MX23RW : Sunday, November 24 04:44:29| >> :600:14552617:14552617:

On This Day: England's Matt Stevens handed two-year doping ban

A month earlier, Matt Stevens had tested positive for cocaine.

On this day in 2009, England prop Matt Stevens received a two-year ban for failing a drugs test.

A month earlier, Stevens had tested positive for cocaine, leading to him being withdrawn from Bath's squad to face Glasgow in the Heineken Cup, then being pulled out of England's squad for the Six Nations.

Stevens, 26 at the time, admitted to taking a prohibited substance and revealed he had been attending drug counselling sessions as his substance abuse had become a major problem.

Rugby Union – Zurich Premiership – London Wasps v Gloucester
Stevens would quit Bath before he could be sacked (David Davies/PA)

In an interview with the BBC, Stevens said: "It is a very serious substance and something over a period of time I have realised I have an issue with, something I think has basically ruined my life up until this point."

Following his ban, Stevens announced he was quitting Bath before they sacked him, tearing up a contract he had signed the previous January which was due to run until 2012.

In January 2010 it was announced he would join Saracens at the end of his ban in early 2011.

He made his Test return for England against Wales in August 2011, the first of 12 caps he earned following his suspension.

ID:436830: cacheID:436830:1false2false3false:QQ:: from db desktop :LenBod:restore:3325:
Restore Data
Share this article now:
Billy Vunipola pictured in October 2019
Read Next:
Billy Vunipola only Saracens player in England squad to play before Six Nations
>
Read more about Matt Stevens Rugby Union
rhs 2.0
Today's games header
6pm
Vikings
@
Bears
6pm
Lions
@
Colts
6pm
Patriots
@
Dolphins
6pm
Buccaneers
@
Giants
6pm
Chiefs
@
Panthers
6pm
Titans
@
Texans
6pm
Cowboys
@
Washington
9.05pm
Broncos
@
Raiders
9.25pm
49ers
@
Packers
9.25pm
Cardinals
@
Seahawks


Sports Mole provides in-depth previews and predictions for every match from the biggest leagues and competitions in world football.
Argentina's Lionel Messi kisses the World Cup trophy after collecting the Golden Ball award on December 18, 2022Sign up for our FREE daily preview newsletter direct to your inbox!