Former Catalans Dragons star James Maloney reportedly tests positive for banned substance

James Maloney was central to Catalans’ rise in 2021 as they finished top of the league and played in a first ever Grand Final.

In his absence, the Dragons are struggling to reach those heights again. Clearly still a good side, their results are a touch more inconsistent in 2022 as yesterday’s Challenge Cup quarter-final exit at the hands of St Helens showed.

Maloney left the Dragons to join French Elite 1 Championship side Lezignan and was one of the biggest signings in the competition’s history as an NRL and State of Origin winner following a sublime start to his career in the NRL notably with Sydney Roosters and Cronulla Sharks.

However, his career and legacy may become sullied in light of recent reports from L’Independent in France which claims he has been absent from the Lezignan side since March 19th not through injury as reported previously but having tested for a banned substance and subsequently receiving a ban.

The test is said to have taken place during a doping control carried out after the match in Carcassonne, on February 27th.

In his absence, the side have struggled losing the last three and slipping to third in the league.