Former Scotland international rugby league and Barrow Raiders star Oliver Wilkes opens up on using performance enhancing drugs

The 41-year-old represented Super League sides Huddersfield, Wigan and Wakefield in addition to several other clubs including Barrow and Workington during a playing career which lasted two decades.

In an interview published on Tuesday, Wilkes explained how he was guilty of doping when playing for Whitehaven in 2006 and within six weeks had earned a contract with boyhood side Wigan.

VISIT: Oliver Wilkes, 26, during his visit to Craven Park. Thursday August 3, 2006

While the forward did not suggest any of his former clubs knew he or other unnamed team-mates were doping, the Ulverston-born man is eager to create change.

"I don't want young lads to go into the game feeling like they have to do something that is not right to get where they want to be in the game, but their spot is being taken by someone that is doing it," Wilkes told ITV.

"I don't want them to have to feel like that. I just want them to look at that person and say I want to be him, and I know I can do it because I know I don't have to cheat.

"At one stage I thought to myself how am I going to compete with that person knowing they are doing what they are doing? And this was before I tried it (performance-enhancing drugs) myself.

DRUGS: Former Raiders man Oliver Wilkes

"You knew someone was using something and you knew you were as good as them, but they were getting picked so you would think to yourself is that what I have to do to get in the team? Do I have to take something?"

UK Anti-Doping (UKAD) announced last month Jamie Acton, formerly of Leigh Centurions alongside Wilkes, was to serve a two-year ban from all sports after re-analysis of a sample showed up the presence of a banned substance.

Barrow Raiders chairman Steve Neale admitted this does not reflect well on the game but is confident that the testing regime is robust enough to stop drug cheats.

"Obviously this does not reflect well on the game, but I have to say the testing regime at the moment is relentless," Mr Neale said.

"There is very little wiggle room to get around it.

"Our players are tested regularly and UKAD work on tip offs as well. It is a targeted approach that is used as well.

"There is a massive amount of education for players now as well. Our team just finished online courses on this issue run by a former player who got caught for using drugs because he did not know what he was prescribed were not allowed.

THOUGHTS: Barrow Raiders Steve Neale

"Even when I was playing I felt there was testing going on.

"I do not think there is a massive problem with this in the game and I don't think there are any players going about the field with drugs in their system now."

Mr Neale went on to explain that players always need to inform UKAD where they are so they can be tested and can randomly be tested during the off-season as well.

UKAD has reiterated its strong stance against cheating and Wilkes has been urged to get in touch through their Protect Your Sport reporting mechanism.

"We take all information regarding possible doping in sport very seriously and encourage anyone with information to search Protect Your Sport and pass that information on to us, in confidence," a UKAD spokesperson told the PA news agency.

"In 2021, as part of its intelligence-led and risk-based testing programme across all sport, UKAD conducted over 600 tests in Rugby Football League (RFL), making it the third most tested sport by UKAD, after Football and Rugby Union.

"UKAD prosecutes athletes who fail and evade tests and removes from sport those who cheat.

"Samples from many athletes are also kept in long-term storage for reanalysis at a later date. UKAD recently successfully prosecuted a former Rugby League player following sample reanalysis.

"In the last five years, UKAD has published decisions confirming 14 bans to Rugby League players.

"It is important to note that testing alone does not make a robust anti-doping programme. We work closely with the RFL to ensure their education programmes make athletes and support staff aware of their responsibilities to clean sport and the risks involved in taking prohibited substances."

SCORE: Oliver Wilkes scores a try for Wakefield during the engage Super League match at the KC Stadium, Hull. Picture date: Friday April 17, 2009. Photo: Julia Hoyle/PA Wire

A statement from the Rugby Football League added: "The RFL condemns drug use in sport as doping is harmful to the core values of rugby league.

"It is damaging to players' health and wellbeing, the fairness and integrity of the competition and prevents all from the right to participate in a doping-free competition.

"The RFL works closely with UK Anti-Doping (UKAD) with all alleged breaches of the anti-doping rules being referred to and investigated by UKAD."

It continued: "We actively encourage anyone who has any concerns regarding doping to report them. The RFL passes any intelligence in relation to any anti-doping complaints or concerns, to UKAD.

"UKAD also has a confidential hotline which allows anyone to report concerns direct to UKAD."