Former Hull Academy youngster Sam Walsh has been handed a two-year ban after becoming the latest rugby league player to have taken illegal substances.

Walsh was provisionally banned on 30 January by the National Anti-Doping Panel after he was found guilty of breaching RFL anti-doping regulations.

The player, now released by Hull, provided a sample containing metabolites of anabolic steroids.

At the hearing, Walsh blamed the findings on contaminated supplements.

But, under the World Anti-Doping Code, players are fully responsible for any substances found in the sample they provide.

Walsh, who was released by Hull before the start of the season, was therefore found guilty of an anti-doping rule violation, for which his two-year ban is dated back to the original hearing on 30 January.

Walsh follows in the footsteps of ex-Wakefield and Great Britain hooker Terry Newton and Whitehaven prop Sam Thompson, who have both been handed similar two-year bans.

Meanwhile, three Super League players have received formal cautions for incidents following this weekend's matches.

Warrington's David Solomona was adjudged to have made unnecessary contact with the face of Clint Newton in the second minute of Friday's 35-16 win over Hull KR.

In the same game, Hull KR's Josh Hodgson was cautioned for placing undue pressure on the knee of Warrington's Mickey Higham.

And Leeds Rhinos' Chris Clarkson has been cautioned for a late, high challenge on Harlequins' Danny Orr in their 42-22 victory at The Stoop.

The cautions will remain on the players' records and could be taken into consideration in the event of future disciplinary breaches.

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