Scott MacLeod will be suspended from playing while his case is investigated

Scotland forward Scott MacLeod has failed a drugs test after a urine sample he provided contained a higher than permitted level of testosterone.

The Scarlets lock is understood to have denied any wrong-doing and asked for his 'B' sample to be tested.

Macleod, 29, has been suspended, with a Scottish Rugby Union spokesperson confirming to BBC Sport that an investigation is now under way.

Last February MacLeod was cleared of failing a previous doping test.

On that occasion he had taken an asthma medicine without permission.

"As part of Scottish Rugby's anti-doping regulations a process is now under way," read the Scottish Rugby Union statement.

"Until that due process is complete it would be inappropriate for us to make any further comment."

MacLeod, capped 21 times, was an ever-present for Scotland during last season's RBS Six Nations championship.

He will now be banned from playing or training with Scotland and the Scarlets until the investigation has been completed.

The SRU's anti-doping regulations state that a player will be "provisionally suspended by the Union pending the resolution of the case".

The SRU has informed us that a urine test sample provided by Scott MacLeod has shown an irregularity Scarlets chief executive Stuart Gallacher

He is now also likely to miss the Scarlets' last ever match at Stradey Park on Friday night when they take on Bristol in the EDF Energy Cup.

A statement from Scarlets chief executive Stuart Gallacher read: "The Scottish Rugby Union has informed us that a urine test sample provided by Scarlets player Scott MacLeod has shown an irregularity.

"As standard procedure, while this irregularity is being investigated further, Scott MacLeod will not be playing or training with the Scarlets until the matter has been resolved.

"The player and the Scarlets management, along with the Scottish Rugby Union, hope to conclude this matter as soon as possible.

"We will assist the player and co-operate fully with the Scottish Rugby Union while the inquiry takes place."

The investigation could also jeopardise MacLeod's participation in Scotland's autumn Test series which begins against New Zealand on 8 November, with South Africa and Canada to follow.

MacLeod failed a doping test at Scotland training last January but he was cleared after an investigation.

An independent judicial committee accepted that there had been confusion over the type of ashma medication - which commonly contains steroids - MacLeod had been using.

MacLeod had obtained a therapeutic use exemption (TUE) for one asthma medicine, not realising he had to be specific about which asthma drugs he was taking and was caught out when his prescription changed.

He could have been given a one-year ban for his mistake but protested his innocence.

"I'm not a cheat and I'm pleased that the panel accepted that I'd used Terbutaline inadvertently," he said at the time.

"I actually specified at the time I gave the urine sample that I was taking Bricanyl, so it was quite a shock.

"I thought the main thing on the TUE form was specifying that I have asthma and that I take a reliever. It was just a silly thing like that.

"I'm just glad it's over and I certainly won't make the same mistake again."

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