FORMER Barrow Raiders player James Duerden has been handed a four-year suspension for violating anti-doping rules, the RFL and UKAD have announced.

The 27-year-old forward tested positive for the prohibited substances 2α-methyl-5α-androstan-3α-οl-17-one – a metabolite of drostanolone – and nadrolone metabolite 19-norandrosterone (19-NA) following an out-of-competition test on December 14, 2017 during a training session at Craven Park.

Duerden’s ban has been backdated to the date the sample was taken and his period of ineligibility will expire at Midnight on December 13, 2021.

The former BARLA Great Britain under-19 international was initially issued with a Notice of Charge from UKAD on February 2 last year following the discovery of 2α-methyl-5α-androstan-3α-οl-17-one in his A Sample, along with being provisionally suspended.

According to UKAD’s full written judgement, Duerden disputed the first charge on February 19. But when he was issued with a Notice of Charge on March 15 following the discovery of 19-NA in his sample after analysis at a WADA-accredited laboratory in Rome, he admitted both charges.

In his defence, Duerden argued he had not intentionally or knowingly taken either substance, suggesting the presence of metabolites in his system may have been due to a liquid supplied by an unnamed friend and administered via injection which he believed to be a non-steroidal anti-inflammatory, either containing or contaminated with nandrolone and drostanolone.

However, he presented no evidence to back this argument up and, as a result, was unable to demonstrate he did not intentionally take the banned substances.

Although he is banned from playing for four years, Duerden will be permitted to train with a team or use the facilities of a club during the last two months of his suspension. He also has the right to appeal the decision or any part of it.

“It’s imperative that all athletes, at all levels of competitive sport, understand and adhere to the concept of strict liability,” said UKAD chief executive Nicole Sapstead.

“Nandrolone and drostanolone are steroids, prohibited at all times as per the WADA Prohibited List, not only for performance enhancing reasons, but for health reasons too. Steroids can have hugely damaging effects, including causing long-term heart, liver and kidney problems.”

Former Askam amateur Duerden, who had a spell playing professionally for Workington Town before joining Barrow in 2015, has not played for the Raiders since last year’s pre-season friendly against Oldham and was later released by the club.

In total, he made 45 appearances for Barrow, scoring eight tries, and was part of the team which achieved the League One Cup and promotion double in 2017.