Former English Prem star banned

FORMER English Premiership centre Chris Mayor has been banned from all sport for four years after being found to have attempted to use and traffic a human growth hormone.

Mayor, who played for Northampton Saints, Sale Sharks and Wasps between 2003 and 2012, made more than 100 appearances in the Premiership before moving down into the community game up until 2020. In a statement issued by the Rugby Football Union on Thursday, it was revealed that UK Anti-Doping (UKAD) had received evidence from police that Mayor had attempted to source a human growth hormone in September 2019.

The full statement from UKAD revealed the 40-year-old had sent a private Facebook message in an effort to acquire “72iu Lilly pens containing the drug Humatrope”. A hearing took place in May of this year, where the RFU deemed a five-year ban to be appropriate given Mayor was “well educated on his anti-doping responsibilities” before the panel imposed a ban of four years.

The player, who previously had an unblemished anti-doping record, had denied the charges.

Mayor’s ban will last from November 8, 2021, through to midnight on November 7, 2025. A further charge of possession of a prohibited substance was not proven.

A statement from the RFU read: “Christopher Mayor, a former professional player, and currently of Rossendale RUFC is banned from all sport for four years after being found to have attempted to use a prohibited substance and to have attempted to traffic a prohibited substance.”

Stephen Watkins, the RFU’s anti-doping and illicit drugs programme manager, said: “Mr Mayor was a respected professional player and well aware of his responsibilities. All rugby players irrespective of level are subject to the anti-doping rules which are in place to protect players and the integrity of our sport.”

England boss Eddie Jones admits he would jump at the chance to coach a rugby league team in his native Australia.

Jones has a contract until the end of the 2023 World Cup, and Rugby Football Union chief executive Bill Sweeney said last week that the 62-year-old is the right man to lead England in France after the 2-1 summer tour win in Australia. But Jones outlined his “dream” job during an interview in Australia, saying the idea of coaching NRL outfit South Sydney Rabbitohs excites him.

“If there was an opportunity there (in the NRL) I would jump at it, but the reality is it’s probably not going to be there,” he said.