Charley Bodman: Rugby league player given 18-month ban for use of banned substance
- Published
Charley Bodman played at Hunslet before joining fellow League One side Cornwall RLFC last year
Rugby league player Charley Bodman has been banned for 18 months by UK Anti-Doping for use of a banned substance.
The 22-year-old, who most recently played at Cornwall RLFC, tested positive for terbutaline in an out-of-competition sample on 25 April.
Bodman admitted the charge but said usage was not "intentional", which was accepted by UKAD.
His ban was reduced from the standard two-year suspension, but he will not be able to play until 25 November 2024.
Terbutaline is used to prevent bronchospasm in patients with asthma, bronchitis, emphysema and other lung diseases.
Bodman said he had been prescribed it to treat asthma, but was required to apply for a therapeutic use exemption (TUE) in advance of taking it.
He applied for a retrospective TUE but that was denied by UKAD's Fairness Review Panel and he was charged with the violation on 8 September.
"Medications prescribed by a doctor or bought over the counter may contain prohibited substances. It is an athlete's responsibility to check their medication before using it, even if they have used it before," UKAD's director of operations, Hamish Coffey, said.
"It is also imperative that athletes check whether they are included in UKAD's National TUE Pool and to understand that, if they are, they are required to apply for a TUE in advance of using medication that contains a prohibited substance."
The Wales-born second-row joined League One side Cornwall in June 2022 and made 16 appearances for the club.
He previously played for Yorkshire side Hunslet.
A statement from the Rugby Football League added: "The RFL works with RL Cares, the sport's independent charity, to ensure support is available for players in cases such as this."
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