Bristol centre Alex Crockett insists he was innocent of drug taking as he nears the end of his nine-month ban for missing a drugs test.

The ex-Bath captain spoke publicly for the first time since resigning from the Rec last year and joining Bristol.

"Me and Michael [Lipman], straight afterwards, took a hair follicle test which came back negative proving that we hadn't," he told BBC Points West.

"In my eyes and everyone who knows me, knows that that was the case."

Crockett was one of three players who were banned for refusing to take two drugs tests after Bath investigated allegations of drug use at an end-of-season party on 10 May.

The 28-year-old, along with former co-captain Lipman and winger Andrew Higgins resigned from Bath in June before receiving their ban in August.

Crockett signed for Bristol in December and has been training with them since 1 January. He is eligible to play competitively for them from 1 March.

The Championship side are currently top of the table with just three league games to go before entering the promotion play-offs.

Paul Hull and John Brain are doing a magnificent job, the way they're coaching every single day. I think Bristol is a Premiership club, it's just in the wrong division Alex Crockett

"It's great to be able to get my teeth into something and have a project and a future goal," said Crockett.

"I've been hugely surprised by the structure, the discipline and the talent of the players."

"Paul Hull and John Brain are doing a magnificent job, the way they're coaching every single day. I think Bristol is a Premiership club, it's just in the wrong division.

"I'm going to be trying as hard as anyone else[to get into the team] and the ultimate goal for everyone is the Premiership.

"So if I come into some form and play well, I'll hopefully get the chance."

Crockett's enforced time away from the game has allowed him to appreciate how lucky he is to have another chance to play the game he loves.

"It was very tough, especially during the summer but since the case has finished I've tried to get my head down, do some training and turn it into a positive," he said

"I've learnt that rugby can be taken away from you at the flick of a switch.

"If anything it has given me a bit more motivation to go out there and push myself a little bit harder and put a few wrongs right."

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