A semi-professional rugby player has been suspended for seven years and three months after missing a drugs test while serving a previous two-year ban, UK Anti-Doping has announced.
Ross Bevan, who was registered with South Wales Scorpions, now known as South Wales Ironmen, was 22 years old when initially banned from February 2015 for testing positive for the use of steroids.
That punishment was due to end last month but Bevan will now serve a second suspension, lasting seven years and three months, for refusing to provide a sample in September 2016.
Bevan was originally handed an eight-year ban but he had admitted the charge and subsequently sought a reduction under Article 10.6.3 of the World Anti-Doping Code, 'Prompt Admission of an ADRV'.
He was successful in reducing the suspension but his appeal was rejected by an independent National Anti-Doping Panel.
Bevan is banned from all sport from October 14 2016 until midnight on January 14 2024.
UKAD's director of operations Pat Myhill said: "Any athlete who is currently banned remains subject to testing in order to limit the chances of them continuing to use performance enhancing substances whilst banned and then returning to sport.
"Therefore, it is of vital importance that they make themselves available to us when called upon.
"Mr Bevan's refusal to submit to sample collection whilst already serving a period of ineligibility is not only a second serious breach of the Anti-Doping Rules but also his core responsibilities as an athlete.
"We treat violations such as this with the utmost seriousness and would implore athletes of all levels to comply or potentially face a lengthy ban from all sport."
South Wales Ironmen play in League 1, the third tier of rugby league.
