Rangi Chase: Widnes Vikings half-back given two-year ban for positive drugs test

Rangi Chase made six appearances for Widnes before he was suspended

Widnes Vikings and former England half-back Rangi Chase has been banned from all sport for two years after testing positive for cocaine.

The 31-year-old was suspended by the Super League club in August after he failed a drugs test following a 36-8 defeat by Wakefield on 14 July.

UK Anti-Doping (Ukad) said Chase had tested positive for benzoylecgonine - a metabolite of cocaine.

The New Zealand-born player's ban will run until 00:00 BST on 13 July 2019.

"As an experienced rugby league player who has represented both New Zealand Maori and England, as well as Super League clubs, Castleford Tigers and Salford Red Devils, Rangi Chase has tarnished his well-established career with this sanction," said Ukad chief executive Nicole Sapstead.

"His two-year ban serves as a stark warning to athletes about the very real consequences of taking recreational drugs whilst competing in sport."

Chase won the Man of Steel award while with Castleford in 2011 - a year in which he would later go on to represent England and earn eight caps.

Following spells with Salford and Leigh, he rejoined Cas in July 2016 but moved on again to join Widnes in May, initially on loan, before the deal was made permanent in July.

Chase is one of three Super League players who tested positive for cocaine during the course of the 2017 season.

Castleford full-back Zak Hardaker was dropped from his team's squad for the Grand Final last month after it emerged he had tested positive following a match in September. The failed test also meant Hardaker missed out on a place in England's World Cup squad.

Wakefield prop Adam Walker failed a test following the same match as Chase and was also suspended by his club.