Welsh club have 19 banned

Nineteen players from a south Wales rugby club were suspended from the game for 18 months yesterday after refusing drug tests.

The secretary of Rhondda club Penygraig was also banned from holding any position in Welsh rugby for three years. Peter Bowen admitted a charge that he had 'wilfully obstructed or interfered with' the carrying out of doping tests.

But the Welsh Rugby Union have dropped their action against the club's immediate past chairman Neil Roper, a police officer.

The charges arose following Penygraig's win in the Silver Ball cup final against Pontypridd in May.

After a two-day hearing at Cardiff's Millennium Stadium, a WRU disciplinary panel, set up by chief executive David Moffett, announced that Bowen was barred from holding office or involvement in the management or coaching of any WRU-affiliated club for three years.

A total of 22 of the club's players had been charged with refusing drug tests. Of these, 19 have been suspended with immediate effect after admitting the offence.

In a statement, Penygraig RFC said the penalties imposed were 'unduly harsh' and that the club would lodge an appeal.

The WRU said two other players denied the charges and a third is considering his position. The case against all three has been adjourned until September.