Former Bradford Bulls winger banned for two years for cocaine use

Former Bradford Bulls winger David Foggin-Johnston has been banned from the sport for two years after failing a UK Anti-Doping test.

The 28-year-old was found to have cocaine in his system following an in-competition test on 27th August 2023 and has subsequently been handed a two-year ban from the sport.

However, the former Bradford man will be able to return to the sport from October 2025 with his two-year ban being backdated to the date that his provisional suspension started on October 11th 2023.

It means he will miss the entire 2025 season after having also not played a game for his new club Keighley Cougars in the current campaign.

The news of Foggin-Johnston’s failed test was reported by both UKAD and the RFL who revealed that a test from August 2023 was positive for cocaine, which is banned ‘in competition’, however, the player contested that his usage was ‘out of competition’ which was supported after evidence presented at a tribunal.

As a result, the former Bradford Bulls winger was suspended for two years in accordance with the rules applicable to Substances of Abuse.

During his time with Bradford Bulls, the 28-year-old scored 27 tries in 62 games with his 2023 campaign seeing him score nine times in 17 games.

Prior to moving to Odsal he had played for Doncaster and York Knights. His move to Keighley Cougars was confirmed ten days prior to his failed test.

RFL verdict on former Bradford Bulls’ winger’s failed test

A statement made by UKAD and shared on the RFL website confirmed the failed test and the two-year suspension.

It read: “Rugby League player David Foggin-Johnston has received a two-year ban from sport following Anti-Doping Rule Violations (ADRVs) for the Presence and Use of cocaine.

“Mr Foggin-Johnston was tested In-Competition by UK Anti-Doping (UKAD) on 27 August 2023. On analysis, the player’s Sample tested positive for cocaine and its Metabolite benzoylecgonine. Cocaine is a non-Specified Substance that is prohibited In-Competition only.

“UKAD notified Mr Foggin-Johnston that he may have committed ADRVs for the Presence and Use of a Prohibited Substance and provisionally suspended him. The player responded to admit the ADRVs but asserted that his Use of cocaine occurred Out-of-Competition.

“Mr Foggin-Johnston was charged by UKAD with both ADRVs. Having consulted a scientific expert, UKAD asserted that Mr Foggin-Johnston’s Use of cocaine occurred In-Competition, which resulted in the case being referred to the independent National Anti-Doping Panel (‘NADP’) to determine the Consequences.

“Following the exchange of evidence and submissions, the matter was heard before a tribunal of the NADP on 16 July 2024. The tribunal determined that Mr Foggin-Johnston’s Use of cocaine took place In-Competition. However, the tribunal was satisfied that his Use of cocaine was ‘recreational and unrelated to sport performance’ and therefore, in accordance with the rules applicable to Substances of Abuse, imposed a two-year period of Ineligibility.

“Mr Foggin-Johnston is entitled to credit for the time he spent provisionally suspended, so his ban is deemed to have commenced on 11 October 2023 (the date his provisional suspension started) and will expire on 10 October 2025.”