Rugby Football Union (RFU) v Leigh Dearden


Rugby Football Union (RFU) v Leigh Dearden

A decision in the case of the Rugby Football Union (RFU) v Leigh Dearden has been published by the National Anti-Doping Panel (NADP). 

On 23 March 2019 Leigh Dearden, a player registered with Lincoln RFC and the RFU, provided a urine sample.  The urine sample returned Adverse Analytical Findings for Drostanolone and a metabolite, 2 metabolites of Oxymetholone, and cocaine metabolite benzoylecgonine.  Mr Dearden was subsequently charged with a breach of World Rugby Regulation 21.2.1 for the Presence of Prohibited Substances or their Metabolites or Markers on 31 May 2019.

Mr Dearden did not dispute the Anti-Doping Rule Violation (ADRV) and the NADP Tribunal, consisting of Christopher Quinlan QC, Blondel Thompson and Professor Dorian Haskard imposed a period of ineligibility of 4 years, running from 31 May 2019 until midnight on 30 May 2023.

A copy of the full decision can be accessed via the related links tab on the right-hand side.

The National Anti-Doping Panel (NADP) is the United Kingdom’s independent tribunal responsible for adjudicating anti-doping disputes in sport. It is operated by Sport Resolutions and is entirely independent of UK Anti-Doping who is responsible for investigating, charging and prosecuting cases before the NADP.

You may also like

View All

The Open to employ Spidercam on 18th green at Portrush

For the first time in golf history, The Open will utilise Spidercam technology, and it will be used on the 18th green at the Royal Portrush Golf Club in Northern Ireland

Read More

ECHR declares Semenya was violated by Swiss Supreme Court

Europe’s top court, the European Court of Human Rights, has declared that DSD athlete and double 800m Olympic champion Caster Semenya was not given the right to a fair hearing by the Swiss Federal Supreme Court in 2020 after World Athletics barred her from competing

Read More

Table Tennis England Transgender Policy consultation open

Table Tennis England has devised a Transgender Policy and is seeking feedback via a consultation period which is open until 20 July 2025

Read More

Newsletter Signup

Please enter your email address below: