Newton made 15 international appearances for Great Britain

Former Great Britain hooker Terry Newton has told BBC Radio 5 live that he wants to resume his playing career after he serves his two-year drugs ban.

Newton, 31, was given a two-year suspension in February after testing positive for a human growth hormone.

The former Leeds, Wigan and Bradford player then had his playing contract cancelled by Wakefield.

"I'd like to think a club would take a risk on me. I still have something to prove and the desire," he said.

"I've been contacted by the UK Anti-Doping Agency to say that if I can help them with intelligence then they will have a look at reducing the ban.

"Initially it didn't bother me that I wasn't playing rugby but now watching games it is starting to sink in.

"If I keep myself fit hopefully I can do something with a Lancashire club - maybe not in Super League - and also help on their coaching staff."

Newton tested positive for the banned substance on 24 November, after being asked to provide a blood sample during pre-season training with Wakefield, but was not provisionally suspended by the UK Anti-Doping until Wednesday 17 February.

He told BBC 5 live's Stuart Pyke that he took the drug to help him recover from a number of injuries and help prolong his career.

"I know players who were using drugs in many sports, including rugby league who were blood-tested and not caught," he said.

"I've made one of the biggest mistakes of my life and I know it is something I will regret for the rest of my life."

Newton, who has just released his autobiography, says that he will not name those whom he suspects of taking HGH.

But he wants to try to help others avoid the mistakes that he has made in his chequered career

"I think it would be a very foolish man to continue doing what I was doing and taking HGH," he said

"There may be other people who still think that it can't be detected or I was just unlucky.

"In time, when it has all calmed down, I want to go out there there and go around to clubs and explain why I did it - not just the drugs but the other things in my career.

"I think I could do a good job with the Rugby Football League or the UK Anti-Doping to help to clean up the sport."

Former Warrington winger Richie Barnett resumed his playing career - at the age of 28 - with Sheffield Eagles in February after serving a two-year doping ban.

And Castleford captain Ryan Hudson made a successful return to Super League with Huddersfield in 2007 after two years out for testing positive for the banned steroid stanozolol.

You can hear the full interview with Terry Newton on 5 live Sports Extra on Sunday 20 June during the half-time interval in the game between Wigan and St Helens which kicks off at 1715 BST.

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