozolol.

The Huddersfield hooker Sean Penkywicz has been suspended for two years for taking the banned steroid, stanozolol.

The 23-year-old, previously with Halifax and ever-present for the Giants last season, returned a positive sample earlier this season and was found guilty by the Rugby League's advisory panel on doping control last night. His punishment is the same as that meted out last month to Bradford's Ryan Hudson, who tested positive for the same substance.

Huddersfield had told him to stay away from the club during the inquiry and are expected to make a statement on his future today. If they follow the usual precedent by cancelling his contract, they are set to sign the former Halifax and Castleford centre Ryan Clayton from the French club Villefranche as his replacement.

Phil Berry, of Warrington, who has yet to make his first-team debut, has also been banned for two years for testing positive for nandrolone.

Super League's bottom club, Leigh, have signed a second player to help their battle against relegation. The former Leeds hooker Robbie Mears will arrive next week and go straight into the squad for to play Wakefield on 30 April.

Mears, also plays half-back, has played for Eastern Suburbs, Canterbury and Wests-Tigers in his native Australia, as well as the New Zealand Warriors.

"Robbie is a quality player who will add that extra bite to our team," said the Leigh coach, Darren Abram. "He has played at the highest level before and will bring immense experience to our squad."

"I had offers from other Super League teams, but when I spoke to Leigh I decided this was the team for me," Mears said.

Leigh have also taken the prop Warren Stevens on loan from Warrington for a month. He is in their squad to play Salford tomorrow.